Rulemaking

Idaho Fish and Game conducts numerous forms of rulemaking in compliance with the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act.

Rules passed by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, such as legal equipment definitions, controlled hunt requirements, allowable method of take, and tag quotas are considered rulemaking and must be adopted following the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act, including approval by the Idaho Legislature whose guidance is that formal negotiated rulemaking should be followed whenever feasible.

Public comment is an important part of rule development and will be used to determine feasibility of negotiated rulemaking. Please be aware that public comments will become part of the official public record. If you want to provide comments on one or more of the following proposals, you may do so within each rulemaking docket below.

Season Setting

Season setting includes timing and length, species and sex of animal (or fish), size of animal, and number of animals. Season regulations do not require legislative approval.

It is done through separate means and processes, and on a different webpage. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about wildlife management or enforcement, please contact a Fish and Game regional office.

Current Rulemaking

Docket and Description	Status
Docket No: 13-0103-2501 Public Use of Lands Owned or Controlled by the Department of Fish and Game Zero-base Regulation Rulemaking: This rulemaking concerns the comprehensive review in compliance with Executive Order 2021.01. The agency has identified some technical, duplicative, and non-substantive modifications that may be evaluated for integration. Learn more	The Department has initiated proposed rulemaking. Written comments were accepted from October 1, 2025, to October 22, 2025.
Docket No: 13-0119-2501 Rules for Selecting, Operating, Discontinuing, and Suspending Vendors Zero-base Regulation Rulemaking: This rulemaking concerns the comprehensive review in compliance with Executive Order 2021.01. The agency has identified some technical, duplicative, and non-substantive modifications to be evaluated for integration. Learn more	The Department has initiated proposed rulemaking. Written comments were accepted from October 1, 2025, to October 22, 2025.
Docket No: 13-0104-2401 Rules Governing Licensing Zero-base Regulation Rulemaking: This rulemaking concerns the comprehensive review in compliance with Executive Order 2020-01. The agency has identified some technical, duplicative, obsolete, and non-substantive modifications to be evaluated for integration. The agency has evaluated content of this chapter and IDAPA 13.01.08, “Rules Governing Taking of Big Game Animals,” and in an effort to streamline, has moved relevant content that specifically addresses big game to 13.01.08 and content that addresses general licensing topics has been moved from 13.01.08 to 13.01.04. Learn more	The Department has initiated proposed rulemaking. Written comments were accepted from October 1, 2025, to October 22, 2025.
Docket No. 13-0108-2401 Rules Governing Taking of Big Game Animals Zero-base Regulation Rulemaking: This rulemaking concerns the comprehensive review in compliance with Executive Order 2020-01. The agency has identified some technical, duplicative, obsolete, and non-substantive modifications to be evaluated for integration. The agency has evaluated content of this chapter and IDAPA 13.01.04, “Rules Governing Licensing,” and to streamline, has moved relevant content that specifically addresses big game to 13.01.08 from 13.01.04 and content that addresses general licensing topics from 13.01.08 to 13.01.04. Learn more	The Department has initiated proposed rulemaking. Written comments were accepted from October 1, 2025, to October 22, 2025.
Docket No: 13-0116-2401 Trapping of Wildlife and Taking of Furbearing Animals Zero-base Regulation Rulemaking: This rulemaking concerns the comprehensive review in compliance with Executive Order 2020-01. The agency has identified some technical, duplicative, and non-substantive modifications to be evaluated for integration. Learn more	The Department has initiated proposed rulemaking. Written comments were accepted from October 1, 2025, to October 22, 2025.
Docket No: 13-0117-2401 Rules Governing Use of Bait for Hunting Big Game Animals Zero-base Regulation Rulemaking: This rulemaking concerns the comprehensive review of current rule in compliance with Executive Order 2020-01. Upon review, the Department determined the content of this chapter is best suited in IDAPA 13.01.08, Rules Governing Taking of Big Game Animals. As such, the Department is proposing to repeal IDAPA 13.01.17 and add the reviewed and edited content to IDAPA 13.01.08. Rulemaking meetings evaluated the content of 13.01.17, independent of chapter 13.01.08. The result of the rulemaking meetings and public comment is reflected in new language added to chapter 13.01.08. Learn more	The Department has initiated proposed rulemaking. Written comments were accepted from October 1, 2025, to October 22, 2025.

Idaho Code

Idaho Fish and Game laws are contained in Title 36 of Idaho Code. The Administrative Rules are available on the Internet by the Office of Administrative Rules, Idaho Division of Financial Management. Official copies of the must be obtained through the Office of Administrative Rules.

Administrative Rules

Proposals and Comments

Rulemaking proposals and public comments on current rulemakings should be submitted at the link below. The form is for rulemaking only; all comments and proposals submitted will be considered official. This form is not intended to be used for season setting input or anything outside of the contents of Idaho Administrative Rules.

Submit a proposal or comment