Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on 2026–2027 sage-grouse seasons and tag proposals.
Please review the season proposals below and submit comments by July 5, 2026.
Proposal 1: Establish a hard start date of September 15 for the sage-grouse season.
Currently the sage-grouse season opens on the third Saturday in September, so the opening date changes annually. This proposed change would provide a consistent season opener for sage-grouse, that aligns with the September 15 start date for chukar and gray partridge, and quail. The proposed sage-grouse season in all zones is from September 15–October 31, 2026. This proposal does not affect season dates for falconry (August 15, 2026–March 15, 2027) established by the Commission in January.
Proposal 2: Establish sage-grouse tag numbers by zone for the 2026–2027 season.
The sage-grouse tag allocation is designed to limit harvest to no more than 10% of the fall population index in each of 12 reporting zones. In each zone, a fall population index was calculated based on spring 2026 counts of males on leks and estimates of adult females and juvenile production.
To generate proposed 2026 tag numbers for each zone, Department staff used a targeted harvest of 5% of the fall population index and the prior 3-year average harvest success rate in each zone. Changes in tag numbers between 2025 and 2026, depicted in the table below, reflect both the change in male sage-grouse counted on leks during spring 2026 and the prior 3-year average harvest success rate, by zone. Statewide, tags numbers decreased from 5,030 in 2025, to 4,280 in 2026.
Number of tags per hunter all zones: 2
Zone
Tag Quota
1 - North Owyhee
210 240
2 - South Owyhee
1,030 930
3A - Jarbidge
350 330
3B - Shoshone Basin
280 280
4A - Camas Prairie
420 330
4B - Craters
680 520
5B - Bear Lake Plateau
80 40
6E - Sand Creek
430 250
6W - Medicine Lodge
430 350
7A - Lost River
270 250
7B - Salmon-Challis
300 290
8 - Big Desert
550 470
Statewide
5,030 4,280
Public Comment Instructions
We welcome comments on the 2026–2027 sage-grouse seasons and tag proposals. Please review the proposals and acknowledge if you support or do not support. You may provide additional detail in the "general comments" section.
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on 2026–2027 sage-grouse seasons and tag proposals.
Please review the season proposals below and submit comments by July 5, 2026.
Proposal 1: Establish a hard start date of September 15 for the sage-grouse season.
Currently the sage-grouse season opens on the third Saturday in September, so the opening date changes annually. This proposed change would provide a consistent season opener for sage-grouse, that aligns with the September 15 start date for chukar and gray partridge, and quail. The proposed sage-grouse season in all zones is from September 15–October 31, 2026. This proposal does not affect season dates for falconry (August 15, 2026–March 15, 2027) established by the Commission in January.
Proposal 2: Establish sage-grouse tag numbers by zone for the 2026–2027 season.
The sage-grouse tag allocation is designed to limit harvest to no more than 10% of the fall population index in each of 12 reporting zones. In each zone, a fall population index was calculated based on spring 2026 counts of males on leks and estimates of adult females and juvenile production.
To generate proposed 2026 tag numbers for each zone, Department staff used a targeted harvest of 5% of the fall population index and the prior 3-year average harvest success rate in each zone. Changes in tag numbers between 2025 and 2026, depicted in the table below, reflect both the change in male sage-grouse counted on leks during spring 2026 and the prior 3-year average harvest success rate, by zone. Statewide, tags numbers decreased from 5,030 in 2025, to 4,280 in 2026.
Number of tags per hunter all zones: 2
2102401,03093035033028028042033068052080404302504303502702503002905504705,0304,280Public Comment Instructions
We welcome comments on the 2026–2027 sage-grouse seasons and tag proposals. Please review the proposals and acknowledge if you support or do not support. You may provide additional detail in the "general comments" section.
Thank you for your participation!
The public comment period closes on July 5, 2026.