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Idaho Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against Idaho Department of Fish & Game before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $17.75 · nonresident $185.5. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

Deer (Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer, Regular Deer Tag) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General archery only - dominant framework across most unitsAug 30, 2026Sep 30, 2026Regular Deer Tag plus archery permit validation
General any weapon - dominant framework across most unitsOct 10, 2026Oct 31, 2026Regular Deer Tag

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Spring general - male or bearded turkey, most unitsApr 15, 2026May 25, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag
Spring general - Farragut State Park and WMA (Unit 2), archery onlyApr 15, 2026Apr 30, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag plus archery permit validation
Spring youth only - short-window unitsApr 8, 2026Apr 14, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag, hunters aged 10-17 (Hunting Passport holders 8-9 eligible)
Spring youth only - long-window units (21, 21A, 28, 29, 30, 36A, 36B, 37, 37A, 38, Payette County portion of 32)Apr 8, 2026May 25, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag, hunters aged 10-17
Fall general - northern panhandle units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 and 9Aug 30, 2026Jan 31, 2027General Hunt Turkey Tag or $5 Special Unit tag; tag must be valid for the calendar year hunted
Fall general - central and southern long-season unitsAug 30, 2026Dec 31, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag
Fall general - short-season units 10, 12, 16A, 17, 19 and 20 and non-National-Forest portions of 22, 31, 32, 32A, 33 and 39Aug 30, 2026Oct 9, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag
Fall general - Farragut State Park and WMA (Unit 2), archery onlyNov 1, 2026Dec 1, 2026General Hunt Turkey Tag plus archery permit validation

Black Bear Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall take season - units closing October 31Aug 30, 2026Oct 31, 2026Black Bear Tag; mandatory bear identification test
Fall take season - units closing November 30Aug 30, 2026Nov 30, 2026Black Bear Tag; mandatory bear identification test

Elk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
A tag, general archery only - dominant framework across most zonesAug 30, 2026Sep 30, 2026General Season Elk Zone A Tag plus archery permit validation
B tag, general any weapon - dominant framework across most zonesOct 10, 2026Oct 24, 2026General Season Elk Zone B Tag

Bighorn Sheep Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Rocky Mountain bighorn rams, regular controlled hunts - north of I-84: Rocky Mountain bighorn range, north of Interstate 84Aug 30, 2026Oct 13, 2026Controlled hunt bighorn sheep tag, drawn (apply April 1 - 30). 77 tags
Rocky Mountain bighorn rams, late controlled hunts - north of I-84: Rocky Mountain bighorn range, north of Interstate 84Oct 14, 2026Oct 31, 2026Controlled hunt bighorn sheep tag, drawn. 16 late tags
California bighorn rams, controlled hunts - south of I-84: California bighorn range, south of Interstate 84Aug 30, 2026Oct 8, 2026Controlled hunt bighorn sheep tag, drawn. 7 tags across Units 40, 41, 42 and 55

American Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideOct 27, 2026Feb 28, 2027Idaho hunting licence. HIP permit NOT required, federal duck stamp NOT required

Mourning and White-winged Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular firearm season - statewide, single segmentSep 1, 2026Oct 30, 2026Idaho hunting licence plus Migratory Bird (HIP) Permit. Federal Duck Stamp NOT required
Extended falconry season: Extended falconry season (not a geographic zone)Jan 23, 2027Mar 10, 2027Falconry permit plus Idaho hunting licence; see the Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer brochure

Grouse (Forest and Sharp-tailed) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Forest grouse (dusky/blue, ruffed, spruce) - Area 1: Forest Grouse Area 1Aug 30, 2026Jan 31, 2027Idaho hunting licence
Forest grouse (dusky/blue, ruffed, spruce) - Area 2: Forest Grouse Area 2Aug 30, 2026Dec 31, 2026Idaho hunting licence
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse - Area 1 (the only open area): Sharp-tailed Grouse Area 1 (the only open area)Oct 1, 2026Nov 8, 2026Hunting licence with sharp-tailed grouse permit validation

Shiras Moose Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Antlered moose controlled hunts - dominant frameworkAug 30, 2026Nov 23, 2026Controlled hunt moose tag, drawn (apply April 1 - 30)
Antlered moose controlled hunts - northern long-season frameworkSep 15, 2026Dec 1, 2026Controlled hunt moose tag, drawn (apply April 1 - 30)

Mountain Goat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Either-sex controlled hunts - every hunt areaAug 30, 2026Nov 12, 2026Controlled hunt mountain goat tag, drawn (apply April 1 - 30). 40 tags

Mountain Lion Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Take season - statewide, every unitJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Mountain Lion Tag

Mule Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General archery only - dominant framework across most unitsAug 30, 2026Sep 30, 2026Regular Deer Tag plus archery permit validation
General any weapon - dominant framework across most unitsOct 10, 2026Oct 31, 2026Regular Deer Tag

Chukar and Gray Partridge Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideSep 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Idaho hunting licence

