LIFETIME LICENSE: A Win-Win Situation

            It’s not often in life that you run into something that you can truly consider a win-win situation, but the purchase of an Alabama Lifetime Hunting and/or Fishing License could definitely be considered one. Once purchased, a lifetime license is valid for the life of the license holder, even if they move out of state.

Alabama offers three types of lifetime licenses, or any combination thereof, that residents may choose to purchase. A Lifetime Hunting License ($300) allows a purchaser to hunt all legal game animals. A separate Alabama Waterfowl Stamp and Federal Duck Stamp are also required when hunting waterfowl. Additionally a Wildlife Management Area License is required when hunting on any of Alabama’s 36 Wildlife Management Areas. A Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License ($150) allows the purchaser to fish in public, freshwater streams or lakes in Alabama. A Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License ($250) would allow a purchaser to fish in any brackish or saltwater areas in Alabama’s Territorial Waters.

            Funds obtained through the sale of Alabama lifetime licenses are handled very differently than funds received from a regular annual license purchase. Lifetime license fees are placed in a special Endowment Fund. These funds are then managed under a long-term investment program. State law mandates that the amount paid for each license at the time of purchase can never be spent. Only the interest earned on these funds can be spent for approved wildlife, freshwater fisheries, and/or saltwater fisheries- related projects. Funds from an annual license purchase go directly into the operating fund. Once purchased, a lifetime license becomes a permanent endowment for the protection and management of Alabama’s wildlife, freshwater, and/or marine creatures. Long after you stop hunting or fishing your money continues to benefit wildlife conservation. 

Although lifetime licenses may seem somewhat pricey at the time of purchase, they can pay big dividends to the holder in the long run. State funding for the operation of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Marine Resources Division comes primarily from the sale of hunting and fishing (freshwater or saltwater) licenses. The last price increase for a resident hunting or fishing license in Alabama occurred in 1989. A separate Saltwater Fishing License was created in 1992. Eventually it will be necessary to raise the cost of Alabama’s annual resident licenses to meet rising operating costs. Holders of lifetime licenses will not be affected by these price increases.

Lifetime licenses may be purchased by or for Alabama residents of any age as long as they have a valid social security number. Owners of a Lifetime Hunting License, who were born on or after August 1, 1977, are still required to complete an approved hunter education course before their license becomes valid. Those individuals must have proof that they have completed an approved hunter education course in their possession while hunting. If a Lifetime Hunting License has been purchased before taking an approved course the license may be returned to the address listed below, with a copy of the hunter education certificate, and the hunter education number will be placed on the license and returned to the owner. This is not a requirement but a service offered for convenience to the license holder.

Lifetime licenses may be purchased by credit card at www.outdooralabama.com or by telephone at 1-888-848-6887. They may also be purchased from any license agent that has electronic license sales. Applications for lifetime licenses may be obtained by writing Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, License Section, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama, 36130.