Hunting and fishing license sales and federal excise taxes comprise over 90 percent of the TWRA’s operating funds. Thank you for buying a hunting and fishing license. Without you, Tennessee would not have the abundance of fish and wildlife that we all enjoy.
Fishing licenses go on sale February 18 each year and are valid through the last day of February of the following year. You can purchase most licenses from county clerks, sporting goods stores, hardware stores, boat docks, the TWRA web site (tnwildlife.org) and all TWRA regional offices.
Online: Log on to www.tnwildlife.org and click on the link, “Buy a license online.” Regular license fees plus a processing fee will be charged to your credit card. Processing fee is $3.00 if you print it, or $4.25 if it is mailed to you.
By phone: Call 1-888-814-8972. An authorization number will allow you to begin fishing or hunting the minute you hang up. Regular license fees plus a processing fee will be charged to your credit card. Processing fee is $6.25, or $7.50 if license needs to be mailed to you.
US mail: Send your name, address (including zip code), social security number, date of birth, physical features (height, weight, eye and hair color), and enclose the correct fee to: TWRA Sales Office, P.O. Box 41729, Nashville, TN 37204-1729.
All license and permit fees are subject to change.
All expire at midnight of last effective date.
Who must have a Tennessee license?
If you take, or attempt to take fish (including crayfish) by any method or if you assist someone else to do so, you must have a valid fishing license. There are some exceptions:
- If you are under 13 years of age (resident or nonresident).
- Landowners, their spouses and children, who fish on their farm land which is owned by an individual or a family. Landowners, their spouses and children must be residents of Tennessee but need not reside on the land.
- Tenants, their spouses and dependent children who fish on farm land owned by an individual or a family. Tenants, their spouses and dependent children must be residents of Tennessee and must actually reside on the land and have permission of the landowner to fish. A tenant is a person who, for money, free rent, or other consideration, cares for farmland. The tenancy must be agricultural in nature.
- Resident grandchildren (under 16) and resident great-grandchildren (under 16) who fish on farm land which is owned by their resident grandparents or great-grandparents.
- First cousins who own farmland jointly or in common may fish on the farmland. Their children may fish as well.
- You are on military leave, carrying a copy of your leave orders. A pass does not meet this requirement.
- You are a resident who was born before March 1, 1926. (To qualify for this exemption, you must carry proof of your age and residency to show to a wildlife officer, if requested.)
- It’s Free Fishing Day! This year it falls on June 11 (see page 45).
- It’s Free Fishing Week! All children, ages 15 and younger can fish free between June 11–17 inclusive (see page 45).
NOTE: Giving false information to obtain a license is a misdemeanor punishable by fine and loss of license. Licenses are not transferable.
