If you are 16 years or older, an Arkansas fishing license is required to take or attempt to take game fish, turtles or frogs in Arkansas, unless you are fishing in a licensed "put and take pay lake." The license must be carried with you. You may not possess a license that belongs to someone else or one that has been altered, backdated or counterfeited.

If you are a nonresident, you may not possess a resident license. If you guide, aid or assist someone else in fishing for hire, you must have a guide license.

To find out if you need a commercial license, call 501-223-6386 for a copy of Commercial Fishing Regulations.

License Retailers

Most licenses can be purchased from sporting goods stores, hunting and fishing supplies stores, some discount chains and the AGFC’s Little Rock or regional offices.

You can call 223-6349 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the Little Rock area. Or you can call 1-800-364-GAME (1-800-364-4263) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Please have your credit card and an identification number ready. Your identification number can be a driver’s license, social security number, hunter education number, state ID number or passport number. Your hunting or fishing privileges become effective immediately and your license will arrive in the mail in a few days. Lifetime and commercial licenses are not available by phone or online.

Licenses can now be purchased online. You will be asked to supply personal information and a Visa or Mastercard number. The license itself will be printed on your home printer. Click for more information and try the demo!

License Expiration
Unless it is a 3, 7 or 14 day license, one year from the date of purchase.

License Replacement

You may be able to get a replacement for a lost license at a reduced cost. Call 501-223-6349 for details.

Resident License Qualifications

A resident is any person who has established a bona fide or actual residence for at least sixty days prior to applying for a license, and who declares intentions of becoming a citizen of Arkansas.

Also, the following students (who must carry proof of full-time enrollment in schools, colleges or universities while hunting or fishing in Arkansas) are eligible to purchase a resident licenses: Resident foreign exchange students attending school outside of Arkansas; nonresident foreign exchange students attending school in Arkansas; residents of Arkansas enrolled as full-time students in colleges and universities outside of Arkansas; and nonresidents enrolled as full-time students in colleges and universities in Arkansas.

Ownership of Arkansas real estate by a person living outside the state does not qualify the owner as a resident.

Active duty servicemen and women permanently assigned in Arkansas are granted resident privileges for hunting and fishing. Active duty servicemen and women who were Arkansas residents at the time of entering service are also granted resident privileges for hunting and fishing, regardless of where they are currently stationed.

Lifetime License Qualifications

65 Plus Lifetime Fishing License ($10.50) entitles persons 65 years of age and older to the privileges of the Resident Fisheries Conservation License. A 65 Plus Lifetime trout permit (purchased once after age 65) must also be purchased to retain trout or to fish in certain waters. Proof of applicant’s age and three-year’s Arkansas residency is required to apply for this license.

65 Plus Lifetime Combination License - PLC ($35.50) entitles Arkansas residents 65 years of age and older to the privileges of the Resident Sportsman’s License (hunting) and the Resident Fisheries Conservation License (fishing). HIP registration is required to hunt migratory gamebirds. To hunt waterfowl, a 65 Plus Lifetime waterfowl permit (purchased once after age 65) and federal waterfowl stamps are required in addition to HIP. A lifetime Trout permit (purchased once after age 65) must also be purchased to fish in certain waters. Proof of applicant’s age and three year’s Arkansas residency is required to apply for this license.

These two licenses are available from the Commission’s Little Rock office or AGFC regional offices. If you wish to purchase a license in person, bring proof of your age, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate or military record and proof of three years Arkansas residency, such as property assessments, Arkansas income tax forms, driver’s licenses etc. Applications and information are available by calling 1-800-364-4263 or (501) 223-6388 in the Little Rock area Monday-Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Lifetime licenses are not available by phone order or online.

