Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes, there is a IDFG Commission rule that allows for a person to apply for a permit to us a non-magnifying scope on your muzzle loader for use during a muzzle loader only big game season. Here is a link to the application and other information.   APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL WEAPON REASONABLE MODIFICATION HUNTING PERMIT TO USE A NONMAGNIFYING SCOPE WITH A MUZZLELOADER DURING A MUZZLELOADER ONLY HUNT http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/disMuzzleloader.pdf And here is the rule: IDAPA 13.01.04.305. REASONABLE MODIFICATION PERMIT FOR SPECIAL WEAPON HUNTING SEASONS. 01. Applications for Reasonable Modification Permits for Special Weapon Hunting Seasons. a. Applications for reasonable modification permits shall be on a form prescribed by the Department. b. Individuals using the department form for a reasonable modification permit must complete and sign the application form. Nonresident applicants must have their signature notarized. Each application submitted on the department form shall be accompanied by certification from the applicant’s physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist stating the criteria limiting the applicant’s ability to participate without special accommodation. The applicant shall certify that the applicant is capable of holding and firing, without assistance from other persons, legal firearms or archery equipment. If the physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist is not licensed to practice in Idaho, a photo copy of the physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist medical license must accompany the application. Physicians, ophthalmologists, or optometrists must check the appropriate box for short-term or long-term disability on the application. If the disability is short term and physical mobility is expected to improve, the physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist must include a date when the disability is expected to end. c. Individuals must identify the equipment accommodation requested, and explain how the requested accommodation will allow them to participate in the special weapon hunt without enhancing their abilities beyond the limitations and purpose of the special weapon hunt. 02. Reasonable Modification Permits for Special Weapon Hunting Seasons. a. Reasonable modification permits shall be issued only by the Director of the Department or his representative and shall expire no later than December 31 of the fifth year following the date of issuance. b. The accommodation must be reasonable and must be consistent insofar as possible with all provisions guiding other participants in the special weapon hunting season. For example, persons with a focusing disability (focal plane) could request the use of optical sighting device without magnification (e.g., sighting devices that magnify the target are expressly prohibited for Archery Only, Traditional Archery Only, and Muzzleloader seasons by Rule 13.01.08, "Rules Governing the Taking of Big Game Animals in the State of Idaho," Section410). The Director or his representative shall determine if the requested accommodation is reasonable, and may deny the application or set a modification different from the modification requested. c. A copy of the permit shall be carried by the person while hunting in any special weapon hunt

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We don't publish the release dates because they are not always the same, and because it will reduce crowding if not everyone knows.  The WMA managers try to mix it up some on timing and location to spread out harvest.  We cannot stock more than once or twice a week because it is so expensive.  Each bird costs the Dept. $17.  However, on some WMAs, not all pheasants are shot when they are released and continue to provide opportunity for those willing to hunt the thicker cover.  On release days, some hunters are guessing correctly, and some may be calling their friends.  Most hunters rush to the normal release sites and it can be very crowded.  There is no perfect system that we have developed, but it provides a very valuable opportunity for many hunters that would otherwise not be able to find pheasant hunting on their own.  We believe that publishing the release dates would only exacerbate the situation.  Thanks for your comment.

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A hunting license is required to hunt anything in Idaho including coyotes.

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I am not sure what your question is, especially if you are asking about zone 110 in Alberta.  If you are asking about Idaho, we do not have a mule deer tag, we have a regular deer tag and a whitetail tag, and what they allow you to take is specific to the location and time of year.  Please refer to the rules book or contact us with more specific questions via phone or email.

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Yes, you can purchase a nonresident deer tag at any license vendor or fish and game office.

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Yes. However, as infrared light scopes are a source of artificial light, the laws and rules of hunting with an artificial light apply. A permit to hunt predartory and unprotected wildlife with an artificial light on public lands is available at IDFG regional offices. To hunt on private land with an artificial light requires written permission from the landowner.

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The commission passes the rules in March and the brochure is printed and posted by April 15.  You can usually find them on our website a week before that.

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The season dates have been stable for a number of years so most will likely remain the same next year.  However, the final rules are not adopted by commission until March, and the regulation booklet becomes available in April.

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You do not need a hunting license to accompany your relative on a hunt.  We hope you enjoy your experience.

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To allow anglers access to steelhead below Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River, The trap at the dam is not operated prior to November 1.  Once trapping starts, there are obligations for those fish at Idaho Power's Oxbow fish hatchery and in Oregon that must be met prior to transporting fish to the Boise River.   Historically, it has usually taken until about the third week in November to meet all brood stock needs.  In 2013, we are on the same schedule.  A total of 200 steelhead will be transported to the Boise River on November 22nd and released from Barber Park to Glenwood.  This will be the only stocking event this year in the Boise River.   F08

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Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your questions about the controlled hunt drawing process. When an individual or group application is submitted, the licensing system (IWILD) assigns an application number to that individual or group application. The application number is then loaded to our controlled hunt draw system. Eligible applications are entered once in the controlled hunt draw system. In other words a group application does not go into the drawing multiple times, it is only entered once. The draw system then performs a routine that randomly assigns a random number to each of the applications. The routine can be best described by visualizing all of the numbers from 000000 thru 999999 being stirred and mixed in a large bin and one of the numbers being randomly drawn and reassigned a new number. This new random number is assigned to the first application. This process continues until a random number has been assigned to all of the applications. The selected random number then goes through a position scramble which determines the repositioning sequence of the application. The next step is a conversion table that changes the number value of the assigned random number to a new value. This final mix sort, after it has been randomly generated, scrambled and then converted, is used as the final drawing number. This is a simplified explanation of the draw process and does not include all of the processes involved in the draw routine. Without knowing which hunt(s) you have applied for, we can only provide you with some general information on drawing odds. Your drawing odds are all determined by the number of tags available and the number of applicants applying for those tags. Some of our deer hunts have extremely low odds of drawing due to the number of applicants. For example, the 2013 antlered deer hunt 1026 in unit 40 had 195 tags available. There were 4,469 applicants who applied for those tags.  Other hunts have much better odds at drawing a tag such as the 2013 antlered deer hunt 1005 in unit 13 which had 200 tags available and 256 applicants. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) have enacted rules to keep individuals from drawing these high demand hunts every year. Below are some of the rules IDFG has in place for the controlled hunt application process: Any person who draws an antlered only deer or elk (species specific) hunt during the first application period , except unlimited hunts, has a one year waiting period to apply for an antlered only deer or elk hunt in the first application period. Here are a list of examples: If a person applies for an antlered only deer hunt in the first application period in 2013 and draws a tag for that hunt, that person cannot submit an application for an antlered only deer hunt in the first application period until 2015. This same individual can apply for an either sex, antlerless or unlimited hunt in 2013 and an antlered only hunt in the second application period in 2014. If a person applies for and draws an antlered only deer hunt in the second application period in 2013 they can apply for an antlered only deer hunt in the first application period in 2014. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Departments drawing process. Please contact our license section at 334-2592 if you have any questions or would like to discuss the controlled hunt draw process further.