Hunting license by state

How to get a hunting license, step by step

Getting licensed works the same way almost everywhere, even though prices and rules differ. Plan a week or two ahead if you still need hunter education, since some states require an in-person field day.

1. Pick the state where you'll hunt. You need that state's license, not your home state's, unless they're the same.
2. Check the hunter education rule. Most states require a course if you were born after a cutoff year; your state guide lists it.
3. Buy the base license online, by phone or from a license agent such as a sporting goods store or county office.
4. Add what your hunt needs: deer or turkey tags, big-game permits, a state waterfowl stamp, the Federal Duck Stamp, or a migratory bird (HIP) registration.
5. Carry proof in the field. Many states accept a digital license on your phone; some still want paper for tags.

Do you need hunter education to get a hunting license?

In most states, yes, if you were born after the state's cutoff date. The cutoffs vary widely, so check the state where you'll buy, not just your home state.

Courses are usually online plus a short in-person field day, and youth can often take them from age 9 to 12. Many states also sell an apprentice or mentored license that lets a new hunter try it for a season with a licensed adult before taking the course. Hunter education cards are generally honored across state lines, so a card from your home state usually works when you travel; confirm with the state you'll hunt in.

How much does a hunting license cost?

A resident license is usually inexpensive, while nonresidents pay several times more. Big-game tags, stamps and draw fees come on top, and that's where most of the cost of a western elk or mule deer hunt sits.

Compare states with the table above, but read what each license covers: in some states the base license includes deer and turkey, in others it's small game only and every species is a separate tag. Prices also change at the start of each license year.

The numbers section above shows the spread: the gap between the cheapest and priciest nonresident license is several hundred dollars before a single tag is added. If you're choosing between two states for a trip, price out the whole bundle (license, stamps, species tags and any draw application fees) rather than the base license. Residents can also save by buying a combination license, a multi-year license where a state offers one, or a lifetime license for a child.

Can you buy a hunting license online?

Yes. Every state sells licenses online through its official license portal, and most also sell by phone and through license agents. Buy only from the state agency's own site or its official portal. Look-alike sites charge extra service fees for the same license.

Every state guide here links straight to the official portal, and so does the map. Print or save your license as soon as you buy it, especially if you'll hunt somewhere with no signal.

Buying a nonresident hunting license to hunt out of state

To hunt in another state, buy that state's nonresident hunting license. Your home license doesn't carry over. Many states also sell short-term nonresident licenses (one, three, five or seven days) that cost less than the annual version and suit a single trip.

For western big game, nonresident tags are often limited and sold by draw months before the season, so plan the application first and the trip second. Your state guide lists the draw window where one applies.

Licenses, tags, stamps and permits: what's the difference?

Most hunters need two or three of these. Here's what each one does.

• License: the base permission to hunt in a state for a license year.
• Tag or permit: species-specific, such as a deer, turkey, bear or elk tag; often limited or drawn.
• Stamp: an add-on for a type of hunting, such as a state waterfowl stamp or the Federal Duck Stamp, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires for waterfowl hunters 16 and older.
• HIP registration: a free or low-cost certification most states require for migratory bird hunting (doves, ducks, geese, woodcock).

Youth, apprentice and lifetime hunting licenses

Most states discount or waive the license for young hunters, often under 16, and many offer apprentice licenses for first-timers. Lifetime licenses, sold to residents in many states, cost a one-time fee and can pay off within several seasons for a regular hunter; buying one for a child is often cheapest. Each state guide lists its youth, apprentice and lifetime options with prices.

Booking a guided hunt? What your outfitter will ask for

Before a guided hunt, an outfitter will usually ask for your hunting license, any tags the hunt needs, and your hunter education card number. Outfitters running on HuntReserve have each hunter upload a license photo and sign the waiver from their phone, and the documents are checked before the hunt so nobody is turned away at camp. Buy the license from the official state site at least a few days early, and bring the digital or paper copy anyway.