Idaho is a haven for people who love outdoor activities, with its expansive scenery providing an ideal setting for exciting hunting expeditions. It provides all kinds of opportunities for hunting big game like deer, bear, turkey, upland game, or small game. If you enjoy hunting, Idaho is the perfect destination for you. Here is a detailed manual on the Idaho hunting season, regulations, and licenses for various types of game.
Idaho Deer Season
If you enjoy hunting mule deer or white-tailed deer, Idaho is the place for you.
Deer hunting season starts from the end of August to late December. It is important to mention that hunters are limited to one deer only.
In addition, in Idaho, the legal deer is deer with at least one antler longer than 3 inches. Make sure you don’t mistakenly take any other deer that do not meet this standard.
Deer seasons vary from dozens of hunting units with complicated charts. And the details of each Unit can be found in this file: Idaho Big Game Hunting Digest. It clearly lists all of the available season dates and opening units.
Idaho Turkey Seasons
Before you go turkey hunting, make sure you have the correct hunting license and tag.
Idaho offers two kinds of turkey permits: general hunt permits and controlled hunt permits. The first is applicable during spring and fall, while the second is used for particular regulated hunts.
It is important to follow the hunting hours: half an hour before sunrise until sunset. During the Spring season, there is a daily limit of two male turkeys, while in the Fall season, you can hunt as many turkeys as the number of valid tags you have.
The season dates for turkey hunting are as follows:
Spring Turkey Youth Only – Male or Bearded Turkey
- April 8 – April 14
- April 8 – May 25
Spring Turkey – Male or Bearded Turkey
- April 15 – April 30
- April 15 – May 25
Fall Turkey – Either Sex Turkey
- August 30 – January 31
- November 1 – December 1
- August 30 – December 31
- August 30 – October 9
- August 30 – December 31
- August 30 – October 9
- August 30 – November 30
Spring Controlled Hunts Youth Only – Male or Bearded Turkey
- April 8 – May 25
Spring Controlled Hunts Male or Bearded Turkey
- April 15 – May 25
- April 15 – April 30
- May 1 – May 25
Fall Controlled Hunts Youth Only – Either Sex Turkey
- August 30 – October 9
- September 15 – November 30
Fall Controlled Hunts Either Sex Turkey
- October 10 – December 31
- September 15 – December 31
- September 15 – October 9
- September 15 – November 30
What’s more, here are some of the rules to follow:
- You cannot shoot turkey outside the designated hours for shooting legally.
- You cannot use a lead shot larger than BB or steel shot larger than Tsize.
- No dogs are allowed except for Fall season hunts.
- You cannot use a trap, snare, net, or firearm.
- You cannot hunt from a boat.
- You cannot use electronic calls or any baits.
- Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- For controlled hunt seasons, hunters need to apply for a Controlled Hunt Tag. The spring season application starts from Feb. 1 – March 1. The fall season starts from May 1 – June 5.
Idaho Big Game Seasons
2025 – 2026 Antlered Moose Controlled Hunts
| Controlled Hunt Area | Season Dates |
| 1-1, 1-2,1-3, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 9 | Sep 15 – Dec 1 |
| 1-1, 1-2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 | Oct 1 – Oct 14 |
| 1-1, 1-2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Nov 1 – Nov 14 |
| 54 | Oct 15 – Nov 23 |
| The rest | Aug 30 – Nov 23 |
2025 – 2026 Bighorn Sheep Controlled Hunts – Rams Only
| Controlled Hunt Area | Season Dates |
| 37 | Aug 30 – Sep 20 |
| 37 | Sep 21 – Oct 13 |
| 27AL, 21L, 26L, 27L, 28-1L, 37L, 37AL | Oct 14 – Oct 31 |
| 17L | Aug 30 – Oct 31 |
| 40, 41, 42, 55 | Aug 30 – Oct 8 |
| The rest | Aug 30 – Oct 13 |
2025 – 2026 Mountain Goat Controlled Hunts – Either Sex
All Areas: Aug 30 – Nov 12
*For big games, you can only hunt One animal. Youth hunters need to be at least 10 years old with a proper hunting license to hunt big game.
Idaho Upland Game Seasons
For those interested in upland game hunting, Idaho offers seasons for various species. The game species are diverse in Idaho, including California and bobwhite quail, chukar and gray partridge, grouse and pheasants.
The hunting of these species typically begins in mid-September and continues until the end of January.
Hunting for upland game birds starts 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset. Now let’s check the season dates one by one.
