What is a Hunter Report?
The report is a quick and easy questionnaire about your hunt this season. When you file your Hunter Report, you give critical hunt and harvest information to wildlife managers, which directly affects decisions about next year’s hunting seasons.
How do I file?
Step 1 - Go to the online reporting site, answer the questions and hit the submit button.
Step 2 - Click the button to start
You can also call 1-877-268-9365 to speak to a live operator to file your Hunter Report. Have your license or tag number available.
Thank you for reporting early!
Questions and Answers
Q. Who needs to file a Hunter Report?
A. If you purchased a deer, elk or pronghorn tag in Idaho, you need to file a Hunter Report, even if you did not hunt or did not harvest an animal. The law guiding Hunter Reports requires a hunter to file a report within 10 days of the end of his or her season, at the latest.
Q. How do I file a Hunter Report?
A. To get started, go here or call the toll-free 1-877-268-9365 to speak to a live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have your license or tag number available. If you don't know your tag number, the operator will take steps to verify your identity, then look up your tag number.
Q. What questions will be asked?
A. You will be asked if you hunted, the number of days and the game management units you hunted.
If you harvested an animal, you will be asked additional questions, such as the date of harvest, sex of an animal, the number of antler points on deer or elk, or the length of horns on pronghorn (in inches), and the weapon used.
Q. Why is December 1 important?
A. Some late-season hunts go until December 31. Idaho Fish & Game begins analysis of the hunter report data at the beginning of January, and collecting harvest information as early as possible helps Fish and Game begin the process of setting next year’s hunting season. The earlier Fish and Game can set next year’s seasons, the more it helps hunters with planning for next year’s hunts.
Additionally, any hunts that end after December 31 will be part of the following year’s hunter report analysis.
Q. Is there another way to get this information?
A. The Hunter Report is one of the best ways to get hunting and harvest information at a game management unit level.
Idaho Fish and Game has collected hunting and harvest information since the 1950s beginning with check stations. Check stations are a good way to contact hunters and to collect biological data from the animals, but Fish and Game really needs to hear from hunters all across the state to estimate the number of animals harvested.
Q. How is the information used?
A. Wildlife managers use the information to make changes to next year’s seasons.
Hunting behavior and harvest estimates, along with aerial counts and other information, are important tools wildlife managers use to monitor big game populations in a particular game unit over time.
Q. How does reporting early benefit me?
A. Most hunters like seeing harvest estimates well before the application period for fall controlled hunts. If Fish and Game receives hunter data as early as possible, wildlife managers are able to complete the harvest estimates sooner for you to use in planning your trip next fall.
Also, without timely hunting and harvest information, managers are forced to be more conservative with hunting opportunities. When Fish and Game receives hunter data as early as possible, it provides a more complete picture of game populations to base decisions on for next year’s seasons.
