TENNESSEE WILDLIFE AGENCY PROPOSES NEARLY 30% LICENSE FEE HIKE TO COMBAT DEFICIT
Hunting and fishing license fees in Tennessee are slated to increase by an average of roughly 30% under a new proposal approved by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.
The proposed price hikes aim to generate an additional $12 million in revenue to bridge a multi-million-dollar deficit. Agency leaders attribute the financial shortfall to surging operational costs—which have risen over 50% since 2016—and state-mandated salary increases, while license fees have remained unchanged since 2015.
Key Details of the Proposal
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Revenue Target: A 29% increase in overall license revenue.
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Combo License: The Resident Annual Hunt/Fish Combo license would rise from $33 to $42.
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Sportsman License: The Sportsman license would increase from $165 to $185 (a 12% bump).
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Timeline: The proposal heads to the Joint Government Operations Committee in December for review. If approved, the new fees will take effect on July 1, 2027.
While leadership acknowledges that fee increases are unpopular, officials stress they are necessary to maintain current service levels and protect the state’s fish and wildlife resources. A previous attempt by the agency to raise fees last year was blocked by lawmakers in favor of an alternate funding stream that ultimately did not materialize.
