All WMAs provide and encourage use by sporting and general public. People can hunt, fish, trap, and view wildlife, as well as other compatible activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, and boating. Some WMAs host special events like fishing clinics, youth hunts, and bird watching tours.
During certain times of the year, some WMAs are closed to protect wildlife from disturbance. Find out more about use guidelines and learn about recreational opportunities by visiting specific WMA webpages.
Billingsley Creek WMA
Billingsley Creek WMA provides a rich wetland environment where anglers, hunters, and birders find easy access to a variety of wildlife.
Montpelier WMA
Montpelier WMA, located near Bear Lake, serves mainly as an elk and mule deer winter range. The area offers opportunity for hunting and wildlife viewing, though it is lightly used by the public. This non-motorized property has a single parking access area. Big game hunters are the most likely visitors.
Idaho's Wildlife Management Areas
Wildlife depend on Wildlife Management Areas to thrive in parts of Idaho. These parcels of land are managed to help wildlife when they are most vulnerable, like mule deer in the winter. WMAs also provide unique recreation opportunities for the public.
Visit a WMA
Idaho Fish and Game has 31 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), which range from 275 to 85,000 acres. Each has specific priorities based upon the needs of wildlife in the surrounding area.
Panhandle
Clearwater
Southwest
Magic Valley
People are welcome at WMAs
Managing wildlife habitat
WMAs create habitat and security for wildlife. Fish and Game biologists manage these properties to improve forage and cover vegetation, plant food plots, fight noxious weeds, create wetlands, protect water quality, survey wildlife, and manage public access.
Many habitat restoration projects are made possible with the help of volunteers. If you are interested in habitat projects, contact a local Fish and Game office and talk to the WMA manager or biologist.
Many habitat restoration projects are made possible with the help of volunteers. If you are interested in habitat projects, contact a local Fish and Game office and talk to the WMA manager or biologist.
Creating a WMA
The story behind each WMA is often unique. Most were purchased with sportsmen dollars or through mitigation for loss of wildlife habitat elsewhere. On occasion, the property has been donated by private individuals or foundations. Regardless of their beginnings, all provide important habitat for wildlife.
Pack it out or bury it, but don’t burn it!
Yet another wildfire sprung up on Idaho’s dry and fire-prone wildlands, this time burning a portion of Idaho Fish and Game’s Boise River WMA. And the crappy part? It could have easily been avoided had a couple of hikers made better decisions about how to dispose of their toilet paper.