Some of the best pheasant hunting opportunities can be found off the beaten path and on private lands where much of the best habitat occurs. The highest pheasant harvest typically occurs in the Southwest, Magic Valley, and Southeast regions. Hunters willing to wear through some boot leather as well as knock on doors can find good success.
An upgraded pheasant stocking program was established in 2020 to expand access to pheasant hunting in Idaho.
The Upland Game Permit is required to hunt pheasant on properties where pheasants are stocked. Those properties are found on our Pheasant Stocking page.
Pheasant season opens Oct. 12 in North Idaho and Oct.19 in South and East Idaho. See area maps for opening dates on page 11 of the Idaho Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer seasons and rules. Fish and Game will stock over 28,000 pheasants this year at locations in every region of the state.
Youth pheasant hunting season kicks off Saturday, Oct. 5 and runs through Oct. 11. Youth ages 17 years and younger with an Idaho hunting license can participate in the youth pheasant hunt so long as they're accompanied by an Idaho licensed hunter aged 18 years or older. Anyone 18 years or older cannot hunt during the youth hunt.