Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on its 2025-2026 Migratory Game Bird Season proposals.
Review the draft proposal below and submit comments by March 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
After reviewing feedback and considering agency goals, season recommendations will be presented to the Commission for their consideration via conference call on April 15.
Since 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed liberal (107 days) duck seasons in the Pacific Flyway. Those 107 days can only occur between September 27, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
Idaho sets waterfowl seasons by zones. These zones balance hunting seasons with biological opportunity, environmental conditions, and social desires. The number of zones a state can have is set within the Federal Framework. Currently, Idaho has four duck zones. Results from the 2020 and 2022 duck hunter opinion surveys were used to inform these season structure proposals and duck zone boundaries.
Most recently, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission has adopted 105-day seasons and a 2-day youth/military hunt.
The proposed season structure for ducks is:
(Please reference zone map below)
Zone 1: October 4, 2025 – January 16, 2026; Scaup: October 4, 2025 – December 28, 2025
Zone 2: October 4, 2025 – January 16, 2026; Scaup: October 23, 2025 – January 16, 2026
Zone 3: October 19, 2025 – January 31, 2026; Scaup: November 7, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Zone 4: October 4, 2025 – January 16, 2026; Scaup: October 4, 2025 – December 28, 2025
Proposed daily bag limit: 7 ducks and mergansers in aggregate; no more than 2 female mallards, 2 redhead, 2 scaup, 3 pintail, or 2 canvasback; 25 coots; and 8 snipe. Possession limit: three times the daily bag limit.
Youth/Veteran Waterfowl Season:
Proposed season structure:
Statewide: September 27-28, 2025
Proposed daily and possession limits the same as during the regular season.
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on its 2025-2026 Migratory Game Bird Season proposals.
Review the draft proposal below and submit comments by March 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
After reviewing feedback and considering agency goals, season recommendations will be presented to the Commission for their consideration via conference call on April 15.
Since 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed liberal (107 days) duck seasons in the Pacific Flyway. Those 107 days can only occur between September 27, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
Idaho sets waterfowl seasons by zones. These zones balance hunting seasons with biological opportunity, environmental conditions, and social desires. The number of zones a state can have is set within the Federal Framework. Currently, Idaho has four duck zones. Results from the 2020 and 2022 duck hunter opinion surveys were used to inform these season structure proposals and duck zone boundaries.
Most recently, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission has adopted 105-day seasons and a 2-day youth/military hunt.
The proposed season structure for ducks is:
(Please reference zone map below)
Proposed daily bag limit: 7 ducks and mergansers in aggregate; no more than 2 female mallards,
2 redhead, 2 scaup, 3 pintail, or 2 canvasback; 25 coots; and 8 snipe.
Possession limit: three times the daily bag limit.
Youth/Veteran Waterfowl Season:
Proposed season structure:
Proposed daily and possession limits the same as during the regular season.