A resident lifetime hunting license in Alabama costs between $437.35 and $728.30, depending on the buyer’s age at the time of purchase. The lowest price goes to children under 2 and adults 50 and older; the highest applies to buyers between 12 and 49. Combination packages that add freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, or both run higher, topping out at $1,528.60 for a full hunting-and-fishing lifetime license. Fees adjust upward each September 1, so the sooner you buy, the less you pay.
Lifetime Hunting License Prices by Age
The hunting-only lifetime license has three price tiers, valid through August 31, 2026:1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime
- Under 2 or 50 and older: $437.35
- Ages 2 through 11: $582.95
- Ages 12 through 49: $728.30
The youngest and oldest brackets share the same lowest rate. Every bracket in between pays more, and the 12-to-49 bracket pays the most. That is why parents and grandparents often buy a lifetime license for a child at birth: the under-2 rate locks in the cheapest possible price for a license that will be valid for life.
Combination Licenses With Hunting
If you want fishing privileges bundled in, the combination lifetime licenses cost less than buying each privilege separately.1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime
Hunting and Freshwater Fishing
- Under 2 or 50+: $655.60
- Ages 2–11: $728.30
- Ages 12–49: $1,019.35
Hunting and Saltwater Fishing
- Under 2 or 50+: $801.05
- Ages 2–11: $1,019.35
- Ages 12–49: $1,237.65
Hunting, Freshwater Fishing, and Saltwater Fishing
- Under 2 or 50+: $1,019.35
- Ages 2–11: $1,164.90
- Ages 12–49: $1,528.60
Add-On Lifetime Privileges
Three optional lifetime add-ons can be purchased alongside a hunting license:1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime
- State Duck Stamp: $192.95 (under 2 / 50+), $244.05 (ages 2–11), $295.35 (ages 12–49)
- Wildlife Heritage: $291.80, all ages
- Saltwater Reef Fish Endorsement: $220.00, all ages
The lifetime state duck stamp does not replace the federal duck stamp, which waterfowl hunters age 16 and older must still buy every year.
Veteran Discounts
Resident military veterans with a service-connected disability pay dramatically reduced prices. For a lifetime hunting license:1Outdoor Alabama. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division License Manual – Lifetime
- 40% or more disabled: $72.60 if under 50, $36.30 if 50 or older
- 100% disabled: $54.50 if under 50, $30.25 if 50 or older
A one-time $1.20 issuance fee is added to every veteran lifetime purchase.
Why Prices Go Up Every Year
Alabama recalculates lifetime license fees annually using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries recommends the adjustment, the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources reviews it, and the Legislative Council has until the end of April to reject it. If the council doesn’t act, the new prices take effect on September 1 for the coming license year.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 9-11-68 – Cost Adjustments Prices have climbed steadily from the statutory base set in 2007, so waiting almost always costs more.3Outdoor Alabama. Resident Lifetime Licenses
Who Qualifies to Buy
Only Alabama residents are eligible. The statute uses the same residency standard as the annual license: a permanent home in the state and the intent to stay indefinitely.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 9-11-65 – Lifetime Resident Hunting, Freshwater Fishing and Combination Licenses Nonresidents cannot buy any lifetime license.
There is no minimum age. A parent or legal guardian can apply on behalf of a minor. Federal law requires every applicant to provide a Social Security number, so you’ll need the child’s SSN when buying for a minor.
Anyone born on or after August 1, 1977, must complete an approved hunter safety course before hunting. The course is available starting at age 10 and becomes a practical requirement at 16, when a hunting license is required to hunt. Buying a lifetime license for a young child is allowed, but the child will need hunter education before hunting on their own.5Outdoor Alabama. Youth Hunting
What the Price Doesn’t Include
A lifetime hunting license replaces the annual base license, but several extra requirements still apply and each carries its own cost or paperwork:3Outdoor Alabama. Resident Lifetime Licenses
- Federal Duck Stamp, required annually for waterfowl hunters 16 and older6U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Federal Duck Stamp
- Free HIP certification each season for anyone hunting migratory birds7Outdoor Alabama. Harvest Information Program (HIP)
- A separate annual WMA license to hunt deer or turkey on a Wildlife Management Area, plus the free permit and map for each specific WMA
None of these are expensive individually, but skipping the WMA license or HIP certification can produce a citation in the field.
Where to Buy
Alabama sells lifetime licenses through several channels:3Outdoor Alabama. Resident Lifetime Licenses
- Online at alabamainteractive.org/dcnr_license
- By phone at 1-888-848-6887 (convenience fees apply)
- In person at a county probate office, license commissioner, local license agent, or DCNR district office
- By mail to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Montgomery
The application form can be downloaded at outdooralabama.com. You’ll need proof of residency, your age, and your Social Security number. For a minor, a parent or legal guardian submits the application.