How do you get a hunting license in Idaho? - Project Sports
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How do you get a hunting license in Idaho?

6 min read

Asked by: Amanda Jackson

In order to hunt in Idaho, you need a hunting license. They are available at Idaho Fish and GameIdaho Fish and GameIdaho is graced with 26,000 miles of streams and rivers, more than 3,000 natural lakes, and a quarter-million acres of ponds and reservoirs. Inhabiting those waters are 42 game fish species, from giant white sturgeon to wild trout, catfish to kokanee, and smallmouth bass to salmon and steelhead.

What does it take to get a hunting license in Idaho?

In order to buy a license, Idaho requires that first-time hunters born after December 31, 1974, must first complete a course approved by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and IHEA-USA.

Can I buy a hunting license online in Idaho?

Online * Our third-party vendor and the official site to buy licenses, tags, and permits online. Please note, a login to the vendor’s site is required. Print your licenses right away!

What do you need to hunt deer in Idaho?

In addition to a hunting license, you need a separate permit, commonly known as a tag, for each big game species, such deer, elk, bear, pronghorn, etc. If you plan to hunt big game with archery equipment or a muzzleloader, you will need permits for those weapons, and you may also need a bowhunter-education course.

How do I get a resident hunting license in Idaho?

Resident License Fees



Applicant must have been a resident in the State of Idaho for 6 months immediately preceding application for license. Applicant must have been a resident in the State of Idaho for 6 months immediately preceding application for license.

Can you have your hunting license on your phone in Idaho?

Yes, you may take a picture of your license and store it on your mobile device as proof of having a license. We do not have any plans to build an app for licensing.

How do I get a deer tag in Idaho?

Online*

  1. Online*
  2. Or by Phone: 1-800-554-8685.


Where can I buy a hunting license in Idaho?

Where to Buy an Idaho Hunting License

  • Visit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website.
  • Call 1-800-554-8685.
  • Visit an Idaho Department of Fish and Game office or an approved license vendor.


How much do deer tags cost in Idaho?

Idaho Code § 36-416

Deer Tag $ 23.00 $ 350.00
Pronghorn Antelope Tag 34.75 341.00
Moose Tag 198.00 2,625.00
Bighorn Sheep Tag 198.00 2,625.00
Mountain Goat Tag 198.00 2,625.00

Do you need a tag to hunt on your own land in Idaho?

No. You must have a valid Idaho hunting license to hunt on private land, and you must stay within the season rules that Fish and Game has set up for the unit. Hunting any wildlife, even on private property, must adhere to state fish and game laws.

Can I shoot coyotes in Idaho?

Answer: Yes. Coyotes are classified as predators in Idaho law, and there is no restriction on killing them. You do need a valid Idaho hunting license.

Can you hunt on your property in Idaho?

The Idaho trespass law states that “no person may enter private land to hunt, fish, or trap without permission if the land is either cultivated, or posted…”. So, land that is cultivated cannot be hunted without permission, and the landowner must post uncultivated land to keep hunters out.

How many acres do you need to hunt on it in Idaho?

Answer: There is no minimum size of acres you need to own in order to hunt on it. You should take into account safety issues as well as the amount of land needed to provide habitat for the species you wish to hunt.

How many deer can you shoot in Idaho?

How many deer can I harvest? In general, the answer is one deer per hunter per year. However, a few controlled hunts and depredation hunts offer the opportunity for hunters to harvest additional deer.

Is hunter orange required in Idaho?

Idaho doesn’t require that you wear hunter orange while big game hunting. It is required if you are hunting upland birds on WMAs where we plant pheasants.

How do Idaho deer tags work?

The regular deer tag is valid for any hunt listed under “2021 Regular Deer Tag Seasons” and may be used to take a mule deer or white-tailed deer during those seasons. The white-tailed deer tag is valid for white-tailed deer only, for any hunt listed under “2021 White-tailed Deer Tag Seasons”.

Does Idaho have over the counter deer tags?

One of the first important application dates up every year is Idaho’s OTC nonresident general season tag sale date for deer and elk. So… this article is a HUGE reminder that all nonresident Idaho OTC deer and elk tags go on sale on December 1, 2021 @ 10 a.m. MST for purchasing a tag for the 2022 season.

Does Idaho have over the counter mule deer tags?

After the over-the-counter nonresident deer tags sell out, nonresidents may still be able to get a tag in several ways: Apply for a controlled hunt in May, and if selected, a nonresident can buy the controlled hunt tag. (Nonresidents are limited to 10 percent of all controlled hunt tags.)

Is Idaho a draw state for deer hunting?

Controlled Season



Idaho’s controlled hunt permits are a true random draw. Irrespective of how many times you have applied in the past, an applicant in the random draw receives only 1 entry unlike many other states.

How much does it cost to hunt deer in Idaho?

Application Deadline

2022 IDAHO NON-RESIDENT FEES Up-Front Fees
Deer Tag $351.75
Junior Mentored Deer Tag (10-17 years old) $176.75
Archery Permit $81.75
Muzzleloader Permit $81.75

How much is a out of state mule deer tag in Idaho?

$301.75 $351.75

Comparison of 2021 tag and license fee increases for nonresidents in Idaho
Deer tag $301.75 $351.75
Elk tag $416.75 $651.75
Antelope tag $311.75 $342.75
Bighorn sheep tag $2,101.75 $2,626.75

Where is the best deer hunting in Idaho?

With generous over-the-counter tags and any-weapon harvest seasons, and given it’s proximity to Idaho’s most populated area, Unit 39 is the state’s most popular and productive unit for mule deer hunters.

How much does it cost to mule deer hunt in Idaho?

Your license and most tags are purchased over-the-counter, an adult non-resident hunting license and deer tag is $551.75, non-resident youth are $277.50, disabled veterans is $64.50.

How do you hunt whitetail deer in Idaho?

Here in north or idaho we live in a little bit of that transition. Between farm prairie and timber and so that's a nice mix whitetails love that it creates a lot of edge.