Hunting & Fishing License Requirements by State | WildNotch.com
The American Outdoors Reference

Every License. Every State.
One Place.

Hunting and fishing license requirements, fees, season dates, and bag limits for all 50 US states — verified against official sources and updated annually.

50States Covered
5,000+Indexed Pages
38M+US Anglers
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Official state sources only
Verified annually each January
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Popular Destinations

Most-Searched States

The states Americans look up most for license requirements, fees, and season information.

AL
Alabama
AK
Alaska
AZ
Arizona
AR
Arkansas
CA
California
CO
Colorado
CT
Connecticut
DE
Delaware
FL
Florida
GA
Georgia
HI
Hawaii
ID
Idaho
IL
Illinois
IN
Indiana
IA
Iowa
KS
Kansas
KY
Kentucky
LA
Louisiana
ME
Maine
MD
Maryland
MA
Massachusetts
MI
Michigan
MN
Minnesota
MS
Mississippi
MO
Missouri
MT
Montana
NE
Nebraska
NV
Nevada
NH
New Hampshire
NJ
New Jersey
NM
New Mexico
NY
New York
NC
North Carolina
ND
North Dakota
OH
Ohio
OK
Oklahoma
OR
Oregon
PA
Pennsylvania
RI
Rhode Island
SC
South Carolina
SD
South Dakota
TN
Tennessee
TX
Texas
UT
Utah
VT
Vermont
VA
Virginia
WA
Washington
WV
West Virginia
WI
Wisconsin
WY
Wyoming
Two Complete Databases

Fishing or Hunting — We Cover Both

Every fee, every requirement, every season date. All 50 states. Resident and non-resident.

Fishing Licenses

Resident and non-resident fees, license types, trout stamps, short-term options, and exactly where to buy in every state.

  • Resident & non-resident fees for all 50 states
  • 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day short-term license options
  • Freshwater, saltwater & combination license types
  • Trout stamps, salmon endorsements & add-ons
  • Direct link to official state purchase portal
Browse Fishing Licenses

Hunting Licenses

License fees, Hunter Education requirements, species tags, season dates, and bag limits — every US state covered.

  • Resident & non-resident hunting license fees
  • Hunter Education certificate requirements by state
  • Deer, turkey, elk & waterfowl tag fees
  • Season open & close dates per game animal
  • Direct link to official state purchase portal
Browse Hunting Licenses
Simple by Design

Get Your Answer in Three Steps

Choose Your State

Type your state in the search box or browse the complete A–Z list below. Every one of the 50 US states is covered with verified, current data.

Select Fishing or Hunting

Each state has a dedicated page for fishing and a separate page for hunting — full fee tables, age rules, purchase methods, and season information.

Get Licensed & Go

Every state page links directly to the official purchase portal. No account needed here — we give you the information, your state sells you the license.

2026–2027 Seasons

Current & Upcoming Season Dates

A snapshot of major hunting and fishing seasons across popular states. Check individual state pages for complete season calendars.

Open Now
Deer (Archery)
Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026
35+ states active
View state dates
Open Now
Waterfowl / Duck
Oct 5 – Jan 26, 2026
Most states active
View state dates
Coming Soon
Trout (Spring)
Opens Apr 1, 2026
Northern states
View state dates
Coming Soon
Wild Turkey (Spring)
Opens Mar–Apr 2026
Most states
View state dates
Open Now
Bass Fishing
Year-round in most states
Bag limits apply
View state dates
Closed
Elk (Rifle)
Closed until Oct 2026
Western states
View state dates
Open Now
Saltwater Fishing
Year-round (species vary)
Coastal states
View state dates
Coming Soon
Salmon (Pacific)
Opens May–Jun 2026
AK, OR, WA, CA
View state dates
View Full Season Calendar
Live Data Status

Verified Against Official State Agencies

Every license fee and season date is sourced directly from official state Fish & Wildlife agency websites. All records carry a last-verified date — visible on every page.

Our verification process
By the Numbers

The American Outdoors Market

Why licensing information matters — and why this site exists.

38.5M
Americans fish recreationally every year
15.2M
Licensed hunters in the United States
1,100+
Licensed occupations vary state by state
$88B
Annual outdoor recreation spend on fishing & hunting
50
States — each with unique licensing requirements
1 in 4
US jobs require a professional license of some kind
$0
Cost to use this site — always free, no sign-up
Jan
Every year — when we verify and update all data
Sample Fee Data

Fishing License Fees at a Glance

A sample of resident and non-resident annual fishing license fees across popular states. Visit each state page for the full picture.

State Resident Annual Non-Resident Annual Non-Res Short-Term Trout Stamp Hunter Ed Required
Texas$30$58$16/dayIncludedRequired
Florida$17$47$17/7-dayN/ARequired
Colorado$35$97$21/5-day$10.39Required
Alaska$29$145$25/3-dayVariesOptional
Michigan$26$76$10/24hr$13Required
Montana$29$86$50/10-dayIncludedRequired

* Fees shown are approximate annual figures for reference. Always verify current fees on your state's official page.

Out-of-State Visitors

Planning a Fishing or Hunting Trip?

Non-resident license fees are typically 2–4x higher than resident fees, with short-term options for trip visitors. Everything you need before you cross state lines.

Non-Resident Fishing Licenses

Every state offers a non-resident fishing license. Most also offer 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day short-term options perfect for vacation trips. Fees and options vary significantly by state.

Browse non-resident fishing fees

Non-Resident Hunting Licenses

Non-resident hunting licenses can range from $65 to $250+ depending on the state. Tags for elk, deer, and other big game are purchased separately and are often draw-based for non-residents.

Browse non-resident hunting fees

License Reciprocity Guide

Some neighboring states have reciprocity agreements that allow your license to be valid in both states for certain waterways. We flag these on each state page wherever they apply.

Read our reciprocity guides
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we get asked most about hunting and fishing licenses in the United States.

Guides & Articles

From the Blog

Practical guides for hunters and anglers — written with real expertise in mind.

Fishing

How to Get a Fishing License in Every State — The Complete 2026 Guide

Everything you need to know about buying a fishing license in any US state, including online options, app purchases, and what to do if you forget yours.

8 min read Read guide
Hunting

First-Time Hunter? Here's Everything You Need Before Deer Season

Hunter Education, the right license, your deer tag, what gear you actually need — a no-fluff checklist for first-time hunters heading into their first season.

11 min read Read guide
Non-Resident

Fishing Another State? What Non-Residents Need to Know About Licenses

Non-resident fishing licenses cost more, have different short-term options, and sometimes require additional endorsements. Here's how to navigate it without getting fined.

6 min read Read guide
View All Guides