Where are hunting licenses most common?
South Dakota certified 24.0 paid hunting-license holders for every 100 residents in license year 2024, the most of any state, ahead of Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. California had 0.64. Across the 50 states the rate was 4.6.
2026 edition · data through license year 2024 · next update when USFWS publishes license year 2025
These are license holders, not residents who hunt. A hunter from another state counts in the state that licensed them, and someone licensed in two states counts in both: in South Dakota, 34.7% of hunting licenses went to nonresidents.
Key findings
- 24.0license holders per 100 residents
South Dakota certified 24.0 paid hunting-license holders for every 100 residents in license year 2024, the most of any state.
See the chartCite
USA Arms, “Where are hunting licenses most common?” (2026 edition): South Dakota certified 24.0 paid hunting-license holders for every 100 residents in license year 2024, the most of any state. https://usaarms.com/research/where-hunting-licenses-are-most-common/#finding-highest-rate (source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025 - 0.64license holders per 100 residents
California certified 0.64 paid hunting-license holders per 100 residents in license year 2024, the fewest of any state; South Dakota’s rate was 38 times higher.
See the chartCite
USA Arms, “Where are hunting licenses most common?” (2026 edition): California certified 0.64 paid hunting-license holders per 100 residents in license year 2024, the fewest of any state; South Dakota’s rate was 38 times higher. https://usaarms.com/research/where-hunting-licenses-are-most-common/#finding-lowest-rate (source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025 - 12states
12 of the 50 states certified at least 10 paid hunting-license holders per 100 residents in license year 2024.
See the chartCite
USA Arms, “Where are hunting licenses most common?” (2026 edition): 12 of the 50 states certified at least 10 paid hunting-license holders per 100 residents in license year 2024. https://usaarms.com/research/where-hunting-licenses-are-most-common/#finding-states-above-ten (source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025 - 1,117,858license holders
Texas certified the most paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024, 1,117,858, but only 3.6 per 100 residents, 35th of 50 states.
See the chartCite
USA Arms, “Where are hunting licenses most common?” (2026 edition): Texas certified the most paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024, 1,117,858, but only 3.6 per 100 residents, 35th of 50 states. https://usaarms.com/research/where-hunting-licenses-are-most-common/#finding-most-holders (source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025 - 4.6license holders per 100 residents
Across the 50 states, 15,751,337 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024 came to 4.6 for every 100 residents, down from 4.8 in 2010.
See the chartCite
USA Arms, “Where are hunting licenses most common?” (2026 edition): Across the 50 states, 15,751,337 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024 came to 4.6 for every 100 residents, down from 4.8 in 2010. https://usaarms.com/research/where-hunting-licenses-are-most-common/#finding-national-rate (source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025
Hunting-license holders per 100 residents, 2024
Paid hunting-license holders each state certified for license year 2024, for every 100 residents on Census’s July 1, 2024 estimate. Darker states have more holders per resident.
License year 2024 · license holders per 100 residents
- Under 2.2
- 2.2–5.3
- 5.3–8.4
- 8.4–11
- 11 or more
4 primary sources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations; U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019; U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025; U.S. Census TIGERweb state boundaries, January 1, 2026
Read the chart values
Every state, ranked
Paid hunting-license holders per 100 residents, license year 2024, highest first. Open a state for its count and its nonresident share.
License year 2024 · license holders per 100 residents
Read the chart values
The 50-state rate, 2010 to 2024
Paid hunting-license holders in all 50 states for every 100 of their residents, each license year since 2010, the first year of the population estimates used here.
License years 2010 to 2024 · license holders per 100 residents
Read the chart values
The numbers behind the findings
Paid hunting-license holders, Census residents and holders per 100 residents for each state and the 50-state total, license years 2010 to 2024, with resident and nonresident licenses sold.
Download all 765 rows (CSV) · JSON
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit USA Arms and link to this study.
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Explore the states
Open a state for its figures and its statistics page.
