Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Again Looking To Increase License Fees To Bolster Revenue

Image Credit: TWRA / Facebook & Canva

Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –

After the state legislature failed to approve additional funding for the agency, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is looking to substantially increase hunting and fishing license fees starting next July to compensate for reportedly significant operational revenue deficits.

This will be the second consecutive year TWRA has tried to propose increased license fees, and this most recent effort comes on the heels of TWRA Executive Director Jason Maxedon announcing his retirement effective Nov. 30 of this year after spending over 30 years in the department, the last four as the agency’s head.

TWRA’s governing body, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC), initially approved a license increase in late 2024, proposing fee hikes of 22-28% depending on the type of license. But after a legislative oversight committee made clear it would reject that increase, with several lawmakers indicating they thought it unfair to continue to ask sportsmen to bear the brunt of costs of funding TWRA, Maxedon officially withdrew the request.

The last time TWRA was successful at raising hunting and fishing license fees was in 2015, and the legislature’s rejection in 2025 marked the only time in the agency’s history that lawmakers outright nixed a proposed license increase.

Some lawmakers did champion legislation that would have given TWRA dedicated annual funding from the state budget, but the bill was only passed on the contingency of “going behind the budget,” meaning the funding depended on year-end budget negotiations.

Those negotiations failed, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and there was never a specific reason publicly given for the direct funding failure, likely as these discussions often happen behind closed doors. The agency did receive a one-time $10 million infusion, but is apparently still operating in the red. 

TWRA Director of Public Relations Emily Buck said, “The Agency will be bringing a nearly identical license fee increase proposal as what was proposed in 2024. Additionally, TWRA worked to include several non-price related improvements to the structure. Due to inflation in expenses and increased cost of state-mandated expenses such as salary and other charges, the Agency is facing an $18 million budget shortfall that must be addressed.”

Buck also stated that the agency has already taken steps to cut millions of dollars in expenses from its budget, but that hunters and fishermen should expect more cuts to come.

“Because dedicated funding was not successful, the Agency will be moving forward with the proposed license fee increase to ensure a well-funded Agency with the capacity to provide the services and wildlife management work that Tennesseans expect us to provide,” she said.

If the increase measure is again approved by TFWC and the legislature does not intervene, most hunting and fishing licenses will increase by about 27%. In practice, that increase would take the cost of a basic resident combination hunting and fishing license from the current $33 up to $42. For the annual resident Sportsman License, which covers almost all types of hunting and fishing opportunities, the cost would increase from $165 to $185.

However, there may be some opportunities for sportsmen to save some money in other ways. 

For example, under the new fee restructuring proposal there would be no more equipment-based supplemental deer hunting licenses. Currently, if a deer hunter hunts during archery, muzzleloader, and regular firearm season, they must purchase a $33 supplemental license for each season. Under the new proposal, there would instead be a single $42 supplemental deer hunting license for Tennessee residents, or $200 for non-residents. 

“Our hope is that the restructure will make it easier for hunters and anglers to navigate the system to identify the licenses they need. The shift to species-based supplemental permits will also provide TWRA biologists with better data that informs the season setting process as well as wildlife management in general,” Buck said. 

According to Buck, agency leadership is intending to again ask state lawmakers for direct annual funding from the state’s budget, but whether the request will be considered remains a big question.

Buck added, “Ultimately, that decision is up to the General Assembly,” said Buck. “But agency leadership is in constant conversation with elected officials about potential ideas to secure funding. TWRA would certainly welcome legislation for dedicated funding that helps keep costs low for outdoorsmen. There are numerous state wildlife agencies that benefit from a mix of license fees and dedicated funding from the state, and the agency is open to a combination of funding that creates stability and sustainability in the long run.”

The General Assembly will reconvene in January 2027, when they will be tasked with determining whether to allow the increase to proceed as proposed or if there is another strategy that benefits the taxpayer while still keeping TWRA afloat. 

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.