Hunting Licenses in 2025–2026: What You Need, What It Costs, and How Draws Work

If you are new to hunting — or hunting in a new state — the licensing system can be one of the most confusing parts of the process. Every state structures it differently, and the terminology alone (tags, stamps, permits, preference points, bonus points, controlled hunts, over-the-counter) can make your head spin before you ever set foot in the field.

Here is a practical overview of how hunting licenses work across the United States.

The base license

Every state requires a base hunting license before you can hunt anything. This is your entry ticket. It typically covers small game and sometimes upland birds, but does not include big game, turkey, or waterfowl — those require additional tags or stamps.

Resident base licenses are affordable in most states — ranging from about $8 in Montana to $35 in Colorado. Non-resident licenses are significantly more expensive, often 5 to 10 times the resident price. This is deliberate: states manage wildlife as a public resource for their residents, and non-resident pricing reflects that.

Tags and stamps

On top of your base license, you will need species-specific tags or stamps for most game:

Big game tags (deer, elk, pronghorn, bear) are required in every state and typically must be purchased before the season opens. In some states, a deer tag is included with the base license. In others, it is a separate purchase.

A federal duck stamp ($25) is required nationwide for all waterfowl hunters over 16. This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requirement, not a state one. The revenue funds wetland conservation.

Turkey tags, upland game stamps, and habitat stamps vary by state. Check your state's wildlife agency website for the full list of what you need before you hunt.

Over-the-counter vs. draw licenses

This is where it gets important — and where many new hunters get caught off guard.

Over-the-counter (OTC) licenses are available to anyone who wants to buy one. You walk in (or go online), pay the fee, and you have your tag. Many states sell general deer and some elk tags this way.

Draw licenses (also called limited entry, controlled hunt, or limited quota) are allocated through a lottery or drawing system. You apply during a specific window — often months before the season — and are either selected or not. These exist for species or units where demand exceeds what the wildlife population can sustain.

If you are planning a hunt that requires a draw tag, you must plan ahead. Application deadlines are typically in January through May for fall hunting seasons. Missing the deadline means waiting another year.

Preference points and bonus points

Many western states use point systems to manage demand for draw tags:

Preference points (used in Colorado, Wyoming, and others) guarantee that the applicant with the most points will be drawn before those with fewer points. You accumulate one point per year that you apply and are not drawn. This creates a predictable queue — if a unit takes 5 points to draw, you will wait approximately 5 years.

Bonus points (used in Montana for some species and Arizona) improve your odds but do not guarantee a tag. Each point gives you additional entries in the drawing, but a first-time applicant can still be drawn over someone with 10 points. It is weighted random rather than a strict queue.

Some states, like Montana for general elk and deer, use no point system at all — drawings are purely random.

Points cost money. In Wyoming, a preference point costs $30 for residents and $100 for non-residents, per species, per year. If you are building points in multiple states for multiple species, the annual cost adds up.

Hunter education

Nearly every state requires completion of a hunter education course before you can purchase a hunting license. Most states accept hunter education certificates from other states, so you only need to complete it once.

Courses are available in-person and online (though most states require an in-person field day component even for online courses). They cover firearms safety, wildlife conservation, regulations, field dressing, and ethics. Many states offer the course free of charge.

If you are planning to hunt for the first time, complete your hunter education well before you need to buy a license. Do not wait until a week before the season opens.

What this costs in practice

Here are approximate total costs for a non-resident rifle deer hunt in a few popular states, including base license, deer tag, and applicable stamps:

Texas: approximately $340 total. Montana: approximately $560 (if drawn). Colorado: approximately $525 (draw tag) or $135 (OTC archery). Wyoming: approximately $380. Pennsylvania: approximately $130.

These figures do not include preference point fees, habitat stamps, or federal stamps for waterfowl. They also do not include the cost of travel, lodging, or outfitter services.

The bottom line

The licensing system exists to manage wildlife populations sustainably. It is not designed to be simple — it is designed to be effective. The best approach is to start with your target state's wildlife agency website, identify exactly what licenses, tags, and stamps you need, note application deadlines, and budget accordingly.

We have detailed licensing breakdowns for 10 states in our hunting section, with more being added. Each state page includes current license costs, draw information, and direct links to the state wildlife agency where you can purchase licenses and submit applications.