New Licenses Needed Now

As the calendar rolls over one more time, Idaho hunting and fishing licenses need to be renewed. All licenses, tags, permits and validations expire after December 31. (The federal waterfowl hunting stamp remains in effect through the end of the waterfowl hunting seasons in January.) License buyers may be happy to note that fees remain the same as they were last year. Waterfowl hunters will need a new hunting license and a new $1.50 validation for the new year along with the federal stamp that they keep through the end of the season. Though seasons end for forest grouse, quail and pheasant December 31, bird hunters can go after chukar and gray partridge through January 15. Cottontail rabbit season continues to the end of February and snowshoe hares can be hunted through the end of March. Predator hunters in Idaho do need a hunting license. Along with a new fishing license, steelhead anglers need a 2003 tag. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has made second tags available for what is expected to be an exceptional spring season, so an angler could legally take 40 steelhead in the season that begins January 1.