State: Idaho

Idaho Fish and Game

Idaho Drawing Odds

Idaho Information provided by Idaho Bugler

Idaho has some of the best and most varied hunting in the west! From the trophy species of moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat to the more often hunted animals.  Like deer (mule deer and whitetails), elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lions and a variety of upland game, turkeys and waterfowl.  Idaho covers it all. Licenses and tags are available over the counter for almost every species. There are outfitters if you need them. The state is two-thirds public land and a new Fish and Game program called Access Yes is opening up more private land every year. Idaho has it all!

Plan your Idaho hunting adventure with the new Idaho Hunt Planner, an interactive search engine designed to provide information on regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, maps and hunt boundaries; all in one location!  The following is general information about available opportunities and how tags are allocated.

Obtaining tags: (General Tags) Idaho is very generous when it comes to issuing tags to both resident and non-resident hunters.  Resident hunters with a current license simply need to go to the nearest license vendor and can buy a general elk or deer tag.  It’s not much different for non-residents either.  Once you have your current hunting license a non-resident deer or elk tag can be bought.  There is a quota for both elk (10,000+) and deer (12,000+) but as long as you don’t wait until the last minute getting a tag shouldn’t be a problem.  You can check the current year quotas here 2009 Nonresident Deer and Elk Tag Quotas.  Starting on August 28^th both Non-residents and Residents can buy one unsold non-resident general season deer and/or elk tag at the non-resident price.  So it is possible to have two general deer tags in your position.  This is of course until the quota has been met.

(Controlled hunt tags)  Idaho DOES NOT have either a bonus or preference point system.  Controlled hunts have 3 separate application dates for all big game species.  First up is spring bear and turkey where application dates run from January 15^th to February 15^th.  Next up is the big three (Sheep, Moose and Mtn. Goat) with application dates running from April 1^st to April 30^th.  Last but not least elk, deer, fall bear and pronghorn with application dates running from May 1^st to June 5^th.  Annual regulations are generally available on the Idaho Fish and Game webpage about a month before applications can be submitted.  Bear controlled hunt info is in the previous years elk, deer, and pronghorn regulations.  The 2009 regulations will hold the controlled hunt application information for spring 2010 black bear.

Non-resident are limited to the number tags they can draw.  In controlled hunts with 10 or fewer permits, not more than 1 nonresident permit may be issued.  In controlled hunts with more than 10 permits, except unlimited controlled hunts, not more than 10 percent of the permits may be issued to non-residents.  Note:  If a resident applies for a controlled hunt on a group application with a non-resident and the 10% non-resident limitation has been met, the entire group application will be rejected, including any residents.

Eligibility and rules to apply for Elk, Deer, Bear and Pronghorn controlled hunts:

• The application deadline for elk, deer, fall bear and pronghorn is June 5^th. The deadline for spring bear is February 15^th.
• You must have a current valid Idaho hunting license to apply.
  • Holders of a Non-game Hunting license may NOT apply for any controlled hunt.
• A person who has applied for a bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or a moose controlled hunt in the same year CAN NOT apply for elk, deer or pronghorn.
  • Unlimited controlled hunts, a controlled black bear hunt, controlled turkey hunt, extra deer, extra elk, or extra pronghorn controlled hunts or a designated depredation hunt does not apply to the above rule.
• A person whose name was drawn in an antlered-only controlled deer hunt may not apply for any other controlled antlered-only deer hunt for 1 year except for the second deer, elk and pronghorn application period and leftover controlled hunt drawings or sales.
  • This waiting period also applies for Elk.
• Applicants can apply for one, two, three or all four species.
• Up to 4 hunters may apply as a group application for elk, deer or pronghorn.
• Up to 2 hunters may apply as a group application for bear.
• A non-refundable fee of $6.25/resident and/or $14.75/non-resident is due for each applicant for each species.
• Do not include tag fees with application for deer, elk, bear or pronghorn.
• Four ways to apply for controlled hunts.
  • Internet - Applications can be made on the fish and game website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/. Internet apps are subject to an additional charge of 3% of the transaction fee plus $3.50.
  • Phone - Applications can also be made by phone at 1-800-55HUNTS or 1-800-824-3729. An additional 3% of the transaction fee plus $5.50 will be applied.
  • Mail-In - Application worksheets may be mailed with proper fees to any Fish and Game office. They must also be postmarked by June 5^th.
  • Apply in person at any license vendor in the state.
• Drawing results will be available no later than March 10^th for spring bear and Turkey. For elk, deer, fall bear and pronghorn applicants will be notified no later than July 10^th.
• If successful in the draw you will need to buy a controlled hunt permit for the fee of $7.75.
• Successful controlled hunt applicants must purchase their permit by August 1^st.

Eligibility and rules to Apply for Moose, Mountain Goat or Bighorn Sheep controlled hunts:  Most rules are the same as above except for the few differences stated below.

