Whether you’re interested in learning to hunt, or wanting to teach a friend, Idaho Fish and Game has the programs to get you started.
HUNTER EDUCATION
Online and in-person options so you can get a jump on the game.
Hunter Education offers online courses that are designed to work on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. You even get to save your progress so you can complete the course at your own pace.
Get your license in 3 easy steps.
- Study and pass the $32.50 online course.
- Print your online course completion document.
- Get ready to go hunting!
Want in-person hunter education for hands-on learning from an experienced instructor? Idaho Fish & Game has courses available as low as $9.75 to sign up for.
LICENSES
To hunt in Idaho you need a hunting license and depending on the species you want to hunt, you may need a tag or permit.
| RESIDENT HUNTING LICENSES | PRICE* |
|---|---|
| Adult | $15.75 |
| Adult Three-Year | $34.75 |
| Junior (10-17) | $8.25 |
| Junior (10-17) Three-Year | $18.25 |
| Disabled Veteran (DAV) | $5.75 |
| Disabled Persons | $5.75 |
| Lifetime Licenses | Learn More |
*Prices may vary at checkout. Prices shown are for residents of Idaho. Processing fees will apply for applications made by phone and online.
TAGS & PERMITS
Some hunting activities in Idaho require a permit such as hunting waterfowl, stocked pheasants and sage grouse, as well as hunting with archery equipment or muzzleloaders.
GENERAL SEASON HUNTS
General season tags are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the below species.
- Black Bear
- Deer
- Elk
- Mountain Lion
- Sandhill Crane
- Sage Grouse
- Turkey
- Wolf
CONTROLLED HUNTS
Hunters need to apply for controlled hunts, which are issued through a random drawing and limited tags are available. Learn more about the application periods for each species.
- Bighorn Sheep
- Black Bear
- Deer
- Elk
- Moose
- Mountain Goat
- Pronghorn Antelope
- Swan (Must have Federal Migratory Game Bird Harvest Information Program Validation on the license)
- Turkey
SUPPORT A NEW HUNTER!
Take the mentorship pledge to introduce a new hunter to a lifetime of adventure.
By using our Passport program, first-time hunters can bypass hunter education for a year and hunt with a licensed hunter for less than $2. Want to learn more about taking a new hunter under your wing? Sign up today to receive information about mentorship tips & tricks.
*Passport is open to residents or nonresidents, ages 8 and older.
Idaho Fish & Game Presents
THE MAIDEN HUNTS
Experience nature in a whole new way and embark on a journey with three new hunters as they step into the Idaho wilderness in hopes of a first successful hunt. Led by seasoned mentors Ted Koch, Katie Oelrich, and Kurtis Brooks, these new hunters learn what hunting is all about in hopes of carrying the tradition forward.
Episode 1 – Gretchen & Henry
Watch Now!
Episode 2 – Kori & Katie
Watch Now!
Episode 3 – Clara & Kurtis
Watch Now!
Episode 4 – Ryan & Phil
Watch Now!
“The future of hunting is people having experiences like that and realizing how real it gets in the moment of truth.”
– Ted Koch
THE GAME PLAN
Get to know the diverse species that roam throughout the great state of Idaho. Discover where to find them and how to start your hunt.
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Forest Grouse
HABITAT
Conifer forests with shrub understory and areas near creeks and wild berries.
TASTE
Tender, white meat. Similar flavor to chicken. Excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Excellent populations statewide.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license.
-
Dove
HABITAT
Near agricultural grain fields and in grassland with mixed sage.
TASTE
Dark, lean meat with a rich flavor. Good table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Excellent populations statewide.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license, Migratory Bird (HIP) Permit.
-
Pheasant
HABITAT
On WMA’s, or near agriculture fields, in grassy habitat with sage or cattails.
TASTE
Tender white meat has a similar taste to chicken.
ABUNDANCE
Low to moderate populations statewide.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license, WMA permit if hunting on a Wildlife Management Area or private land stocked by Idaho Fish and Game.
-
Chukar
HABITAT
Steep, grassy terrain with rock outcroppings.
TASTE
Tender white meat has a similar taste to chicken. Excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Moderate to excellent populations.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license.
-
Quail
HABITAT
Dense shrub vegetation at low to adjacent elevations or agriculture fields.
TASTE
Tender, white meat. Similar flavor to chicken. Excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Good populations along rivers and streams with brushy cover below 3,500 feet in elevation.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license.
-
Turkey
HABITAT
Grassy, forested habitat or shrub habitat with grass or agriculture nearby.
TASTE
Lean white meat breast, and dark meat legs. Similar taste to farm-raised turkey.
ABUNDANCE
The population continues to grow. Found in certain Idaho regions.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license, turkey tag.
-
Gray Partridge
HABITAT
Grassland in gently rolling terrain, and near a water source.
TASTE
Dark, lean meat with a rich flavor. Excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Moderate populations in certain Idaho regions (Southwestern, Central & Northern Idaho).
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license.
-
Duck
HABITAT
Ponds, lakes, rivers, grain fields, and freshwater marshes.
TASTE
Rich, dark meat. Good table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Good to excellent populations, statewide.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license, Migratory Bird (HIP) Permit, and Federal Duck Stamp (For hunters age 16 and older).
-
Goose
HABITAT
Ponds, lakes, rivers, grain fields, and freshwater marshes.
TASTE
Dark meat, with a rich flavor. Good table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Good to Excellent populations, found statewide.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license, Migratory Bird (HIP) Permit, and Federal Duck Stamp (For hunters age 16 or older).
-
Rabbit
HABITAT
Ample amounts of cover, such as dense sagebrush, juniper thickets, thick forb, and riparian vegetation, as well as forest edge habitats.
TASTE
Juicy, dark meat. Good to excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Moderate populations, statewide.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license.
-
Elk
HABITAT
Sagebrush-covered deserts, aspen draws above farm fields, high mountain meadows, or thick timbered ridges.
TASTE
Lean, tender meat that tastes similar to beef. Excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Excellent populations.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license and elk tag. Archery permit if hunting in archery only season. Muzzleloader permit if hunting in muzzleloader only season.
-
Deer
HABITAT
Conifer forests, shrub terrain with aspen stands, sagebrush steppe, grasslands, and adjacent to agricultural lands.
TASTE
Lean rich meat, flavor somewhere between beef and lamb. Good to excellent table fare.
ABUNDANCE
Excellent populations.
LICENSE, TAGS AND PERMITS NEEDEDValid Idaho hunting license and deer tag. Archery permit if hunting in archery only season. Muzzleloader permit if hunting in muzzleloader only season.
REGULATIONS
It’s your responsibility to know the season and rules for each species you hunt. Everything you need to know to stay legal is contained in the Seasons and Rules Booklets.
WHERE TO HUNT
Idaho offers millions of acres of private and public land for hunters to access.
YOUR ROLE IN IDAHO’S
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Whether you’re a hunter or an angler, you play an important role in supporting Idaho Fish and Game’s mission to protect our state’s wildlife—big and small. When you purchase a license, you are directly funding the future of all wildlife in Idaho through habitat restoration, population monitoring, and conservation.
Did You Know?
48% of the money for Idaho wildlife conservation comes from the sale of licenses, tags, and permits.
Discover More Ongoing Conservation Efforts
TIPS
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