How to Get Your Tennessee Hunting License

Tennessee requires all hunters, resident or non-resident, born on or after January 1, 1969, to complete an approved hunter education course before going hunting in the state. The course itself isn't required to purchase a license if you were born before that date.

A resident Combination Hunt/Fish Annual license costs $33, while a non-resident annual all-game license costs $305. Licenses are sold through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) at Go Outdoors Tennessee, by mail, or through an approved license agent, and Tennessee licenses run for one year from the date of purchase rather than a fixed calendar date.

Keep reading to learn how to get your Tennessee hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Tennessee?

A Tennessee hunting license is the base document TWRA requires before you can pursue small game in the state. Deer, turkey, elk, and bear each require a separate Big Game License on top of the base license, and any Wildlife Management Area (WMA) hunting needs its own WMA Permit as well.

Your Hunter Education Certificate is a different document entirely. It proves you completed a TWRA-approved safety course, and once you earn it, it's good for life. Your license, by contrast, is only good for the year you bought it, since it expires exactly 365 days after purchase.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Tennessee?

Tennessee requires a hunting license for all residents and non-residents who hunt in the state, unlike states that exempt hunters below a certain age. Age still shapes which license type and hunter education path applies to you.

Hunter education works on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 must show proof of an approved hunter education course before going hunting, unless they qualify for one of Tennessee's supervised alternatives instead:

1. Under 10: No Hunter Education Certificate required, but must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older who can take immediate control of the hunting device.
2. Age 10 and older, using the Apprentice License: Purchase the one-time, one-year Apprentice License (about $10) to hunt without certification, as long as you're supervised by a certified adult 21 or older.
3. Age 10 and older, standard path: Complete hunter education, then purchase a standard Resident ($33) or Non-Resident ($305) license.
4. Born before January 1, 1969: Exempt from hunter education, but still needs a valid license to hunt.

Whichever category applies to you, keep proof of your license and, if required, your certification on hand while hunting.

How to Get Your Tennessee Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Tennessee comes down to a few main steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on whether hunter education applies to you. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born on or after January 1, 1969, and aren't using the Apprentice License.
2. Purchase your license through the TWRA website, by mail, or through an approved license agent.
3. Select your license type: resident ($33 combination), non-resident ($305 annual all-game), or the all-inclusive Sportsman License ($165) if you want hunting, fishing, and trapping bundled together.
4. Add a Big Game License ($24) if you're hunting deer, turkey, elk, or bear, plus a WMA Permit if you're hunting public land.
5. Carry your digital or printed license, plus your Hunter Education Certificate, any time you hunt.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Tennessee offers a genuinely convenient path to certification, and neither of its two main options requires a field day.

1. Online course (age 9 and older): The Hunter-Ed Tennessee course costs $39.95. Pass the final exam and print your certificate immediately; no in-person requirement at all.
2. In-person classroom course (any age): A free course, typically 8 to 14 hours, that includes a live-fire session or firearm-handling demonstration as part of the class itself.

However you complete it, your certification never expires and stays valid across all 50 states once earned.

Step 2: Purchase Your License

Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the TWRA website, by mail, or through an approved license agent.

You'll need a government-issued photo ID or Social Security number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.

Step 3: Add Permits and Go Hunting

Your base Tennessee hunting license only covers small game. Deer, turkey, elk, and bear each require a Big Game License on top of your base license, and most Wildlife Management Area hunting needs a separate WMA Permit, unless you hold a Sportsman or Lifetime license.

Once your license and any needed permits are in hand, you're ready to hunt.

Tennessee Hunting License Requirements by Age

Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in Tennessee by age.

Privileges and stamps: Deer, turkey, elk, and bear hunters need a Big Game License ($24) in addition to the base license. Waterfowl hunters need the state migratory bird permit, HIP registration, and Federal Duck Stamp.

Anyone hunting most Wildlife Management Areas needs a separate WMA Permit unless they hold a Sportsman or Lifetime license.

Season dates and bag limits vary by species and unit, so check before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Tennessee's online course skips the field day entirely, letting hunters as young as 9 finish certification from a phone or computer. The chart below offers a quick overview of both formats.

However you get certified, that credential travels with you for good: no renewal, no expiration date. It's only the license tied to it that needs replacing, and that clock resets every 365 days from when you bought it.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Tennessee hunting license. You'll need:

• A government-issued photo ID or your Social Security number
• Proof of your Hunter Education Certificate, if you're required to hold one
• Payment (card online or in person, or check by mail)
• Proof of Tennessee residency, if applying for resident rates

Tennessee Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting without a valid license in Tennessee is a Class C misdemeanor under state law, carrying a fine of $10 to $25, one of the lowest license-violation fines in the country. Hunting on someone else's land without permission is a separate Class C misdemeanor and counts as trespassing and poaching, and a court can revoke your license on conviction.

More serious violations carry steeper consequences.

For example, illegally killing or possessing deer, turkey, or bear is generally a Class B misdemeanor, escalating to a Class A misdemeanor for wild elk, and repeat offenders face a mandatory one-year ban from hunting, fishing, or trapping in the state.

What About Reciprocity?

Tennessee accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a Tennessee Hunter Education Card, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-resident hunters pay $305 for an annual all-game license, or $214 for a 7-day all-game option if visiting for a shorter trip. Hunters born on or after January 1, 1969 must still meet Tennessee's hunter education requirement regardless of home state, unless they already hold a certificate from their home state that meets IHEA-USA standards.

Start Your Tennessee Hunter Safety Course Today

Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed Tennessee course is approved by the TWRA, self-paced, and available on any device, with no in-person field day currently required. Complete the course and get your lifetime Tennessee hunter education certificate.

Approved by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) | Last verified August 12, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How much does a hunting license cost in Tennessee?

A: A resident Combination Hunt/Fish Annual license in Tennessee costs $33, while a non-resident annual all-game license costs $305, both valid for one year from the date of purchase. Hunters after deer, turkey, elk, or bear also need a separate Big Game License, which costs $24.

Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in Tennessee?

A: Yes, Tennessee requires hunter education for anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 before they can legally hunt in the state. Hunters born before that date are exempt, and first-time hunters age 10 or older can also use a one-time Apprentice License to hunt for a year under a certified adult's supervision instead.

Q: Is a field day required for the online hunter safety course in Tennessee?

A: No, Tennessee's online hunter safety course does not require an in-person field day for hunters age 9 and older who complete it through Hunter-Ed. The alternative in-person classroom course does include a live-fire session or firearm-handling demonstration, but that happens as part of the class itself rather than as a separate requirement.

Q: Can a 9-year-old hunt in Tennessee?

A: A 9-year-old can hunt in Tennessee by completing the online hunter education course, since Tennessee allows certification starting at age 9. Children younger than 10 don't need a Hunter Education Certificate at all, but must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older who can take immediate control of the hunting device.

Q: Does Tennessee's hunter education certificate work in other states?

A: Yes, a Tennessee Hunter Education Card is accepted in any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country with a mandatory hunter education requirement that meets IHEA-USA standards. This reciprocity means Tennessee-certified hunters generally don't need to retake a course before hunting elsewhere.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Tennessee?

A: Hunting without a valid license in Tennessee is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $10 to $25. Hunting while under a court-ordered suspension carries much steeper penalties, including a mandatory minimum ten days in jail on top of additional fines.