Non-Expiring Lifetime Resident Hunting and Fishing Sportsman’s Permit - LSP ($1,000.00) entitles purchasers of any age to the privileges of the Resident Sportsman’s License (hunting) and the resident Fisheries Conservation License (fishing). Fees for trout permits, leased land permits, elk permits, state waterfowl stamps and wildlife management area permit hunts are waived with this license. License holders must, however, apply for WMA hunts and be successfully drawn before being issued a permit. HIP registration is required to hunt migratory gamebirds. To hunt waterfowl, federal waterfowl stamps are required in addition to HIP.

This permit is only available from the Commission’s Little Rock office. If you wish to apply in person, bring proof of identification and residency, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, marriage license or military record. Applications are available at AGFC regional offices or by calling 1-800-364-4263 (223-6388 in the Little Rock area). Lifetime licenses are not available by phone order or online. Proof of one year’s Arkansas residency is required to apply for this license.

3-Year Disability License

Resident 3-Year Disability Fishing License ($10.50) entitles all 100% totally and permanently disabled persons privileges of the Resident Fisheries Conservation License. A trout permit must also be purchased to retain trout or to fish in certain waters. Certification will be accepted from Social Security, Veteran's Affairs or Railroad Retirement. Proof of one year’s Arkansas residency is required to apply for this license. Valid for three years from date of purchase, recertification is required for license renewal.

Resident 3-Year Disability Combination License - RDC ($35.50) entitles all 100% totally and permanently disabled persons privileges of the Resident Sportsman’s License (hunting) and the Resident Fisheries Conservation License (fishing). HIP registration is required to hunt migratory gamebirds. To hunt waterfowl, state and federal waterfowl stamps are required in addition to HIP. A Trout permit must also be purchased to fish in certain waters. Certification will be accepted from Social Security, Veteran's Affairs or Railroad Retirement. Proof of one year’s Arkansas residency is required to apply for this license. Valid for three years from date of purchase, recertification is required for license renewal.

These two licenses are only available from the Commission’s Little Rock office. If you wish to purchase a license, bring proof of one years Arkansas residency, such as driver’s licenses, state ID, property assessments, Arkansas income tax forms and acceptable proof of disability. Applications and information are available by calling 1-800-364-4263 or (501)223-6349 in the Little Rock area Monday-Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 3-Year Disability licenses are not available by phone order or online.

Resident Fishing Licenses	Price
Resident Fisheries Conservation License	$10.50
Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License	$6.50
Resident Trout Permit	$5.00
Resident Guide License, Fishing	$25.00
White River Border Lakes License	$10.00
Nonresident Fishing Licenses	Price
Nonresident Trout Permit	$12.00
Nonresident Annual Fishing License	$32.00
Nonresident 3-Day Trip Fishing License	$11.00
Nonresident 7-Day Trip Fishing License	$17.00
Nonresident 14-Day Trip Fishing License	$22.00
Nonresident Guide License, Fishing	$150.00

Reciprocal Agreements with Adjacent States

Mississippi and Arkansas jointly recognize the validity of Arkansas resident hunting licenses on Mississippi lands that lie west of the main channel of the Mississippi River. Mississippi resident hunting licenses are valid on Arkansas lands that lie east of the main channel. Resident license holders of either state may hunt migratory waterfowl only on flowing waters of the Mississippi River, on waters accessible by boat from the main channel of the Mississippi River or on state line lakes when the season is open in both states. The St. Francis, White and Arkansas rivers and their oxbows are excluded from this agreement. Floodwater which has overflowed natural banks is not included in this agreement. Hunters must obey the regulations of the state in which hunting occurs.

Tennessee and Arkansas recognize the hunting licenses of both states on the flowing waters of the Mississippi River, adjacent waters which are accessible by boat from the river proper and the old river chutes that form a common boundary. Excluded are wildlife management areas established by either state and the Wolf, Loosahatchie, Hatchie, Forked Deer and Obion rivers. Migratory waterfowl may be hunted on these waters by a license holder of either state when the season is open in both states. Hunters may not hunt from, nor attach any device or equipment to, land under the jurisdiction of the state in which they are not licensed. Hunters must obey regulations of the state that issues the license. Holders of nonresident licenses issued by either state have the same privileges as a licensed resident.