As expected, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) voted to raise hunting and fishing licenses in the state and boat registration fees.
The increased fees will take effect July 1, 2025. The last such increase was in 2015. Wildlife officials said that the Consumer Price Index has increased by more than 31 percent since that increase. The new boat registration fees will increase by 22 percent, and most hunting and fishing license prices will increase by 28 percent. Sportsman and Lifetime license fees are increased by 12 percent.
More than 70 percent of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s (TWRA) operating budget comes from license sales and federal grants based on the number of hunters in the state.
In addition to price increases, the ruling adjusts the license structure. Hunting device-type supplemental licenses (gun, archery, muzzleloader) will change to species-type supplemental licenses (deer, elk, bear, turkey, waterfowl).
