New In 2026: Pheasant season opens Oct. 15 statewide

Pheasant hunters, listen up. New this year, pheasant hunting season for residents will open on Oct. 15, statewide. So, whether you call north Idaho or south Idaho home, this year’s season opener will be the same across the board. Additionally, the pheasant season for nonresidents opens Oct. 20.

Also new this year, the daily bag limit for pheasants is three (3) roosters, only two (2) of which can be harvested on Upland Game Bird Permit Release areas. Learn more about these release sites on our Pheasant Stocking Program webpage.

Fish and Game is stocking nearly 29,000 pheasants this year at locations in every region of the state.

Remember that this year’s youth pheasant hunting weekend runs Oct. 8 through Oct. 14. Youth ages 17 years and younger with an Idaho hunting license can participate in the youth pheasant hunt; anyone 18 years or older cannot hunt during the youth hunt. Check out our youth pheasant hunting press release to learn more about this great opportunity to get your kids out into the field.

Know the rules where pheasants are stocked

See below for rules that apply to Upland Game Bird Release areas:

• Any person 18 years old or older must have a valid Upland Game Bird Permit in possession while hunting pheasants on properties where pheasants are released; youth hunters under 18 with a hunting license or passport do not need an Upland Game Bird Permit.
• The daily bag limit is two (2), with a possession limit of six (6).
• Each Upland Game Bird Permit allows the take of six pheasants, and multiple permits may be purchased.
• When a pheasant is reduced to possession, the hunter must immediately validate the permit by entering the harvest date and location in non-erasable ink and remove a notch from the permit for each pheasant taken.
• Shooting hours are from 10 a.m. to one half hour after sunset, during the pheasant season, except for in the Clearwater Region, where shooting hours begin at 8 a.m. and online sign-up is required.
• All upland game bird hunters are required to wear at least 36 squares inches of visible hunter orange above the waist during pheasant season (a hunter orange hat typically meets this requirement). This applies to all upland game bird hunters on Upland Game Bird Permit Release Areas, not just those pursuing pheasants. This is not a requirement for upland game hunters who are hunting other sites.
• The permit is not required to hunt any other upland game bird species in Idaho, including in Upland Game Bird Permit Release areas.
• The Upland Game Bird Permit is not required for pheasant hunting outside of Upland Game Bird Permit Release areas.
• Pheasant hunting rules, including shooting hours and bag limits, are different for hunting outside of areas where pheasants are stocked. Those rules can also be found in the Idaho Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer seasons and rules, and are largely unchanged from previous years.

Still have questions or want to learn more about pheasant hunting in Idaho? Check out our Pheasant Hunting webpage or review pages 11-13 of the 2026-2027 Idaho Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer Seasons and Rules booklet.