Lifetime Idaho Hunting License???

[tlake]

My buddy who moved back to Washington over a year ago has a Lifetime Idaho Hunting License.  He went to buy a fishing license in Washington and was told he had to buy a non-resident license.  He even call Olympia about and they agreed. Is that really true. What if he move to Maine, I guess he would have to buy a non resident there.

[Pegasus]

My buddy who moved back to Washington over a year ago has a Lifetime Idaho Hunting License.  He went to buy a fishing license in Washington and was told he had to buy a non-resident license.  He even call Olympia about and they agreed. Is that really true. What if he move to Maine, I guess he would have to buy a non resident there.

He can't be a legal resident in two different states when it comes to hunting and fishing licenses unless he is in the military.  If you move outside of Idaho during the life of the license, your resident license will need to be exchanged for a nonresident license.

[idahohuntr]

Not sure whats going on and all the details are important...I live in WA and have a lifetime ID license.  I buy my WA resident licenses no problem...I still have to pay NR fees for Idaho tags, but I have a valid hunting and fishing license...does he have a resident priced 2020 ID tag for anything?

[Buckhunter24]

Wtf, that's not at all the understanding I have of it... the tags still go at the out of state rate when you are out of Idaho and you are a resident of a different state.

[Naches Sportsman]

If he doesnt live in ID anymore, he also should update his new address and residency info to IDFG if he hasn't. Can get in trouble if you don't and you got stopped by fish and game.

Cannot claim residency hunting/fishing licenses in two states at once.

[Buckhunter24]

The lifetime resident license is different than an annual resident license. If you have a wa residency you buy out of state tags in idaho if you have a idaho lifetime license. And then you buy your washington resident license and tags, unless I've completely misunderstood the program.

[BUTTER]

If you buy a lifetime license it does nit matter where you live later. He can walk in and buy a tag as if he is a resident for ever. He will be subject to the non resident price of the tag though

[idahohuntr]

The lifetime resident license is different than an annual resident license. If you have a wa residency you buy out of state tags in idaho if you have a idaho lifetime license. And then you buy your washington resident license and tags, unless I've completely misunderstood the program.

Thats exactly how it works if you have lifetime license and reside in WA.

[nwhunter]

I have had one for 25 years and never had this issue. He must still be set up as a resident of Idaho in the system.. It was the smartest thing I did when I left Idaho buying the lifetime license although I have never drawn a special tag yet!! Just not that lucky....

[tlake]

Thanks for all the replies. I will let him know.

[grundy53]

I have had one for 25 years and never had this issue. He must still be set up as a resident of Idaho in the system.. It was the smartest thing I did when I left Idaho buying the lifetime license although I have never drawn a special tag yet!! Just not that lucky....

I wish I had been smart enough. I was 19 and short on money. 😭

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[LongTatLaw]

This is a repeated issue because of the ridiculous way Washington state overreaches in its definition of residency.

Be careful, they will definitely charge you for hunting with improper licenses if you hunt with resident tags in Washington and another state in the same year. I’ve even seen them do it to military members.

If you qualify as a resident in Washington they shouldn’t have any interest in what a different state and jurisdiction does but they damn sure do.

There are many states that allow you buy lifetime licenses and they remain good for life even if you move out of state and become a resident in another state.

I have lifetime licenses in North Carolina and Virginia and can continue to hunt those states with those tags even when you move with some nuances. But, if hunting in Washington as a resident I must not hunt those states that year because it’s too confusing for them to sell me a non-resident license as a lifetime license holder.


Let me restate my point. Don’t play around with this issue in Washington. You will certainly get charged.

Hunt wa member and attorney Shawn Mcully represents hunters in court on this issue frequently

[Buckhunter24]

The idaho tags are non resident tags. You pay the out of state, non resident tag fee in idaho.