Do you have a PhD?  Then you can figure out what you owe Illinois.  I go to Walmart, they look up my past license, I pay them whatever.  I think it was $15 last year.

 

Electronic Inland Trout Stamp      $6.50

Electronic Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp  $6.50

Interstate Minnow Dealer License             $500.00

Non-Resident

Non-Resident Commercial Fishing Device Tags A  $6.50

Non-Resident Sport Fishing License (24 hour)       $10.50

Non-Resident Fishing License (3 day)        $15.50

Non-Resident Fishing License      $31.50

Non-Resident Commercial Fishing Device Tags B  $36.50

Non-Resident Aquatic Life Dealer License              $100.75

Non-Resident Initial Commercial Fishing License  $300.50

Non-Resident Commercial Roe Dealer License      $1500.50

Non-Resident Mussel Dealer License        $2500.75

Non-Resident Commercial Roe Harvester License               $3500.00

Resident

Resident Super Senior Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp         $0.50

Resident Super Senior Inland Trout Stamp             $0.50

Resident Super Senior Fishing License      $1.50

Resident Super Senior Sportsman Combo Hunting and Fishing License      $2.75

Resident Commercial Fishing Device License Tags A           $3.50

Resident Retail Minnow Dealer License   $5.50

Resident Sport Fishing License (24 hour)  $5.50

Resident Veteran Fishing License (Prior Certification Required)      $7.75

Resident Senior Fishing License   $7.75

Resident Retail Aquatic Life Dealer License            $10.50

Resident Senior Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License            $13.50

Resident Veteran Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License (Prior Certification Required)             $13.50

Resident Fishing License $15.00

I've had a free hunting and fishing license, including deer tags, since I've been 65 in GA but pay $50 each for fresh and salt water non-resident in FL every year.  Cheap @ twice the price.

My License actually is due for renewal TODAY. So thanks for the reminder! 
I think Fl. Freshwater license is 30.00 now. In 2 years it’ll be free for me if I can just make it to 65.😬

Couple of years ago reached the magic age and got a lifetime for like $35 here in Virginia.  I also buy an annual in Michigan and a 10 or 15 day in Florida.  

15 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Divide the cost by the number of hours per year that you fish in your state while enjoying its natural resources.

No kidding.  Mine comes out to 41 cents per outing in 2023.

 

Just going through this thread, it appears that the privilege of fishing is very reasonable in every state.  Certainly a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a non-resident hunting license.

Affordable yes, it’s the way they waste the surplus that leaves a bit to be desired 

My fishing license and trout stamp is free in NJ since I hit 70. 

Thanks to this thread, I did a little research and discovered that I can pay $30 in 2024 and be licensed for life. So, thanks, @gimruis!

6 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

I've had a free hunting and fishing license, including deer tags, since I've been 65 in GA

 

They don't offer that anymore. You're telling your age 😉 I pay $7.

 

I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a license if I could see some results from it. The lake I fish has only been stocked once in the past twenty years, I might see a Game Warden once a year, and it's the busiest (state) park in the state.

18 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Then look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, honestly: What other activity could I possibly do that would be greater bang-for-the-buck in total recreational value per hour given this usage fee?

In pa you have to get petitions signed and then they have to find federal grant money to make improvements to ramps, waterways, etc. just makes you wonder where all the millions of dollars it generates a year really goes.  I don’t argue it’s a bang for buck costs but, that is what is what people gripe about. Especially when every couple years they talk about raising fishing licenses just to pay for state workers pensions. Ones that have nothing to do with fishing.

I purchased my Lifetime Fishing Permit in my early 20's, the small investment when I was young has already paid for its self. I never have to buy one in Nebraska again, it is always in my tackle bag. 

1 hour ago, Susky River Rat said:

Especially when every couple years they talk about raising fishing licenses just to pay for state workers pensions

They don’t raise ours often. In fact, a residential angling license and a small game hunting license here in MN stayed the same for almost 20 years. They have all recently gone up though.

 

I’d willingly pay quite a bit more than $13.50/year here to see more enforcement officers. Our lakes, rivers, parks, and accesses are pretty well maintained but I have literally never encountered an officer in almost 30 years of fishing and hunting here. Not once.

I have a lifetime VA freshwater and saltwater license. The price decreases with age starting at $265 for 44 and under. At 65 or older it's $25 for fresh and $5 more for salt.

 

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/lifetime-license-application-resident.pdf

I got a NC lifetime Sportsman license decades ago.  I don't remember what it cost.  I looked up the NC fees for this thread.  Inland fishing for a resident is $25 per year.  $45 for a non resident.   My non resident SC license is $35 per year,  or $105 for 3 years.  No discounts for the 3 years license but that's the way I do it so I don't have to renew every year. 

I pay $10.50 for my annual fishing license here in Arkansas. My trout license is an additional $10.00. This will be my last annual as I turn 65 next year. At that point, it's another $10.50 for my senior citizen license and another $10.00 for the senior citizen trout license. Last one's I'll have to buy.

My license in Illinois will be $15, and due in March. A bargain IMO. 

if you want to deer hunt for half a lifetime, you’re into it for around $10k. Which is why I just beg for venison 

 

 

 

$0.00

Senior lifetime Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Doubt I'll go anywhere else.

 

Retired grass grower

It's still $22.50 for me in NJ. Another $10 with trout stamp. Renewing online adds a $0.96 transaction fee, $0.64 convenience fee and a additional $2 if you'd like a physical copy mailed. Our license expire on 12/31.

19 hours ago, gimruis said:

They don’t raise ours often. In fact, a residential angling license and a small game hunting license here in MN stayed the same for almost 20 years. They have all recently gone up though.

 

I’d willingly pay quite a bit more than $13.50/year here to see more enforcement officers. Our lakes, rivers, parks, and accesses are pretty well maintained but I have literally never encountered an officer in almost 30 years of fishing and hunting here. Not once.

I agree.  I would gladly pay more to see improvements to ramps, enforcement, fish management, etc.   I also think we should charge out of state (Iowa) a much larger fee.   They absolutely crush Minnesota hunters to hunt there.  I understand the resorts etc. need out of staters for income, but still………

3 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

I also think we should charge out of state (Iowa) a much larger fee.   They absolutely crush Minnesota hunters to hunt there.

Yes.  It's a rape job to hunt in Iowa compared to fishing here in MN.  Time to fight fire with fire.

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes.  It's a rape job to hunt in Iowa compared to fishing here in MN.  Time to fight fire with fire.

Absolutely.   I see an awful lot of Iowa plates towing north into MN.   I buy an Iowa fishing listen every year too.  I know I know.   Why?  Okaboji is awesome.  We also have a few tournaments there before our season opens.  

North Carolina use to have lifetime fishing license for free after you turn 65, but I think they did away with it.  Better to buy a lifetime license when you're young and forget about it.

I have four annual licenses here in Florida:

 

Freshwater $17

Saltwater $17

Snook $10

Shark $0

The seniors license is $12.00. The lifetime seniors license is $180.00 These include deer and turkey permits, waterfowl and trout stamp. The license year runs from March 1st to the last day of February. I'm already 72 so I'm not spending the money for a lifetime license.