• The application deadline for Moose, Mountain Goat or Bighorn Sheep is April 30th.
• You can only apply for one of the “big three” animals per application year.
• Up to 2 hunters may apply as a group application for moose, goat or sheep.
• Tag fees must be submitted along with the application fee for moose, goat, or sheep.
• All applicants will receive either a permit and tag or a refund check by mail no later than June 10^th.
• If you are successful in the draw there is a mandatory check and report requirement within 10 days of the date of kill at any IF&G regional office.
  • Unsuccessful permittees must present or mail their unused tags to F&G within 10 days after the close of the season.
• If drawn and an animal wasn’t harvested then you can not apply for the same species, except leftover permits, for 2 years.
• Any person who has harvested an antlered moose in Idaho may not apply for any moose permit except an antlerless permit. Any person who has harvested an antlerless moose in Idaho may not apply for any moose permit except an antlered permit
• Any person who has killed a mountain goat in Idaho since 1977 may not apply for a mountain goat permit.
• Any person who has killed a California bighorn ram or Rocky mountain bighorn ram, on any controlled hunt in Idaho may not apply for a permit for the same species.
• There is no $7.75 charge for a controlled hunt hermit.

2009 tag prices (As of May 1^st, 2009):

Elk: Idaho elk hunting is managed into 29 elk zones.  In addition, Fish and Game has established a 2-tag system as an effort to offer elk hunters the most general season choices.  Hunters may select 1 zone and choose either an “A tag” or a “B tag” in most elk zones.  In general “A tags” provide more opportunity for muzzleloader and archery hunters and “B tags” provide more opportunity for rifle hunters.

Mule deer: Deer hunters must choose either a regular deer tag or a white-tailed deer tag.  The regular deer tag is valid for any hunt listed under “2009 Regular Deer tag Seasons” on pages 9-13 in the 2009 Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules booklet.

Whitetail deer: Deer hunters must choose either a regular deer tag or a white-tailed deer tag.  The white-tailed deer tag is valid for white-tailed deer only, for any hunt listed under “2009 White-tailed deer Tag Seasons” on pages 14-17 in the 2009 Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules booklet.

Pronghorn: New for 2009:  All pronghorn hunting, including archery season, is by controlled hunt.  All general archery pronghorn hunts have been changed to controlled hunts.  Controlled hunt permits and tags issued for pronghorn controlled hunts may be used in the hunt for which the permittee was drawn.

Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat: Non-resident opportunities are very limited for these three species.  All tags are through the draw process where non-residents may only apply for one species.  There are no archery only hunts for moose, sheep or goat.

Black bear: Idaho has a lot of opportunities for Bear hunting.  Idaho allows both bait and hound hunting.  Special rules will apply to both styles of hunting and should be looked up in the current Big Game Seasons and Rules Booklet.  There is a mandatory check and report upon harvest, due within 10 days of the date of kill.

Mountain lion: Tags are issued over the counter and harvest is controlled by a quota system.  Most hunts start Aug. 30^th and run until the quota is met or March 31^st.  Hound hunting is allowed with special rules and dates.  These rules can be looked up in the current Big Game Seasons and Rules Booklet.  There is a mandatory check and report upon harvest, due within 10 days of the date of kill.

Turkey: Idaho has three sub-species of turkeys.  Over 90% are Merriam’s turkeys the others are Rio Grande’s and Easterns.  General season spring hunts start April 15^th and run to May 25^th.  General Fall hunts start September 15^th and close at different times for different units (Check the upland game regs to see closing dates).  An extra general turkey tag can be bought and used from May 1^st to May 25th.

2009 season dates: (Idaho has a huge variety of opening and closing dates.  The dates shown are for the majority of the hunts but the 2009 Big Game Seasons and Rules should be referenced for more specific unit dates.)

Did you know?

· You can usually find out draw results well before the post time dates.  2008 results were available June 23^rd.

· Idaho has mandatory report requirements for all species.

· The minimum age to apply in Idaho is 12; however an 11 year old may apply for a controlled hunt as long as he/she will turn 12 before the hunt starts.

· Deer, elk, and pronghorn permits must be picked up by August 1^st or they will go to a second chance drawing.

· Second chance drawing application dates run from August 5^th - 15^th.

Important Web Links for the On Your Own Hunter:

Weather:

Weather Underground for Idaho

National Weather Service

Click here for Idaho Highway Conditions

1. BLM

• Overview of BLM Land in Idaho:

2. USFS Forest Service Maps:

• Boise National Forest
• Caribou National Grassland
• Challis National Forest
• Clearwater National Forest
• Curlew National Grassland
• Idaho Panhandle National Forest
• Nez Perce National Forest
• Payette National Forest
• Salmon National Forest
  
• Sawtooth National Forest
  
• Targhee National Forest

Maps:

• Idaho Fishing and Hunting Maps:
• Hunt area map index:
• Download shape files or Google Earth Files:

3. State Trust Lands Overview:

4. Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner Link: