How You Can Get A Wisconsin Fishing License For Just $5

The Wisconsin fishing opener is here. Starting tomorrow, thousands of anglers will be hitting the water trying their luck. Did you know that some people in Wisconsin can get a fishing license for just $5?

I found this out when I moved to Wisconsin from Minnesota many years ago. I primarily fish the boundary waters of the St. Louis River between Minnesota and Wisconsin (there are some special license regulations for that, too). I learned that if I were fishing the border waters, even if I had a non-resident Minnesota license, I still needed a Wisconsin Fishing license. 

Wisconsin DNR Discounted Licenses

Anyway, I went to get a license, and since it was my first time, I got the license for only $5! That's pretty cool, and I applaud the Wisconsin DNR for having this program. It's for other licenses as well. If it's your first time, you can get a license for $5. It's a good way to get more people into outdoor recreation and hunting, and fishing. They can try it out without having to spend a ton of money.

Read More: I Didn't Know I Needed Two Fishing Licenses To Fish St. Louis River

It's the same reason kids under 16 can fish without a license. We need to grow our populations of anglers and hunters to help conservation efforts in the state.

Discounts For People Returning To Fishing

There's also an opportunity for you to get back into hunting or fishing if it's been a long time. Residents who haven't fished in the last 10 years can return to the sport for just $5.

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Recruitment Discounts

There's also a program for recruiting new anglers. Resident anglers who recruit someone new to purchase a first-time buy license can earn points. Those points can be used to reduce the price of their license as well.

Read more about the opportunities to Go Wild and get outdoors in Wisconsin.