License Fees

[albrubacker]

Delaware as of now is $25 which includes a turkey tag & 4 antlerless tags. Another $10 and you get a choice deer tag & a quality buck tag. They are going before the general assembly to try to almost double the fees.

[albrubacker]

TWRA is self funded which means the agency gets no government aid or assistance.  If you look at all these other states that have the lower license costs (ie. NC since I'm from there) you will see they get government funding. 

Confused. Does TN not get any Pittman-Robertson or Dingell-Johnson funds? If not do you know why?

X2! P&R funds normally match state funds from what I understand.

[WisTurk]

I pay $165 a year for pretty much everything in Wisconsin as a Conservation Patron, there are a few fees not included but not much. My turkey tag is awarded in a drawing as part of my license and a additional tag is $10. I did actually quit hunting some states as their prices for non-residents have skyrocketed as of late... I would like to see reciprocating fees between states, that way we would all have a fair playing field when it comes to hunting (and not just turkey).

MK M GOBL

I completely agree with this.  I'm going on my first out of state hunt this year.  I'd like to do more, but the cost tends to be prohibitive for me.  A reciprocity agreement would be the ticket in my opinion.  I know it can't work for all animals since all states don't have the same ones within their borders, but most states here in the midwest at least have deer and turkey.  Just something I've been thinking about for quite a while.

[surehuntsalot]

here in Mississippi it is 35.00 for a sportsman license, and 15.00 WMA permit if you hunt public land

[darn2ten]

I live in Tn., and think our fees are ridiculous. The argument of being self funded always comes up. I have hunted quite a few other states that are not self funded and have lower fees for residents. I have yet to see any negatives in those states, or the benefit in Tn. There is plenty of politics involved in this states wildlife decision making. As mentioned above, our combined fall and spring bag limit is way to high. In many counties turkey populations are on serious declines. The county I live in had some of the best turkey hunting as anywhere I can think of as little as 5 to 10 years ago. The counties to the west of me were the same way. Now we don't have half the birds we use to, and the counties to the west are having meetings because they have virtually no birds in some areas. Point is, makes you wonder if self funding so all decisions can be made by wildlife biologist is a good thing. Looks like if that was the case, then they'd have a better handle on the resource.

[Tail Feathers]

I think it went up to $72 here in Texas for a combo hunt/fish license to kill or catch about anything by legal means.
Plus the $25 Federal Waterfowl stamp annually.
Just to hunt turkeys would be about $24 + a $5 turkey endorsement.

[southern_leo]

Just bought my annual sportsman which covers fishing and hunting a nice $166 out the door.

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[Kilchis]

My Oregon Pioneer hunting and fishing license for 2016 cost $6.  Each turkey tag is $20.  The Pioneer license is for those over 65 who have resided in the state for the last 50 years.

[turkeybow]

My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee?  Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.

It all boils down to who you want controlling the agency, the government or people with wildlife degrees?  I haven't read up on the sunset bill a lot but if you research it you will find out a lot more information than I can give you.  The bill comes up about every so often and this topic is what it is about basically.

wildlife degree folks don't control it anyway! The TWRC controls it, and they are politically appointed, not wildlife professionals.


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With any wildlife agency there are going to be some politics.  So with that you would want something like the TWRC in place.  I know what they are and what they do but that's TWRC.  TWRA is headed by people with wildlife degrees.

[southern_leo]

My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee?  Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.

It all boils down to who you want controlling the agency, the government or people with wildlife degrees?  I haven't read up on the sunset bill a lot but if you research it you will find out a lot more information than I can give you.  The bill comes up about every so often and this topic is what it is about basically.

wildlife degree folks don't control it anyway! The TWRC controls it, and they are politically appointed, not wildlife professionals.


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With any wildlife agency there are going to be some politics.  So with that you would want something like the TWRC in place.  I know what they are and what they do but that's TWRC.  TWRA is headed by people with wildlife degrees.

But what's the argument that makes our system so much better vs other states with outstanding wildlife resources with much lower fees? I hear you keep saying stuff about the biologist, but I don't see an advantage at all. Things may look great on paper but many areas of the state people are seeing declines in deer herd population and over running with coyotes. I just don't see where the advantage lays. And I know and have worked with many TWRA guys on many occasions, not a fan for the most part.

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[chuckward]

Ya'll Tenn boys have it rough! In Arkansas it's $25 for 6 deer tags and 2 turkey tags. $10.50 for a fishing license. Chuck

[Gooserbat]

I bought my Oklahoma lifetime license when I was 10 y/o for $300. Raised a bottle calf.  I think those cost around $625 now or combo hunt/fish for $775.  Yearly it's around $55 or all 3 turkey tags and anual hunting license.

[turkeybow]

But what's the argument that makes our system so much better vs other states with outstanding wildlife resources with much lower fees? I hear you keep saying stuff about the biologist, but I don't see an advantage at all. Things may look great on paper but many areas of the state people are seeing declines in deer herd population and over running with coyotes. I just don't see where the advantage lays. And I know and have worked with many TWRA guys on many occasions, not a fan for the most part.

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I'm not arguing that our system is better than other states.  Just because your not seeing an advantage doesn't mean there isn't one.  Seems to me most arguments for government funding are just so it will be $50 or so to hunt a year.  As for me when I moved to TN from NC I bought my lifetime.  I have a lifetime in NC, that was $500 when I bought it, and one in TN, that was $1692 when I bought it.

If TN goes to the point where the agency gets government funding then there will not be a set amount of money the agency gets.  May get $X one year and $Y the next because the government will be distributing our money, not the agency.  I think the money the agency makes or gets should stay with the agency.  If the government gains control with our money all these food plots and such will be a thing in the past in my opinion.

As far as you seeing decline in deer and over run with coyotes I don't know what county you are in.  If people in the state are over run with coyotes they need to be shooting them and coyote hunting.  The agency has opened coyote season year round.  What more can they do?  As for the deer I can't speak for your area.  It's not all the same throughout the state.  As for you knowing and have worked with TWRA guys and not being a fan that is your opinion.  Those guys don't make up the entire agency and you do not know me.

When some compare their state to TN you also must realize it depends on what county you are hunting in the state for what your license gives you.  For example, in Unit L you get 2 bucks, 3 does/day, and 4 spring turkeys.  Depending on which county that your hunting you may also get some fall birds.  If its the right one it can be as many as 6, making it 10 turkeys for the year (4 spring and 6 fall).  So that could end up being around 287 deer (2 being bucks) and 10 turkeys if you had the right county and killed all that you could.