Frequently Asked Questions

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Typically land owned by Idaho Department of Fish and Game is for the purpose of public use.  However there are restrictions on many of our wildlife management areas (e.g. some are closed to big game hunting, some to waterfowl hunting, etc.). Land owned by other State of Idaho agencies may have restrictions as well. If this property is a farm, remember that all cultivated land is considered to be legally posted and you must obtain permission. This is one of those questions that is hard to answer in detail online. Please contact the Regional Office in which the property is located so you can describe the property in questions.  We want to provide accurate information.  You can also check the hunting rules for the species you wish to hunt.  They contain information about our properties and closures.

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Most of the elk migration will not happen until late Novemeber or December.  Elk could also be found at any elevation this time of year.  They will seek out areas with good security cover and good forage until snow and cold temperatures push them out of those areas towards their winter range.  Through past research IDFG has observed most of the elk in the western part of unit 61 will winter in Montana, while most of those in the eastern part of the unit will winter near the St. Anthony sand dunes.

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Hi Jack, I can answer one of those species pretty simply - there are no pheasants that I know of on Red Ridge. However, it is likely that there are grouse - perhaps blue (now called dusky) grouse and/or ruffed grouse.  There may be cottontails, although snowshoe hares are likely more common.  And there are likely some turkeys, although probably in low numbers.   If you have any other questions, you can ask them here or call me at the McCall office: 634-8137. Regan Berkley Regional Wildlife Manager

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You and your son can purchase a hunter's passport at a vendor or through the Idaho Fish and Game Department. The passport exempts you from taking hunter education this year in order to hunt. The passport expires at the end of the calendar year. That means that the next time you come to Idaho to hunt, if born after January 1, 1975, and have never held a hunting license anywhere, you will be required to take a hunter safety course through a fish and game department in order to purchase a hunting license. The Hunters Passport you will be required: To hunt with someone that is 18 years old or older and is a licensed hunter. You are "super-glued" to their side at all times during the hunt You carry the passport on your body at all times during the hunt The passport expires December 31, 2014. The licensed hunter can only have up to 2 menored hunters with him at one time. Along with the passport, you will purchase whatever tags you need for nonresidents. 10 year olds can hunt big game in Idaho. For more information, you can call our licensing section at 208-334-2592.

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Over the years we have received many suggestions from our customers about having the ability to print their license from home. In the spring of 2013 we made a change to our Internet purchase site that now allows hunters and anglers to print their license instead of receiving it in the maile. Per our front page and the purchase confirmation page, licenses are now to be printed by the person making the purchase via the Internet. Below is a section from the front page of our purchase website.BEFORE you continue.Some - but not all - licenses and tags can be printed on your own printer. If your hunting or fishing requires a tag or permit to be notched, validated, or attached to the harvested animal within the next 7-10 days, you should consider purchasing your license, tag, and/or permit through a license vendor in the State of Idaho. What you can print at home....Items such as hunting or fishing licenses and controlled hunt applications can be printed on your home printer. You will only have ONE chance to print the license on your printer. Make sure your printer is on and working properly BEFORE clicking on the print button. Printer requirements. You do have a couple of options for getting your license: You can contact one of our Department Regional or Headquarters office for a duplicate license to be mailed to you. When you are in Idaho you may get a duplicate at a Department Regional or Headquarters office. You may purchase a duplicate license on-line (you will need to make sure you have a printer to print the license) You may purchase a duplicate license at any Idaho license vendor. If you have additional questions, please contact us at 208-334-3700.

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The regular deer tag can only be used during the seasons listed in the big game regulation booklets for the regular deer. It cannot be used in seasons listed for the white-tailed deer tag. Please give us a call at 208-334-3700 if you have additional questions.

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You can use bait for trapping coyotes, however you cannot use any part of a domestic or wild origin game bird, big game, upland game, game fish, or protected nongame wildlife for bait in trapping furbearing animals, unprotected wildlife, or predatory wildlife. In addition bait for trapping is defined as any animal parts; except bleached bones or liquid scent is not considered bait. See page 45 of the upland game, furbearer, and turkey rules. Refer to page 44-47 for answers on trapping rules, methods, and defenitions.

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If you were designated the tag, there is not a waiting period. The waiting period is for those who draw an antlered only hunt during the first deer and elk drawing. Please contact us at 208-334-3700 if you have additional questions.

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Coyotes are classified as predatory wildlife.  Fish and Game does not prohibit the use of bait for hunting predatory wildlife (coyotes).  Using the edible portion of harvested game animals as described in Idaho Code 36-1202 is not allowed.  Consult with the land management agency as well to determine if they have any restrictions on placing substances to bait coyotes.

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Yes a semiautomatic 9mm carbine rifle could be used to hunt deer during the general season. Fully automatic weapons are of course illegal. This weapon would not be legal during any short range weapon hunt. I would suggest instead using a bolt action rifle however, of a larger caliber for the reasons that it is simple, reliable, and safe. A 9mm could easily be deflected by bone and other tough parts found in larger big game animals such as deer. Would a 9mm kill a deer? Certainly but quick HUMANE kills should be the goal of every hunter and sportsman. A 9mm, even in a rifle is underpowered for big game hunting. It's a question of ethics and sportsmanship.

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CRP land is privately owned.  If it is not clearly cultivated or irrigated we recommend the owner post the property if they wish to prevent access.  If you know it is privately owned I recommend you obtain permission.  Some of the older CRP parcels have sage brush growing and it is next to impossible to tell if it has been cultivated.  These are the cases in which we recommend the landowner post the property if the intent is to prevent access.   It is unlawful to post public property; contact your local Conservation Officer or County Sheriff's Office.