Lifetime Hunting, Fishing License Available in North Carolina

Want the perfect baby gift? North Carolina has it. A lifetime hunting and fishing license.

“The license for infants under a year old is very popular,” said John Hill of the state’s Wildlife Resources Commission’s division of administrative services. “They’re sold to people like a sportsman-father or grandfather who’d like to see the child follow in their footsteps.”

North Carolina set up a lifetime license program under the Wildlife Endowment Fund of 1981.

“Since then, we have supplied information on our program to numerous states,” said Hill, who was uncertain how many other states have implemented similar programs.

Through March, North Carolina had sold 17,688 lifetime licenses totaling $4.36 million. That sum already has earned $1.09 million in interest.

Money from the fund, however, can only be used for wildlife conservation programs in the state.

North Carolina’s program offers six basic licenses:

--A lifetime sportsman’s license for those 12 years of age and older, including all of the state’s hunting and fishing licenses: $300.

--The same lifetime sportsman’s license for an infant under age 1: $100.

--Lifetime sportsman’s license for children under 12: $200.

--A lifetime hunting license, which does not include big game tags or fees for public land hunts: $150.

--A lifetime fishing license:$150.

A non-resident lifetime sportsman’s license: $500.

The bargain-basement prices for infants’ and children’s licenses work out well for both the child and the wildlife commission because the law requires that all money from the sale of those licenses be invested and not used until the child is 16.

“The philosophy of that is in North Carolina, until a child is 16 and becomes an adult as far as a license is concerned, the child has free use of the game and fish resources,” Hill said. “So that money has 16 years to draw interest. We hope by that time to have earned the rest of the $300.

In addition, the hunter or fisherman can trade up.

“We are constantly having people who buy a lifetime hunting or fishing license return to trade them in on the sportsman license,” Hill said. “They can do this within an 18-month period after purchase.”

For an extra $5, officials will inscribe a license with a personal note--”Happy Birthday, Dad” or “Love and Fishes.”