(The Center Square) – The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission approved increases to hunting and fishing licenses on Friday, the first increase since 2015.
Boating registration fees will increase by 22%, and the majority of hunting and fishing licenses will go up by 28%. The 13-member commission also agreed to a 12% increase in Sportsman and Lifetime licenses.
The fee increases are needed to offset inflation and other rising costs.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency has already reduced its fiscal year 2026 budget by $800,000 and has 20 vacant positions, the agency told The Center Square in October, when the fee increases were first introduced in October.
The agency also receives numerous requests to work on the state’s 1,200 boat ramps and public access areas.
“However, this requires a significant investment of funding and labor to build and maintain overtime,” Emily Buck, director of marketing and communications, said. “Heavy equipment crews are also essential for other projects such as infrastructure, road grading, and habitat work on Wildlife Management Areas.
“TWRA is limited by funding and staff capacity to complete projects, which has caused a delay. Even with additional funding for the projects, the agency would still need to hire additional heavy equipment crews to move through the backlog of projects.”
“This agency has a tremendous track record in the field of restoring wildlife and we want to see that continue,” said Mike Butler, CEO of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, which supported the increases.
The fee increases will be reviewed by the General Assembly’s Joint Government Operations in June. They will not take effect until July 1, 2025.