2010 Tennessee Code
Title 70 - Wildlife Resources
Chapter 2 - Licenses and Permits
Part 2 - Miscellaneous Licenses and Permits
70-2-201 - Resident license fees and requirements.

70-2-201. Resident license fees and requirements.

(a)  Every resident, except as otherwise provided, shall pay in accordance with the following fee schedule for the privilege of hunting, sport fishing, or trapping; provided, that no license shall be required for trapping beaver:

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(b)  Every resident shall provide the correct information specified on all licenses and permits. All licenses and permits must be filled out in ink, indelible pencil, typewriter, or punched or stamped, or otherwise marked to prevent erasures, false entries or alterations and must be signed in ink or indelible pencil by the licensee.

(c)  (1)  Residents of Tennessee who are sixty-five (65) years of age or older prior to March 1, 1991, are entitled to the privileges of sport fishing, hunting and trapping without possessing any license.

     (2)  Residents of Tennessee who are sixty-five (65) years of age or older after March 1, 1991, are entitled to the privileges of sport fishing, hunting and trapping upon payment of a one-time ten dollar ($10.00) fee. Upon payment of such fee and presentation of proof of age and residency, satisfactory to the agency, such resident shall be issued a permanent license for sport fishing, hunting and trapping.

(d)  Any resident of Tennessee between thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) years of age, inclusive, may purchase the junior hunting, fishing and trapping license. Such license shall entitle the individual to the privileges of sport fishing, trapping and hunting without the requirement of possessing any other license or supplemental license as provided in subsection (a). Any resident under thirteen (13) years of age shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of subsection (a). Residents between thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) years of age, inclusive, are entitled to fish without a license during one (1) week of the year, commencing with free sport fishing day as proclaimed by the wildlife resources commission.

(e)  A sportsman license is valid for hunting, trapping and sport fishing without the necessity of any supplemental license. Additionally, a holder of a valid sportsman license is not required to possess the following agency permits: agency lake permits; Tellico-Citico trout permits; Lake Graham annual permits; small game permits; combination waterfowl and small game permits; non-quota big game, including Cherokee, permits; Reelfoot preservation permits; and premiere tourist resort city trout fishing permits. The holder may also participate in all quota hunt drawings without payment of the drawing fee, and if drawn, will be issued a quota hunt permit at no charge. Furthermore, for as long as Tennessee Wildlife is published, the executive director shall have the discretion to provide a subscription to a sportsman license holder at no cost.

(f)  A combination hunting and fishing license is valid for the taking of all species of game and fish; provided, that those persons sixteen (16) years of age and over desiring to hunt big game, waterfowl, or to take trout, must, in addition to the appropriate hunting or fishing licenses, or both, possess the appropriate supplemental license as provided in subsection (a).

(g)  (1)  There is hereby created a lifetime sportsman license, which shall entitle a resident of Tennessee, as defined in subdivision (g)(2), to the same privileges and benefits as provided to an annual sportsman license holder. A lifetime sportsman license remains valid throughout the life of the license holder even though the person may become a nonresident.

     (2)  In order to qualify for a lifetime sportsman license, a person must have been a resident of the state for twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding purchase of the license. A child under the age of one (1) year qualifies, no matter where the child is born, if one (1) or more of the child's parents or the child's legally designated guardian has been a resident of the state for twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding purchase of the license.

     (3)  The following fee schedule applies to the lifetime sportsman license:

          (A)  Less than three (3) years of age$ 200.00

          (B)  Three (3) years of age through six (6) years of age$ 400.00

          (C)  Seven (7) years of age through twelve (12) years of age$ 600.00

          (D)  Thirteen (13) years of age through fifty (50) years of age$1,200.00

          (E)  Fifty-one (51) years of age through sixty-four (64) years of age$ 700.00

          (F)  Sixty-five (65) years of age and older$ 200.00The fees shall be automatically adjusted to reflect the same percentage increase as the annual sportsman license. Such fee increases and subsequent adjustments shall not apply to lifetime sportsman licenses purchased for children less than three (3) years of age. In no event shall the fees decrease.

(h)  There is hereby created a lifetime senior citizen sportsman license, which shall entitle a resident of Tennessee to the same privileges and benefits as provided to an annual sportsman license holder. A lifetime senior citizen sportsman license remains valid throughout the life of the license holder even though the person may become a nonresident. The fee shall be a one-time payment of two hundred dollars ($200).

[Acts 1951, ch. 115, § 10 (Williams, § 5178.39); Acts 1955, ch. 152, §§ 2-4; 1957, ch. 221, § 1; 1959, ch. 173, § 1; 1961, ch. 196, § 1; 1961, ch. 197, § 1; 1965, ch. 106, §§ 1, 2; 1965, ch. 140, § 1; 1965, ch. 249, § 1; 1965, ch. 338, § 1; 1967, ch. 154, § 1; 1967, ch. 314, § 1; 1969, ch. 222, § 1; 1970, ch. 406, § 1; 1972, ch. 650, § 1; 1972, ch. 819, § 1; 1972, ch. 820, § 1; 1974, ch. 481, § 21; 1975, ch. 241, § 1; 1976, ch. 624, § 1; 1976, ch. 627, § 1; 1976, ch. 682, § 1; 1978, ch. 783, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 22, 36; Acts 1979, ch. 180, § 1; 1981, ch. 83, § 5; 1981, ch. 514, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 51-203; Acts 1983, ch. 285, § 2; 1985, ch. 350, § 8; 1989, ch. 486, §§ 2-4; 1990, ch. 987, §§ 1, 2; 1993, ch. 204, § 1; 1998, ch. 610, § 1; 2001, ch. 376, §§ 1, 2; 2003, ch. 319, § 1; 2003, ch. 360, § 1; 2004, ch. 503, § 1.]