Hunting

Hunting in Idaho runs the spectrum from plentiful upland game to highly coveted trophy species.

Seasons in Idaho are generally structured to provide a wide variety of hunting experiences with a strong emphasis on opportunity.

To hunt in Idaho you will need:

a hunting license
a tag for big game species and turkey
to take a hunter education class if born after January 1, 1975

If you’ve never purchased a hunting license in Idaho, or any other state, and you’re 8 years of age or older, you are eligible for our Hunting Passport program.

News

F&G commission approves changes to nonresident participation in general season deer and elk hunts

Friday, November 20, 2020 - 11:24 AM MST

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Nov. 20 approved changes to nonresident participation in general season deer and elk hunts to address concerns from residents about hunter congestion in some areas. Starting 2021, nonresident hunters in most general season elk and deer hunts will be limited to 10 or 15 percent of the total hunters in each elk zone or deer units based on hunter participation estimates averaged over the last five years. The new limits do not apply to capped elk zones.

Fish and Game Commission Big Game Hunting Deer Hunting Elk Nonresident Tag Limits White-tailed Deer Nonresident Tag Limits Regular Deer Nonresident Tag Limits Nonresident Deer and Elk Quotas and Limits Licenses, tags, and permits General Season Hunts Hunting Elk hunting Big Game Seasons and Rules Nonresident Fee Increase and Hunting Changes Elk (Cervus canadensis)
Large Tracts program maintains sportsmen's access to private timberlands [video]

Sunday, November 1, 2020 - 9:16 PM MST

Fish and Game developed the Large Tracts program as part of their Access Yes! Program and opened or preserved sportsmen’s access to nearly 900,000 acres of private land.

Hunting Hunting and Fishing Access Access - Large Tracts Program
Late fall is primetime for Idaho white-tailed deer hunting

Monday, October 26, 2020 - 9:02 AM MDT

White-tailed deer hunting is synonymous with North and Central Idaho. Generations of hunters have hiked and hunted the forests and prairies of this region to harvest whitetails every fall. Despite encompassing a relatively small area of the state, the Panhandle and Clearwater regions account for nearly half of Idaho's annual deer harvest, and late fall is primetime for whitetail hunting.

Hunting Big Game Hunting
A Solo Elk Hunt in Southeastern Idaho

Monday, October 19, 2020 - 2:01 PM MDT

Hunting Big Game Hunting Elk (Cervus canadensis)
Idaho Elk Camp

Saturday, October 17, 2020 - 10:04 PM MDT

Hunting Big Game Hunting
Preparation important for waterfowl hunting with a boat

Friday, October 16, 2020 - 12:11 PM MDT

Hunters using a boat to get to their island blind, and hunters shooting from their duck boats are going not only on a hunting trip. They are also going on a boating trip. It is critically important that they have all of the safety equipment that a boating outing requires. In addition having safety gear, it is critical to consider the weight capacity of the boat being used.

Hunting Panhandle Region
Portions of Andrus WMA Reopen to Visitors

Thursday, October 15, 2020 - 10:12 AM MDT

NOTICE: This original closure has been rescinded. Learn more Updated: 10/21/2020

Cecil D. Andrus WMA Southwest Region Fire Information Hunting Idaho's Wildlife Management Areas

UPLAND GAME / FURBEARERS

Idaho Fish and Game

Idaho Trespass Law

Idaho's trespass law changes July 1, 2018

Learn more

Videos

Girls with Fire

Forest Grouse Primer

Hunting the Sagebrush Sea

Applications

Access Yes!

Access Yes! is a program designed to improve sportsmen's access to private land or through private land to public land by compensating willing landowners who provide access.