Where do I buy a Idaho hunting license?

Idaho hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.

When is Idaho hunting season?

Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Idaho season dates change every year. Our Idaho deer guide summarizes the 2025 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) regulations before you plan a hunt.

What can you hunt in Idaho?

Besides mule deer, white-tailed deer, our species guides single out Idaho for mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, chukar partridge. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.

Where is public hunting land in Idaho?

Good starting points include Owyhee Canyonlands, Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.

Hunting · State by State

Idaho Hunting Guide

What to hunt in Idaho, what it costs, the laws that matter and where the public land is — with the official Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) links.

Over-the-counter tags, vast public land, and two very different deer hunts make Idaho one of the West's most accessible trophy states.

Terrain swings from sagebrush desert and rimrock canyons in the south and southwest, to high alpine basins in central Idaho's Sawtooth and Salmon River country, to dense cedar-fir timber in the panhandle where whitetail live.

Agency: Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG)
Region: Mountain West
Deer rank: #32 of 50
Species guides: 8

Idaho hunting license and tag costs

Deer license and tag prices as last reviewed. Other species' permits are listed in the agency fee schedule.

License / tag	Price
Nonresident hunting license (base, required)	~$185
Nonresident general deer tag	~$301.75
Nonresident controlled hunt deer tag	Varies by hunt; similar to general tag cost plus application fee
Controlled hunt application fee (nonresident)	~$16.75 per species
Resident deer tag	~$21.75

Idaho hunting laws to know

Rules that catch hunters out most often. Not a substitute for the regulations book.

Topic	Rule
Blaze orange	Not legally required for deer hunters, but recommended, especially during general rifle season on busy public land.
Baiting	Baiting deer is illegal statewide.
Crossbows	Legal during any archery season for hunters with a valid archery tag, no disability permit required in most cases.
Sunday hunting	Allowed statewide.
Legal firearms	Centerfire rifles and handguns of legal caliber, shotguns with slugs, and archery equipment are permitted per season type; muzzleloader-only seasons exist in select units.
Tagging/reporting	Tags must be validated (notched) immediately upon kill and remain attached to the carcass; mandatory hunter harvest reports are required after the season closes.
CWD carcass transport	Idaho monitors for chronic wasting disease; hunters harvesting deer in or near known CWD zones should check current carcass transport and testing rules before moving meat out of the area.
Hunter education	Required for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1975.

Idaho deer season structure (2025)

Idaho sets exact season dates by Game Management Unit (GMU) every year — always check the current IDFG deer rules for your specific unit before you hunt.

Season	Weapon	Typical window
Archery	Bow / crossbow (with disability permit)	Late Aug. – late Sept., varies by unit
Muzzleloader-only	Muzzleloader	Varies by unit, often October
General rifle	Rifle	Early Oct. – mid-Nov., varies by unit and species
Late/extended seasons	Rifle	Select units into Dec.

What you can hunt in Idaho

Deer — Mule deer, White-tailed deer
Good · ranked #32 of 50 for deer.
Mule Deer
General over-the-counter deer tags in much of the state
Access: OTC nonresident tags sold in a first-come rush each December
Elk
Vast wilderness, general-season tags, and genuine backcountry solitude
Access: OTC general tags by zone, capped and sold first-come starting in December
Moose
Shiras moose in classic mountain willow country
Access: Once-in-a-lifetime draw; 10–30 years of points is typical
Black Bear
Spring spot-and-stalk on green logging roads and avalanche chutes
Access: Over-the-counter tags; two bears allowed in many Idaho units
Bighorn Sheep
Strong bighorn herds and some desert units in Utah
Access: Once-in-a-lifetime with preference or bonus points; decades-long realistic waits
Mountain Lion
Strong lion densities, hound hunting legal, over-the-counter tags in many units
Access: Over-the-counter licenses; some units have harvest quotas that close mid-season
Chukar Partridge
The heart of chukar country with huge public BLM access
Access: Over-the-counter upland game license

Public hunting land in Idaho

Idaho's national forests, BLM desert country and state wildlife management areas give DIY hunters realistic access to both mule deer and whitetail across most of the state.

Owyhee Canyonlands
BLM public land · Southwest Idaho
Remote high desert and rimrock canyons holding mature mule deer bucks and very light hunting pressure.
Salmon-Challis National Forest
National forest · Central Idaho
Vast backcountry mountains and river drainages offering classic high-country mule deer hunting for hunters willing to hike.
Idaho Panhandle National Forests
National forest · Northern Idaho
Dense cedar-hemlock timber and logging cuts holding the state's best whitetail numbers.
Sawtooth National Forest
National forest · South-central Idaho
High alpine basins and timbered benches near the Sawtooth Wilderness with solid mule deer opportunity.
Clearwater National Forest
National forest · North-central Idaho
Steep, timbered drainages holding both whitetail and mule deer, with extensive road and trail access for DIY hunters.
Curlew National Grassland
National grassland · Southeast Idaho
Rolling grassland and juniper draws holding mule deer with lighter pressure than nearby mountain units.

Official Idaho links

Last reviewed 2026-09.

Nearby state hunting guides

Questions

Frequently asked

Where do I buy a Idaho hunting license?: Idaho hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.
When is Idaho hunting season?: Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Idaho season dates change every year. Our Idaho deer guide summarizes the 2025 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) regulations before you plan a hunt.
What can you hunt in Idaho?: Besides mule deer, white-tailed deer, our species guides single out Idaho for mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, chukar partridge. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.
Where is public hunting land in Idaho?: Good starting points include Owyhee Canyonlands, Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.