5 States That Offer Lifetime Fishing Licenses

One of the best parts of fishing is that you can do it throughout your entire life. Fishing doesn’t have as high of an impact on your body as some other outdoor activities, like hiking or hunting, meaning most people can keep on angling well into retirement. To ensure you can keep on fishing throughout your life, it can be useful to have lifetime fishing licenses — no one wants the hassle of having to maintain licenses or pay yearly fees.

Fortunately, there are many states that offer lifetime fishing licenses for kids, adults, seniors, and veterans, allowing you to spend less time messing around with menial paperwork. We found which states had the most anglers searching for lifetime license opportunities and listed all the available deals of a lifetime.

WYOMING LIFETIME FISHING LICENSES

Wyoming offers unique packages for their lifetime licenses, with most granting the privilege to pursue game birds, small game, and aquatic catches. To qualify for a Wyoming lifetime license, you must have been a resident of Wyoming for at least ten years. If you’re interested, you can apply through their website.

• Fishing Lifetime License: $311.00
• Game bird, fishing, and small game combo Lifetime License: $496.00

WEST VIRGINIA LIFETIME LICENSES

West Virginia has special licensing packages for children, resident adults, disabled veterans, and full-time students.

• Disabled veterans may apply for a lifetime hunting or fishing license for no cost.
• Senior citizens may apply for a lifetime hunting/fishing license for $27, or $33 to also include a plastic card.
• Children under 1 year-of-age to 15 years-of-age can be granted a lifetime fishing license for between $312.80–$703.80 or a hunting and fishing combo license for $322–$624. The youth application for lifetime licenses also includes lifetime trout fishing licenses for $92–- $207.
• Resident adults and full-time students can acquire a lifetime fishing license for $552 or a combo hunting and fishing license for $805. The adult and full-time student application also has a trout fishing license for $230.

OKLAHOMA LIFETIME FISHING LICENSES

Oklahoma offers affordable lifetime fishing licenses for disabled veterans, senior citizens, and resident adults. The state considers residents aged 65 or older to be senior citizens. More information on Oklahoma lifetime licensing can be found on their website.

• Lifetime Combination Hunting and Fishing License: $77
• Lifetime Disabled Veteran Combo Hunting and Fishing License (with a disability rating up to 59%): $200
• Lifetime Disabled Veteran Combo Hunting and Fishing License (with a disability rating of 60% or more): $25
• Lifetime Senior Citizen Combo hunting/Fishing License: $25
• Lifetime Adult Resident Fishing License: $225.00
• Lifetime Senior Citizen Fishing License: $15.00

MINNESOTA LIFETIME FISHING LICENSES

Minnesota offers lifetime licenses for fishing, small game, spearing, and deer hunting for outdoor enthusiasts at any age. The requirements depend on which age class the applicant falls in, which can be seen below. More information on Minnesota lifetime licenses can be found on their website.

Children 3 and Under

• Lifetime Fishing License: $344
• Lifetime Spearing Only License: $90
• Lifetime Fishing/Spearing combo: $432

Youths 4-15

• Lifetime Fishing License: $469
• Lifetime Spearing Only License: $124
• Lifetime Fishing/Spearing combo: $833

Adults 16-50

• Lifetime Fishing License: $574
• Lifetime Spearing Only License: $117
• Lifetime Fishing/Spearing combo: $678

51 and Over

• Lifetime Fishing License: $379
• Lifetime Spearing Only License: $61
• Lifetime Fishing/Spearing combo: $439

NORTH CAROLINA LIFETIME LICENSES

North Carolina offers many variations of their lifetime fishing licenses, all of which grant you privilege to different water combinations and areas.

State Comprehensive Inland Fishing License: $265

• Grants you the privilege of fishing inland statewide, fishing in designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. This license does not include coastal waters.

Adult Sportsman and Coastal Recreation Fishing License: $716 (Senior price $32)

• A fishing/hunting combo lifetime license, this license grants you the privilege of hunting statewide and inland and coastal recreational fishing. This license also includes the privilege of hunting for big game and waterfowl, as well as fishing in designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Residents between the ages of 50-70 are eligible to purchase this license at 50% off.

Adult Coastal Recreational Fishing License: $265 (senior price $16)

• Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters but does not allow fishing in inland waters

Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing: $477

• This license grants you the privilege of statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing. This includes fishing in designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.

In North Carolina, residents born on or before Aug. 1, 1953, are eligible for senior discounts at 65 years of age. Those born after Aug. 1, 1953, are eligible for senior discounts when they turn 70 years of age. More information can be found in the North Carolina lifetime licenses application.

Learn which states offer free military fishing licenses on iSportsmanUSA.

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