§ 70-2-201 — No license required for residents who are 65 years of age or older prior to March 1, 1991 - Junior hunting, fishing and trapping license - Sportsman license - Combination hunting and fishing license - Lifetime sportsman license

(a) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.] (b) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.] (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) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.] (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 fish and wildlife 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; nonquota 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) (A) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.] (B) The fees are automatically adjusted to reflect the same percentage increase as the annual sportsman license. No fees may be decreased as part of the automatic adjustment. (h) (1) There is created a lifetime sportsman license for adopted children who reside in this state, which entitles such child's legally designated guardian to apply for the license on the child's behalf within thirty-six (36) months immediately following the date of the child's adoption. The child must be under thirteen (13) years of age on the date of application for the license and upon receipt of the license is entitled to the same privileges and benefits as provided to an annual sportsman license holder. A lifetime sportsman license for adopted children remains valid throughout the life of the license holder even if the person becomes a nonresident. The child is to be issued the lifetime sportsman license upon payment of the fee created under subdivision (h)(2) and presentation of proof of age and residency, satisfactory to the agency. This subsection (h) does not prevent issuance of a lifetime sportsman license to an adopted child who meets the qualifications in subsection (g). (2) The commission shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, to create a one-time-only fee to cover the costs of implementing subdivision (h)(1).

Legislative History

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 270, s 2, eff. 7/1/2021. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 241, s 1, eff. 4/28/2021. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 807, Secs.s1, s2 eff. 7/15/2020. 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; 2012 , ch. 993, § 13.