Idaho Hunting License 2026: Cost, Draw Rules & Packages

Idaho operates on a calendar year license system — all licenses are valid January 1 through December 31. The base Resident Hunting License costs $15.75, one of the most affordable in the western US. Non-residents pay $185 plus a $10 access/depredation fee for a total around $195 before any tags. The Resident Sportsman's Package ($144.60) is Idaho's best value — it bundles deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, wolf, turkey, salmon, and steelhead tags into a single purchase, covering virtually every species a resident would pursue for less than $145. Youth hunters 10–17 pay $8.25 for a resident junior license.

Idaho offers a unique Price Lock program for residents who have continuously purchased licenses since 2017. These hunters can still access 2017 price rates — the Sportsman's Package drops from $144.60 to $124.25, a savings of about $20 per year. Only residents with an uninterrupted annual purchase history qualify; a single missed year forfeits Price Lock status permanently. This program rewards loyal resident hunters and incentivizes license renewal before the year-end deadline.

Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975. The free online course requires a mandatory in-person field day. Youth ages 10–17 can participate in the apprentice program without completed hunter ed while supervised by a licensed adult. Disabled veterans pay just $5.75 for a hunting license with deeply discounted tags ($10.75 deer, $16.50 elk). Active duty military stationed in Idaho purchase at resident rates. Archery seasons require an additional Archery Permit ($19.50 resident / $81.75 NR); muzzleloader seasons similarly require a Muzzleloader Permit.

Starting in 2026, Idaho implemented a major policy change for non-resident deer and elk hunters: general season NR tags transitioned from a first-come-first-served system to a structured draw. The first application period ran December 5–15, 2025, with results announced early January and tags claimed by January 20. A second round for any remaining (leftover) tags opened February 5–15, 2026, with claims by March 20. There is no separate application fee — the $185 non-refundable hunting license functions as the application entry. Non-residents can rank multiple unit choices per species and should verify the current IDFG draw rules before assuming any point carryover applies.

Controlled hunt draws in Idaho — separate from the new NR general season draw — provide access to limited-entry units. Controlled hunt application fees are $6.25 resident / $41.75 NR per species. Because Idaho's draw structures are not a standard western preference-point system, this site now avoids telling hunters that unsuccessful applications automatically build classic preference points. Moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep use the same application system at $166.75 resident / $2,101.75 NR per tag.

Idaho residents retain an OTC (over-the-counter) general deer tag ($24.75) and general elk tag ($36.75) without a draw requirement. The NR draw change affects only non-residents. Resident deer harvest varies by unit: Idaho's whitetail populations are concentrated in the north and panhandle, while mule deer are more important in southern and eastern high-desert units.

Idaho has one of the most accessible wolf hunting programs in the US. Resident wolf tags cost $14.75; non-resident tags are $31.75. Hunters can purchase up to 2 wolf hunt tags per year, plus additional tags through a trapping license. Season dates vary by game management zone — most open between August 20–30 and run through December 31 or January 31. Zone-specific quotas may close certain areas early. Wolf populations in Idaho are concentrated in the Clearwater, Lochsa, and Salmon River drainages. Trapping wolf is also legal with appropriate licensing from December 1 through February 15.

Black bear hunting in Idaho runs both spring (April 15–June 30) and fall seasons. Tags cost $19.75 resident / $186 NR. Up to 2 bears may be taken per year with separate seasonal tags. Mountain lion tags ($15.75 res / $186 NR) are available through both draw and OTC in most units; hound hunting is permitted. Idaho's combination of wolf, bear, and lion hunting in a single season makes it uniquely appealing for predator-focused hunters.

The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness covers 2.3 million acres and sits near major Idaho elk and deer country. Access is typically by floatplane, horseback, or multi-day backpack. Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and Gospel Hump Wilderness Complex add additional roadless hunting terrain, so hunters should plan around access, weather, and unit-specific tag rules.