California And Bobwhite Quail
Dates: September 20, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Bag Limit: 10 in the aggregate
Possession Limit: 30 in the aggregate
Chukar And Gray Partridge
Dates: September 20, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Bag Limit: 8 Chukar & 8 Gray Partridge
Possession Limit: 24 Chukar & 24 Gray Partridge
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Dates: October 1 through October 31, 2025
Daily Bag Limit: 2
Possession Limit: 6
Pheasants
| Area | Resident Dates | Nonresident Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Area 1 | October 11 – December 31, 2025 | October 16 – December 31, 2025 | 3 roosters | 9 roosters |
| Area 2 | October 18 – November 30, 2025 | October 23 – November 30, 2025 | 3 roosters | 9 roosters |
| Area 3 | October 18 – December 31, 2025 | October 23 – December 31, 2025 | 3 roosters | 9 roosters |
| Youth Hunt Season | October 4 – October 10, 2025 | October 4 – October 10, 2025 | / | / |
Forest Grouse
AREA 1: August 30, 2025 – January 31, 2026
AREA 2: August 30 – December 31, 2025
Daily Bag Limit: 4
Possession Limit: 12
California and Bobwhite Quail
AREA 1: September 20, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Daily Bag Limit: 10
Possession Limit: 30
Idaho Small Game Seasons
Cottontail and Snowshoe Hares
- August 30, 2024 – March 31, 2025
- August 30, 2025 -March 31, 2026
Daily Bag Limit: 8
Possession Limit: 24
Red Squirrel Seasons
- August 30, 2024 – March 31, 2025
- August 30, 2025 -March 31, 2026
Daily Bag Limit: 8
Possession Limit: 24
Furbearer Trapping And Hunting Seasons
| Region | County | Animal | Season |
| Panhandle Region / Clearwater Region | Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone counties / Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce counties | Badger | July 1 – June 30 Year-round |
| Beaver | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Bobcat | December 14 – February 16 | ||
| Fox | October 10 – March 31 | ||
| Marten | November 1 – January 31 | ||
| Mink | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Muskrat | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Otter | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Southwest Region | Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley, Washington | Badger | July 1 – June 30 Year-round |
| Beaver | November 1 – March 31 | ||
| Bobcat | December 14 – February 16 | ||
| Fox | July 1 – June 30 Year-round | ||
| Marten | November 1 – January 31 | ||
| Mink | November 1 – March 31 | ||
| Muskrat | November 1 – March 31 | ||
| Otter | November 1 – March 31 | ||
| Magic Valley Region | Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Twin Falls counties |
Badger | July 1 – June 30 Year-round |
| Beaver | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Bobcat | December 14 – February 16 | ||
| Fox | July 1 – June 30 Year-round | ||
| Marten | November 1 – January 31 | ||
| Mink | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Muskrat | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Otter | October 15 – March 31 | ||
| Southeast Region / Upper Snake Region / Salmon Region | Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power counties / Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, and Teton counties / Custer and Lemhi counties |
Badger | July 1 – June 30 Year-round |
| Beaver | October 15 – April 15 | ||
| Bobcat | December 14 – February 16 | ||
| Fox | July 1 – June 30 Year-round | ||
| Marten | November 1 – January 31 | ||
| Mink | October 15 – April 15 | ||
| Muskrat | October 15 – April 15 | ||
| Otter | October 15 – March 31 |
There are specific restrictions that need to be followed when hunting small game, such as restrictions on shooting times, types of ammunition, and the use of accessories.
While hunting small games, you cannot:
- Hunt from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before.
- Use a trap, snare, net, or shotgun using shotgun shells exceeding 3 1/2 inches in length.
- Use any aid of electronic call.
Idaho Hunting Licenses
In order to hunt in Idaho, hunters must obtain the correct licenses, tags, or permits. The licenses have varying costs based on whether the person is a resident or nonresident.
Residents have various choices available to them, such as the Sportsman’s Package, Combination (Hunting & Fishing), Disabled Combination, Military Furlough Combination, and specific permits and tags for different species.
Nonresidents have the option of selecting from various types of licenses including a Combination (Hunting & Fishing) license, Hunting license, and Three-Day Hunting license.
Here is how much it costs to hunt in Idaho:
Resident License Costs
| Sportsman’s Package (Adult or Youth) | $124.25 |
| Combination (Hunting & Fishing) | $33.50 |
| Disabled Combination | $5.00 |
| Military Furlough Combination | $17.50 |
| Hunting | $12.75 |
| Junior Combination (Hunting & Fishing | $17.50 |
| Junior Hunting (10-17) | $7.25 |
| Senior Combination (Hunting & Fishing) | $11.75 |
| Archery or Muzzleloader Permit | $18.25 |
| Upland Game Bird Permit | $23.75 |
| Migratory Bird Permit | $1.75 |
| Deer Tag | $19.75 |
| Bear | $11.50 |
| Turkey | $19.75 |
| Second Turkey | $12.25 |
Nonresident License Costs
| Combination (Hunting & Fishing | $264.00 |
| Hunting | $185 |
| Small Game Hunting | $141.75 |
| Three-Day Small Game Hunting | $71.75 |
| Archery or Muzzleloader Permit | $81.75 |
| Upland Game Bird Permit | $56.75 |
| Deer Tag | $351.75 |
| Bear Tag | $231.75 |
| Turkey Tag | $88 |
To Buy a License, Tag or Permit, you can:
- Go to Idaho Fish and Game’s online licensing site at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com.
- Download the “Go Outdoors Idaho” mobile app directly on your smartphone.
- Dial 1-800-554-8685. Outside the U.S., use the internet or mail.
Conclusion
Idaho provides numerous hunting chances all year round for various game animals. Hunters can fully experience Idaho hunting season by acquiring corresponding licenses and tags, and following the above dates, rules, and limitations for each hunting season to have a successful, ethical hunting adventure. Happy hunting!
Recommended for Hunters and Anglers
4 comments on “Idaho Hunting Season Schedules For 2025 – 2026(Updated)”
Stephen
Is there a hunting season set aside for the handicap(dear elk). Stephen Peter’s
Lynn
There are no separate hunting seasons. Handicapped hunters can participate in the general deer season like everyone else as long as with a valid disable license. They can use motorized vehicles to hunt big game in designated areas from August 30 to December 31.
Karen
what if the person can’t drive due to disabilities and has to be driven places? Can they still get a license though they have no handicap license?
Lynn
Hi Karen, to get a disabled hunting license, you need to provide one of the following:
1. a Social Security benefit verification letter;
2. a letter from the Railroad Retirement board, or proof of a service-connected disability from the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs;
4. a certification of permanent disability signed by a qualified medical professional;
5. a valid Idaho driver’s license marked as disabled.
If you cannot drive, you can still go hunting with a companion. The companion can assist a disabled hunter, there is some rules about this, though.
You may find more info here: https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses/disabled/hunter-companion