Motorized Vehicles and Hunting

Motorized vehicle use by all big game hunters is restricted to established roadways legally open to travel by full-sized automobiles.

The motorized hunting rule applies only to big game animals, including moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats, in designated units from August 30 through November 14.

Motorized hunting use restrictions apply to units in orange on the map below. The rule does not apply to upland game animals or birds in hunts within designated units. The rule applies to motorized vehicle use by hunters off an established roadway, except: 

• Holders of a valid Handicapped Person’s Motor Vehicle Hunting Permit may use a motorized vehicle as allowed by the land owner or manager
• Hunters may use a motorized vehicle to retrieve downed game if such travel is allowed by the land owner or manager.
• Hunters may use a motorized vehicle to pack camping equipment in or out if such travel is allowed by the land owner or manager, but hunters may not hunt while packing camping equipment.
• Private landowners, their authorized agents and persons with written landowner permission may use a motorized vehicle on their private land, but they may not hunt from or by the use of any motorized vehicle.

Hunt Units with Motorized Hunting Rule

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an “established roadway?”

An established roadway is any road that is established, built, maintained, approved or designated by any governmental entity or private landowner for the purpose of travel by full-sized automobiles. An established roadway shows evidence of repeated use by full-sized automobiles, and may include a traveled way of natural earth with depressed wheel tracks and little or no vegetation in the wheel tracks.

Where can I find out which are established roads open to use by full-sized vehicles and which are trails on national forest or BLM land?

For questions about the status of a road or trail in the area you plan to hunt, please contact the appropriate land management agency. National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps and BLM Travel Maps list road, trail and other allowable uses. Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s Statewide Online Map, available at trails.idaho.gov, also lists what type of motorized use is allowed on Forest Service and BLM lands statewide, as well as local land management agency contact information.

Does the rule apply to all hunting statewide?

No. The rule applies only to hunting of big game animals, including moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat, in designated units from August 30 through November 14. The rule does not apply to upland game animals or birds in hunts within designated units.

As a hunter, can I use a motorized vehicle on USFS or BLM designated trails in Big Game Units covered by the motorized hunting rule?

Only if the use is permissible in the exceptions in the motorized hunting rule. For example, if motorized travel is allowed by the USFS or BLM, you may use a motorized vehicle to retrieve downed game or pack in or out your camping equipment. However, you may not hunt while packing camping equipment. It’s important that you know what specific type of motorized use is allowed for the area you are hunting.

What can I do to stay out of trouble or to avoid conflicts with other hunters?

When in doubt, stay on the road. Know and follow the vehicle use restrictions for the area you are hunting, and have applicable maps.