If you hunt and fish in West Virginia, you know what it’s like to renew your license at the beginning of each year. It doesn’t take long, but it can get expensive if you hunt and fish. But it’s all a small price to pay to enjoy your favorite outdoor hobby, and it feels good to know that your license dollars directly fund wildlife and habitat conservation.
Back to those license and stamp fees, though. If you’re an avid outdoorsman or woman who hunts and fishes and tries to take additional deer, you can easily spend more than $100 each year. That adds up quick.
But what if you never had to renew your license again? Think about all the money you could save. And there’s something reassuring about knowing that you can enjoy hunting and fishing every year. That’s why a resident lifetime hunting and fishing license is one of the best things you can buy.
Buying a lifetime hunting and fishing license makes too much sense not to do it.
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you already know about West Virginia’s lifetime hunting and fishing license. A normal combination license, in 2020, costs $35. A resident lifetime license is $805. That’s a huge difference, so we understand if you’ve got sticker shock. But let’s do some math and show you why the price of a lifetime license is a much better deal.
Let’s say you’re 45, just moved to West Virginia and want to enjoy hunting and fishing in your new home state. Should you get a lifetime license? The answer is yes! If you buy a lifetime license today, you only pay $805. If you opt to buy a license every year and hunted until you were 75, you would pay $1,050 over the course of 30 years. Even if you were 50 and hunted until you 75, it would be cheaper to get the lifetime license.
Now, $805 isn’t chump change. We understand that many families have a tight budget. But think about all the other things in life you save up for. A car, a house, a new hunting rifle. These are all things you use and enjoy for years, decades or even longer. A lifetime hunting and fishing license is no different and provides a lifetime of outdoor adventures. So, maybe you can’t afford it this year. That’s OK. Get the regular license and don’t miss a minute of hunting and fishing. But save up your money so you can get a lifetime license next year. A dollar here and a dollar there adds up. You won’t regret it.
Buying a lifetime license for your kids is even cheaper.
So, what if you want to get a resident lifetime license for your newborn child or grandchild so they can enjoy hunting and fishing for the rest of their life? Well, it’s an even better deal! You can buy a lifetime license for an infant anytime before their second birthday for only $402.50.
Now, we know what you’re going to say. “Kids under 15 don’t need a license to hunt and fish in West Virginia, as long as they’re with a licensed adult.” Yes, but what are they going to do when they turn 15? If they have a lifetime hunting and fishing license, they don’t have to worry about missing out and you don’t have to worry about buying their license for them. See what we’re getting at? A lifetime hunting and fishing license is a great deal!
Let’s say you get your kid or grandchild and lifetime license and they go on to hunt and fish until they’re 75. That’s 60 years they don’t have to worry about getting a license. The money they save? $2,100 on the base license alone. Add up the stamps and any future license fee increases, if there are any, and you get the picture.
How do I buy a lifetime hunting and fishing license?
Getting a resident lifetime hunting and fishing license is easy. All you have to do is go to www.wvhunt.com and sign in with your DNR ID and follow the prompts. If you don’t have an ID, you can create one and follow the steps to purchase your license.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your license today and never miss out on hunting and fishing adventures in West Virginia.