Idaho hunting and fishing laws
The Idaho rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Idaho
Hunter Ed Certification is required for all hunters born on or after January 1, 1975 in order to purchase an Idaho hunting license. A hunter is exempt with proof of a previously held hunting license or hunter education certificate from Idaho or another state.
Minimum hunting age in Idaho
The Hunting Passport allows any first-time hunter, resident or nonresident, age 8 and older to try hunting for one year with an adult mentor without first completing Idaho hunter education. Holders must be 10 to hunt big game and sandhill crane, and 8 for other game birds. A mentor must be 18 or older, hold a valid Idaho license, and take no more than two mentored hunters.
Blaze orange in Idaho
Applies to: Upland and small game
Hunter orange is recommended but not generally required. It is required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required, meaning IDFG properties and leases, and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts. The standard is 36 square inches of hunter orange above the waist, and an orange hat typically fulfills this requirement. No blaze pink provision was found.
Sunday hunting in Idaho
Idaho has no Sunday hunting restriction. Seasons run every day of the week, including Sundays, and IDFG's seasons and rules brochures set no day-of-week limits.
Shooting hours in Idaho
Applies to: Big game
IDAPA 13.01.07.400: big game and upland game animals and birds may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Applies to: Waterfowl
IDAPA 13.01.07.400: migratory game birds and wild turkey may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Baiting in Idaho
Applies to: Big game
The use of bait is prohibited for hunting any big game animal except for black bear. Mountain lions, bears and wolves may be taken over a carcass or gutpile present by coincidence, provided the hunter did not place it or add substances to it.
Applies to: Bear
Black bear baiting is allowed but requires a permit, which is purchasable only at Fish and Game offices.
Night hunting in Idaho
No shooting is allowed outside official shooting hours. Technology restrictions adopted for big game and game birds do not apply to hunting wolves, mountain lions or predatory wildlife.
Applies to: Furbearers
For gray wolf, no person may hunt gray wolf by use of artificial light or otherwise outside of official shooting hours unless authorized.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Idaho
Applies to: Big game
Evidence of sex must be left naturally attached to the carcass of any big game animal until the carcass reaches the final place of storage or consumption, or is taken to a commercial meat processing facility. For mountain lion, black bear and wolf this means the largest portion of meat if boned, or the hide.
Hunting on private land in Idaho
Idaho's trespass law requires written permission or other lawful form of permission from landowners to access private property.
Can you show your Idaho license on your phone?
Digital license yes. Tags are mailed; carry them.
IDFG: “Electronic copies of licenses can be used in the field. This includes licenses downloaded directly to the Go Outdoors Idaho mobile app, or an email copy of the license.” But “all tags and notchable permits will be mailed,” and a confirmation email “may not be used in lieu of a tag or salmon/steelhead permit or Upland Game Bird Permits.” Salmon and steelhead can be e-tagged; e-tagging is not available for deer or elk.
Mailed big game tags and notchable permits
Idaho hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — general archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30, 2026 | Units 1, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 9 (Panhandle) and many others | Late archery Dec 10-24 in Panhandle units; dates vary by unit |
| Deer — general any weapon | Oct 10 – Oct 31, 2026 | Units 39, 43 (dates vary by unit) | Antlered; antlerless youth only |
| Turkey — spring general | Apr 15 – May 25, 2027 | Most general-hunt units | Youth-only Apr 8-14, 2027 |
| Turkey — fall general | Aug 30, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Units 1-7 and 9 (Panhandle) | Other open units close Dec 31, 2026 |
| Pheasant | Oct 15 – Dec 31, 2026 | Statewide | Nonresidents from Oct 20; youth Oct 8-14 |
| Chukar, gray partridge and quail | Sep 15, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Forest grouse | Aug 30, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Area 1 | Area 2 closes Dec 31, 2026 |
| Mourning dove | Sep 1 – Oct 30, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Ducks — regular season | Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Duck Area 1 (all of state not in Areas 2 and 3) | Area 2 Oct 3-Jan 15; youth weekend Sep 26-27 |
| Elk — general archery (A tag) | Aug 30 – Sep 30, 2026 | Sawtooth Zone (Units 33-36) | Capped tags; archery only, either sex |
| Elk — general any weapon (B tag) | Oct 15 – Nov 8, 2026 | Sawtooth Zone (Units 33-36) | Capped tags; antlered only |
What you can hunt in Idaho
Big game
- Mule deer General season Also controlled hunts
- White-tailed deer General season
- Elk General season Also controlled hunts
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry Controlled hunt only
- Moose Draw or limited entry Lifetime limits apply
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Lifetime one
- California bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Few tags
- Mountain goat Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Black bear General season Multiple tags in some units
- Mountain lion General season
- Wolf General season
- Grizzly bear No season Federally listed
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season Also controlled hunts
- Pheasant General season
- Quail General season
- Chukar and gray partridge General season
- Forest grouse General season Dusky, ruffed, spruce
- Sharp-tailed grouse General season
- Sage-grouse Draw or limited entry Permit required
- Rabbit and hare General season
- Red squirrel General season
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove General season
- Sandhill crane Draw or limited entry Limited tags, first come
- Tundra swan Draw or limited entry Controlled hunt tag
Furbearer and predator
- Bobcat, fox, marten General season
- Coyote and raccoon General season No closed season
- Lynx, wolverine, fisher No season No open season
What you can fish for in Idaho
Fishing license; separate salmon and steelhead permits
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 3-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout General season
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Cutthroat trout General season
- Lake trout General season
- Tiger trout General season
- Bull trout No season Catch and release only statewide
Salmon and anadromous
- Chinook salmon Tag or permit Salmon Permit; seasons opened by order
- Coho salmon Tag or permit Salmon Permit; Clearwater basin
- Steelhead Tag or permit Steelhead Permit
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Walleye General season
- Northern pike General season
- Tiger muskie General season
- Channel catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
- Yellow perch General season
Other
- Kokanee General season
- Mountain whitefish General season
- Burbot General season
- White sturgeon No season Catch and release only; the Kootenai is fully closed
Official Idaho links
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Carry your Idaho license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state