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Statewide - residentsOct 15, 2026Dec 31, 2026Idaho hunting licence; Upland Game Bird Permit additionally required on release areas for hunters 18 and over
Statewide - nonresidents: Nonresident pheasant huntersOct 20, 2026Dec 31, 2026Nonresident hunting licence; Upland Game Bird Permit additionally required on release areas for hunters 18 and over
Youth hunt - statewideOct 8, 2026Oct 14, 2026Licensed hunters aged 17 and under, including on IDFG pheasant release areas

Pronghorn Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery only controlled hunts - dominant frameworkAug 15, 2026Sep 15, 2026Controlled hunt pronghorn tag, drawn (apply May 1 - June 5), plus archery permit validation
Any weapon either-sex controlled hunts - statewide frameworkSep 25, 2026Oct 24, 2026Controlled hunt pronghorn tag, drawn (apply May 1 - June 5)
Muzzleloader only controlled hunts - dominant frameworkSep 25, 2026Oct 24, 2026Controlled hunt pronghorn tag, drawn, plus muzzleloader permit validation
Doe or fawn controlled hunt 4025, hunt area 44-1Oct 5, 2026Oct 24, 2026Controlled hunt pronghorn tag, drawn. 100 tags
Doe or fawn controlled hunt 4026, hunt area 44-2Oct 25, 2026Nov 30, 2026Controlled hunt pronghorn tag, drawn. 100 tags

California and Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
StatewideSep 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Idaho hunting licence

Small Game (Cottontail Rabbit, Snowshoe Hare, Red Squirrel) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Cottontail rabbit - statewideAug 30, 2026Mar 31, 2027Idaho hunting licence
Snowshoe hare - statewideAug 30, 2026Mar 31, 2027Idaho hunting licence
Red squirrel - statewideAug 30, 2026Mar 31, 2027Idaho hunting licence

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots, Wilson's Snipe and Canada Geese Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth and Veterans/Active Military waterfowl weekend - statewideSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026Youth hunters and veterans/active military; see brochure for eligibility
Ducks, mergansers, coots and Wilson's snipe - Duck Area 1Oct 19, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting licence plus Migratory Bird (HIP) Permit plus Federal Duck Stamp (16 and older); nontoxic shot
Scaup - Duck Area 1Nov 7, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Ducks, mergansers, coots and Wilson's snipe - Duck Area 2Oct 3, 2026Jan 15, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Scaup - Duck Area 2Oct 3, 2026Dec 27, 2026Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Ducks, mergansers, coots and Wilson's snipe - Duck Area 3Oct 10, 2026Jan 22, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Scaup - Duck Area 3Oct 29, 2026Jan 22, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Canada geese - Goose Area 1: Canada Goose Area 1Oct 19, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp; nontoxic shot
Canada geese - Goose Area 2: Canada Goose Area 2Oct 3, 2026Jan 15, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Canada geese - Goose Area 3: Canada Goose Area 3Nov 3, 2026Feb 15, 2027Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Canada geese - Goose Area 4 (first segment): Canada Goose Area 4Sep 1, 2026Sep 15, 2026Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp
Canada geese - Goose Area 4 (second segment): Canada Goose Area 4Oct 3, 2026Dec 31, 2026Hunting licence plus HIP plus Federal Duck Stamp

White-tailed Deer (White-tailed Deer Tag) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
General any weapon on the White-tailed Deer Tag - northern panhandle frameworkOct 10, 2026Dec 1, 2026White-tailed Deer Tag (valid for white-tailed deer only)
General any weapon on the White-tailed Deer Tag - central frameworkOct 10, 2026Nov 20, 2026White-tailed Deer Tag (valid for white-tailed deer only)
General archery only - dominant framework across most unitsAug 30, 2026Sep 30, 2026Regular Deer Tag or White-tailed Deer Tag plus archery permit validation

Gray Wolf Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting - private land, statewide, year-round: Private land, statewideJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Wolf Tag; expanded hunting methods allowed
Hunting - public land, year-round units: Public land units with a year-round wolf hunting seasonJul 1, 2026Jun 30, 2027Wolf Tag; general hunting rules only, expanded methods NOT allowed
Hunting - public land, split units, general methods segment: Public land units with a split wolf hunting seasonApr 1, 2027Nov 14, 2027Wolf Tag; general hunting rules only, expanded methods NOT allowed
Hunting - public land, split units, expanded methods segment: Public land units with a split wolf hunting seasonNov 15, 2026Mar 31, 2027Wolf Tag; expanded hunting methods allowed
Trapping - units closed by federal court decision (19 counties)Dec 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping licence plus wolf trapper certification. CLOSED July 1 - Nov 30 and Mar 1 - June 30 by federal court decision
Trapping - public land, units outside the court-affected counties, foothold traps onlySep 10, 2026Nov 14, 2026Trapping licence plus wolf trapper certification. Foothold traps yes, snares NO
Trapping - public land, units outside the court-affected counties, traps and snaresNov 15, 2026Mar 31, 2027Trapping licence plus wolf trapper certification. Foothold traps and snares both permitted
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with Idaho Department of Fish & Game before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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