How Much Does an Alabama Lifetime Hunting License Cost?

A resident lifetime hunting license in Alabama costs between $437.35 and $728.30, depending on the holder’s age when it’s purchased. The lowest price goes to buyers under age 2 and those 50 and older; ages 2 through 11 pay $582.95; and ages 12 through 49 pay the top rate of $728.30. These figures apply from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, and they adjust upward almost every year.1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime

Only Alabama residents qualify. The state defines residency the same way it does for an annual license: a permanent home in Alabama and the intent to stay indefinitely.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 9-11-65 – Lifetime Resident Hunting, Freshwater Fishing and Combination Licenses

Hunting-Only License Prices by Age

  • Under 2 or 50 and older: $437.35
  • Ages 2 through 11: $582.95
  • Ages 12 through 49: $728.30

There is no minimum age, so parents or grandparents can buy a lifetime license for an infant and lock in the lowest bracket.1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime

Combination Licenses That Include Hunting

If you want fishing privileges along with hunting, the combination packages cost less than buying each license separately.1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime

Hunting and Freshwater Fishing

  • Under 2 or 50 and older: $655.60
  • Ages 2 through 11: $728.30
  • Ages 12 through 49: $1,019.35

Hunting and Saltwater Fishing

  • Under 2 or 50 and older: $801.05
  • Ages 2 through 11: $1,019.35
  • Ages 12 through 49: $1,237.65

Hunting, Freshwater Fishing, and Saltwater Fishing

  • Under 2 or 50 and older: $1,019.35
  • Ages 2 through 11: $1,164.90
  • Ages 12 through 49: $1,528.60

For comparison, buying hunting and freshwater fishing as a combo in the 12 through 49 bracket costs $1,019.35, versus $1,092.95 if purchased individually.

Why Buying Earlier Saves Money

Alabama recalculates lifetime license fees every year based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. If approved, the new prices take effect September 1 for the following license year.3Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 9-11-68 – Cost Adjustments Prices have climbed meaningfully from the statutory base figures set in 2007, and nearly every year’s adjustment is upward.4Outdoor Alabama. Resident Lifetime Licenses

The combination of age-based pricing and annual inflation means two things. The younger you are when you buy, the lower your bracket. And the earlier in the calendar you buy within any given year, the longer the current price schedule applies to you before it resets.

Veteran Discounts

Resident military veterans with service-connected disabilities pay a fraction of the standard rate for a lifetime hunting license.1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime

  • 40% or more disabled, age 49 and under: $72.60
  • 40% or more disabled, age 50 and older: $36.30
  • 100% disabled, age 49 and under: $54.50
  • 100% disabled, age 50 and older: $30.25

A one-time issuance fee of $1.20 is added to every veteran lifetime purchase.

Lifetime Add-Ons for Hunters

Two optional lifetime add-ons apply to hunters:1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime

  • Lifetime State Duck Stamp: $192.95 (under 2 or 50+), $244.05 (ages 2 through 11), or $295.35 (ages 12 through 49)
  • Lifetime Wildlife Heritage License: $291.80 at any age

The lifetime state duck stamp does not replace the federal duck stamp, which still has to be bought every year.

Costs the Lifetime License Doesn’t Cover

A lifetime hunting license handles the annual base license, but several other charges still apply depending on what and where you hunt.4Outdoor Alabama. Resident Lifetime Licenses

  • A WMA license is required annually for anyone hunting deer or turkey on a state Wildlife Management Area, plus a free permit and map for the specific WMA.
  • The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp must be carried by waterfowl hunters age 16 or older and is purchased every year.5U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Federal Duck Stamp
  • Hunters pursuing migratory birds (doves, ducks, geese, woodcock, and others) must complete the free Harvest Information Program certification each season.6Outdoor Alabama. Harvest Information Program (HIP)

None of these cost much on their own, but skipping the WMA license or HIP certification can result in a citation.

How and Where to Buy

Alabama sells lifetime licenses through four channels:4Outdoor Alabama. Resident Lifetime Licenses

  • Online at alabamainteractive.org/dcnr_license
  • By phone at 1-888-848-6887, with convenience fees added
  • In person at a county probate office, license commissioner, local license agent (many bait and tackle shops qualify), or any DCNR district office
  • By mail to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Montgomery, using the application form from outdooralabama.com

You will need proof of residency, your date of birth, and your Social Security number. A parent or legal guardian submits the paperwork when the license is being bought for a minor. If your card is later lost or damaged, replacements run $5.00 at any license agent. Lifetime licenses cannot be sold, lent, or transferred to anyone else. If you already own a lifetime license and want to add another activity later, you can pay the difference to upgrade rather than starting over.1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime