Big Game Seasons and Rules

Seasons and rules for big game hunting

2017 and 2018 Big Game Seasons and Rules

Including Controlled Hunts for Deer, Elk, Pronghorn and Black Bear
– Full booklet, pages 1-116 [PDF, 8.3MB]

Sections:

Intro Information — Table of Contents, Getting Started / What's New, Key Dates
– Pages 1-7 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Deer General Seasons
– Pages 8-18 [PDF, 828 KB]
- Deer Controlled Hunt Seasons
  – Pages 19-31 [PDF, 930 KB]
Elk General Zone Seasons
– Pages 32-45 [PDF, 2.3 MB]
- Elk Controlled Hunt Seasons
  – Pages 46-61 [PDF, 527 KB]
Pronghorn Controlled Hunts
– Pages 62-66 [PDF, 526 KB]
Black Bear Seasons
– Pages 67-72 [PDF, 540 KB]
- Spring 2017 Seasons
  – Pages 65-71 [PDF, 597 KB]
Mountain Lion Seasons
– Pages 73-75 [PDF, 338 KB]
Gray Wolf Seasons
– Pages 76-81 [PDF, 796 KB]
Unit Map and Unit Boundary Descriptions — Bighorn Sheep Raffle
– Pages 82-94 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
General Wildlife Laws — Trespass, Weapons, Hound Hunting, Proxy Statement, Trails, ATV's, Right of Way
– Pages 95-105 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Controlled and Special Hunt Information — Application Worksheet, Depredation and Permit Information, Map Order Form
– Pages 106-111 [PDF, 931 KB]
License, Tag and Permit Fees
– Pages 112-116 [PDF, 557 KB]

Notice: Fees may change. It is your responsibility to be aware of changes since these seasons and rules were printed. Please see the fee schedules in the License, Tag and Permit Fees section for current prices.

Key Dates for Big Game Controlled Hunts

1st controlled hunt application period May 1 - June 5.
Successful 1st draw applicants will be notified by July 10.
2nd controlled hunt application period August 5-15.
Leftover tags from the 2nd drawing go on sale August 25.

After a Successful Hunt

Big Game Field Dressing
Backcountry Game Meat Care Guide
Fill Out A Hunt Report – whether you have a successful hunt or not, please report on your hunt.

Other Rules Information

Idaho Fish & Game strongly encourages wearing hunter orange as a voluntary safety measure. See the Hunter Orange Policy – [PDF, 16 KB]
Idaho's Amphibians and Reptiles – Rules for collection, possession and permitting – [PDF, 650 KB]
Marijuana on Public Lands – What you should know when hunting in the field

News

June 5 is last day to apply for big game controlled hunts

Monday, May 22, 2017 - 8:27 AM MDT

Hunters have until midnight Monday, June 5 to apply for this fall's deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and turkey controlled hunts. Apply now

Licenses, tags, and permits Controlled Hunt Information Big Game Hunting Regions Big Game Seasons and Rules Elk (Cervus canadensis) Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Big game rules available

Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 11:15 AM MDT

The Idaho big game hunting brochure for 2017 and 2018 seasons is available now. View Big Game Rules The printed brochure, which contains seasons and rules for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion and gray wolf, is now available at license vendors, Fish and Game offices and online.

Big Game Hunting Big Game Seasons and Rules Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Elk (Cervus canadensis) Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Female mountain lion harvest season closed in Unit 39 near Idaho City

Friday, February 24, 2017 - 11:52 AM MST

Mountain lion hunters should note that the harvest season for female mountain lion has closed in game management unit 39, as the harvest quota of ten females was reached February 23, 2017.

Southwest Region Big Game Seasons and Rules Mountain Lion, Cougar, or Puma (Puma concolor)
Idaho’s 2017 & 2018 big game season proposals available online

Monday, February 13, 2017 - 8:44 AM MST

Idaho Fish and Game's proposed changes for the 2017 & 2018 big game hunting seasons are available online for public review and comment.

Big Game Seasons and Rules Elk (Cervus canadensis) Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Mountain Lion, Cougar, or Puma (Puma concolor) Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Fish and Game seeks comments on 2017 and 2018 big game seasons

Monday, February 6, 2017 - 10:30 AM MST

Idaho Fish and Game plans several open house meetings around the state during February to collect public comments on the 2017 and 2018 proposed seasons and rules for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, gray wolf and mountain lion.

Regions Big Game Hunting Big Game Seasons and Rules Elk (Cervus canadensis) Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Mountain Lion, Cougar, or Puma (Puma concolor) Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Here's a sneak peak at the new moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat rules

Monday, January 30, 2017 - 4:05 PM MST

Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Jan. 26 adopted new rules and seasons for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat for the 2017-18 hunting seasons.

Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Seasons and Rules Big Game Seasons and Rules Big Game Hunting Moose (Alces americanus) Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

The Rules Brochures

Online rules brochures are created in PDF file format. They are produced to keep the online display as close as possible to the printed version.

Printed copies of the rules brochure can be picked up, without charge, at local license vendors or by calling 208-334-3700 to receive a copy by mail.

To view Idaho Fish and Game administrative rules and code, visit the Office of Administrative Rules on the Idaho Department of Administration website.

To advertise in future Idaho Fish and Game rules brochures, call: Rotary Offset Press: 1-253-216-1256.