There continue to be frequent questions about carrying a license while hunting, fishing, or trapping.
TCA 70-2-101 requires a person to have the requisite license of proper color and design on their person while hunting, fishing or trapping. On your person means exactly that and having it back at the vehicle doesn't meet the statutory requirements. Since cell phones were not available when this law passed in 1951, the electronic version of the license in our current system is not addressed in the statute.
TWRA has addressed the electronic license issue with a law enforcement procedure which makes an electronic version of the license legal if it can be "zoomed up" where all of the information on the license is easily readable. However, if the license can't be accessed due to phone/battery issues or cell coverage issues, it is the same as not having a paper license on your person and would be a violation of the statute.
TCA 70-2-101 requires a person to have the requisite license of proper color and design on their person while hunting, fishing or trapping. On your person means exactly that and having it back at the vehicle doesn't meet the statutory requirements. Since cell phones were not available when this law passed in 1951, the electronic version of the license in our current system is not addressed in the statute.
TWRA has addressed the electronic license issue with a law enforcement procedure which makes an electronic version of the license legal if it can be "zoomed up" where all of the information on the license is easily readable. However, if the license can't be accessed due to phone/battery issues or cell coverage issues, it is the same as not having a paper license on your person and would be a violation of the statute.