Browse all 50 states
Alabama
Alabama certified 497,063 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 9.6 per 100 residents, 14th of 50 states. 8.4% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Alaska
Alaska certified 87,159 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 11.8 per 100 residents, 9th of 50 states. 16.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Arizona
Arizona certified 303,298 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 4.0 per 100 residents, 32nd of 50 states. 22.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Arkansas
Arkansas certified 331,401 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 10.7 per 100 residents, 11th of 50 states. 34.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
California
California certified 251,590 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 0.64 per 100 residents, 50th of 50 states. 3.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Colorado
Colorado certified 378,763 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 6.3 per 100 residents, 28th of 50 states. 33.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Connecticut
Connecticut certified 25,903 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 0.70 per 100 residents, 48th of 50 states. 5.4% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Delaware
Delaware certified 15,399 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 1.5 per 100 residents, 43rd of 50 states. 12.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Florida
Florida certified 265,018 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 1.1 per 100 residents, 44th of 50 states. 10.3% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Georgia
Georgia certified 815,738 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 7.3 per 100 residents, 25th of 50 states. 12.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Hawaii
Hawaii certified 15,296 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 1.1 per 100 residents, 45th of 50 states. 14.4% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Idaho
Idaho certified 300,759 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 15.0 per 100 residents, 6th of 50 states. 14.3% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Illinois
Illinois certified 282,380 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 2.2 per 100 residents, 40th of 50 states. 10.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Indiana
Indiana certified 252,645 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 3.6 per 100 residents, 33rd of 50 states. 6.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Iowa
Iowa certified 222,692 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 6.9 per 100 residents, 26th of 50 states. 12.8% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Kansas
Kansas certified 282,124 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 9.5 per 100 residents, 15th of 50 states. 43.6% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Kentucky
Kentucky certified 315,758 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 6.9 per 100 residents, 27th of 50 states. 24.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Louisiana
Louisiana certified 451,343 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 9.8 per 100 residents, 13th of 50 states. 10.6% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Maine
Maine certified 208,206 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 14.8 per 100 residents, 7th of 50 states. 12.2% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Maryland
Maryland certified 111,027 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 1.8 per 100 residents, 42nd of 50 states. 21.9% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts certified 60,377 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 0.85 per 100 residents, 46th of 50 states. 9.4% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Michigan
Michigan certified 632,144 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 6.3 per 100 residents, 29th of 50 states. 4.3% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Minnesota
Minnesota certified 527,774 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 9.1 per 100 residents, 17th of 50 states. 4.3% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Mississippi
Mississippi certified 271,751 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 9.2 per 100 residents, 16th of 50 states. 21.9% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Missouri
Missouri certified 521,787 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 8.4 per 100 residents, 20th of 50 states. 6.9% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Montana
Montana certified 233,193 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 20.5 per 100 residents, 2nd of 50 states. 20.3% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Nebraska
Nebraska certified 266,748 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 13.3 per 100 residents, 8th of 50 states. 20.8% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Nevada
Nevada certified 111,210 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 3.4 per 100 residents, 36th of 50 states. 28.3% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire certified 59,947 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 4.3 per 100 residents, 31st of 50 states. 14.9% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
New Jersey
New Jersey certified 67,305 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 0.71 per 100 residents, 47th of 50 states. 11.6% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
New Mexico
New Mexico certified 160,081 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 7.5 per 100 residents, 24th of 50 states. 34.6% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
New York
New York certified 533,479 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 2.7 per 100 residents, 39th of 50 states. 7.5% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
North Carolina
North Carolina certified 581,521 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 5.3 per 100 residents, 30th of 50 states. 7.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
North Dakota
North Dakota certified 148,512 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 18.7 per 100 residents, 4th of 50 states. 29.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Ohio
Ohio certified 359,811 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 3.0 per 100 residents, 37th of 50 states. 11.5% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma certified 356,283 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 8.7 per 100 residents, 18th of 50 states. 25.5% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Oregon
Oregon certified 330,416 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 7.7 per 100 residents, 23rd of 50 states. 7.5% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania certified 1,031,218 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 7.9 per 100 residents, 22nd of 50 states. 5.0% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island certified 7,378 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 0.66 per 100 residents, 49th of 50 states. 16.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
South Carolina
South Carolina certified 199,114 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 3.6 per 100 residents, 34th of 50 states. 11.7% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
South Dakota
South Dakota certified 222,875 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 24.0 per 100 residents, 1st of 50 states. 34.7% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Tennessee
Tennessee certified 734,342 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 10.1 per 100 residents, 12th of 50 states. 8.7% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Texas
Texas certified 1,117,858 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 3.6 per 100 residents, 35th of 50 states. 4.8% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Utah
Utah certified 282,841 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 8.1 per 100 residents, 21st of 50 states. 14.5% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Vermont
Vermont certified 55,171 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 8.5 per 100 residents, 19th of 50 states. 11.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Virginia
Virginia certified 251,350 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 2.8 per 100 residents, 38th of 50 states. 7.0% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Washington
Washington certified 163,801 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 2.1 per 100 residents, 41st of 50 states. 2.8% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
West Virginia
West Virginia certified 278,193 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 15.7 per 100 residents, 5th of 50 states. 23.6% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin certified 652,399 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 11.0 per 100 residents, 10th of 50 states. 6.4% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
Wyoming
Wyoming certified 118,896 paid hunting-license holders in license year 2024: 20.3 per 100 residents, 3rd of 50 states. 26.1% of the hunting licenses it sold went to nonresidents.
How we calculated this
License holders are the paid hunting-license holders each state certifies to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a license year, which can be the state’s fiscal year or its own license season. They come from USFWS’s hunting license data in the USA Arms statistics edition.
Residents are the Census Bureau’s July 1 resident population estimate for the same calendar year as the license year.
Holders per 100 residents is a state’s holders divided by its residents, times 100. The 50-state rate adds up every state’s holders and every state’s residents; the District of Columbia and the territories are not included.
The nonresident share is nonresident licenses divided by resident and nonresident licenses together, as each state reported them for the license year.
The data file has every state and the 50-state total for each license year from 2010 to 2024.
Limits
- License holders are not residents or people: a hunter from another state counts where they are licensed, and a hunter licensed in two states counts in both.
- Each state sets who must buy a license. Hunters a state exempts, such as some landowners, young hunters or seniors, are not counted as paid holders.
- License years follow each state’s own calendar, so they do not line up exactly with the July 1 population date.
Sources
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Wildlife Restoration and Hunter Education apportionments, license inputs, and project observations
- U.S. Census Bureau · Annual state resident population estimates, Vintage 2025
- U.S. Census Bureau · Intercensal state resident population estimates, 2010–2019
- U.S. Census TIGERweb state boundaries, January 1, 2026
Cite this study
USA Arms, “Where are hunting licenses most common?” (2026 edition). https://usaarms.com/research/where-hunting-licenses-are-most-common/