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Idaho Hunting Seasons 2023

We set out to create the most simplified guide to Idaho hunting seasons for 2023.

Want to find out season dates, learn about regulations and bag limits, understand license requirements, and get access helpful links?

Then you’ll love the info outlined in today’s guide. Let’s dive right in.

Idaho Hunting Seasons

Idaho Hunting

The Idaho Panhandle is home to over 300 wildlife species, there are large animals like caribou, grizzly bears, there are grasslands and forests which make up for half of the rangelands.

Idaho runs the entire range of an excess of small animals to extremely prized big game species. Generally they are structured to provide a wide variety of hunting experience with a strong emphasis on opportunity. There is a lot to learn in this state and getting outdoors, so be sure to be one of the first to get a license as there are many who eagerly await.

Navigating Deer Hunting in Idaho requires a combo, sports or hunting license with deer tags and a permit for the weapon you will be using. That is why below the seasons are listed by weapon, dates and the zones you should stay in for the animal you will be pursuing.

Idaho Deer Season 2023 - General Any Weapon Seasons

UnitAntlered DatesAntlerless DatesDetails
1, 2, 3, 4A, 5, 6Oct 10 - Dec 1
(White-tailed only)
Oct 10 - Dec 1
(White-tailed only)
See note 1
Nov 1 - Nov 14
(White-tailed or
Mule deer)
4, 7, 9Oct 10 - Oct 31
(White-tailed only)
Oct 10 - Nov 9
(White-tailed only)
Nov 1 - Nov 9
(White-tailed or
Mule deer)
8, 8A, 10, 10A, 12, 15, 16Oct 10 - Nov 3Oct 10 - Nov 3Second RES-NONRES deer tag
may not be used in Units 10, 10A & 12
11, 11AOct 10 - Nov 3
(White-tailed only)
Oct 10 - Nov 3
(White-tailed only)
Use of the Regular Deer Tag will be eliminated in these units beginning in the 2022 hunting season
13, 14, 18Oct 10 - Nov 3
(White-tailed only)
Oct 10 - Nov 3
(White-tailed only)
Use of the Regular Deer Tag will be eliminated in these units beginning in the 2022 hunting season
16A, 17, 19, 20Sep 15 -Nov 18Sep 15 -Nov 18Second RES-NONRES deer tag
may not be used in Units 16A, 17, 19 & 20
19A, 23, 25Oct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only)
20A, 26, 27Sep 15 - Oct 31
21, 21A, 28, 29, 30, 36, 36A, 36B, 37AOct 10 - Oct 24
Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only on
Private land only)
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Units 29, 30, 36A, & 37A
22Oct 10 - Oct 24
(2-point only)
Oct 10 - Oct 24
(White-tailed only)
24Oct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only
See note 3
30AOct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only on
Private land only)
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
32Oct 10 - Oct 24Oct 10 - Oct 24
(White-tailed only)
See notes 2 & 4
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
Oct 10 - Oct 16
(Youth hunt only)
See notes 2 & 4
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
31, 32AOct 10 - Oct 24Oct 10 - Oct 24
(White-tailed only)
See notes 2 & 4
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in
Units 32 & 32A
33, 34, 35Oct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Oct 31
(White-tailed only)
37Oct 10 - Oct 24Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only on
Private land only
See note 2
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
39, 43Oct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only)
40, 41, 42Oct 10 - Oct 24
(2-point only)
See note 2
46Oct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only)
See notes 2, 4
48, 49Oct 10 - Oct 31
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 49

50, 51, 56, 58, 59, 59A, 66, 66A, 69, 72, 75, 76, 77Oct 10 - Oct 24Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
52AOct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Oct 31
(Youth hunt only)
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
60, 61, 62, 62A, 64, 65Oct 10 - Oct 24See note 2
60AOct 10 - Oct 24See note 5
67Oct 10 - Oct 24See note 6
68, 71, 73A, 74Oct 10 - Oct 24

Idaho General Archery Deer Season 2023: Archery Permit Required

UnitAntleredAntlerlessDetails
1, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 9Aug 30 - Sep 30Aug 30 - Sep 30
(White-tailed only)
Dec 10 - Dec 24Dec 10 - Dec 24
(White-tailed only)
2Aug 30 - Sep 30Aug 30 - Sep 30
(White-tailed only)
See note 1
Nov 1 - Dec 1Nov 1 - Dec 1
(White-tailed only)
See note 2
Dec 10 - Dec 24Dec 10 - Dec 24
(White-tailed only)
See note 1
8, 8A, 15, 9A, 21, 21A, 23, 24, 25, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36B, 43, 46, 48, 57Aug 30 - Sep 30Aug 30 - Sep 30
10, 10A, 12Aug 30 - Sep 30Aug 30 - Sep 30Second RES-NONRES deer tagmay not be used in Units 10, 10A & 12
22Aug 30 - Sep 30
(2-point only)
Aug 30 - Sep 30
28Dec 1 - Dec 31Dec 1 - Dec 31
29, 30, 30A, 32, 32A, 36A, 37, 37A, 47, 49, 52A, 56Aug 30 - Sep 30Aug 30 - Sep 30Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
38Aug 30 - Sep 30Aug 30 - Sep 30See note 3
39Nov 10 - Nov 30Nov 10 - Nov 30Portion of unit closed, See notes 4 & 5
40, 41, 42Aug 30 - Sep 30
(2-point only)
Aug 30 - Sep 30
50, 51, 58, 59, 59A, 66A, 72,73, 75, 76, 77, 78Aug 30 - Sep 30NoneMotorized Hunting Rule Applies
55Nov 16 - Dec 10Nov 16 - Dec 10
60, 61, 62A, 63, 68, 71, 73A, 74Aug 30 - Sep 30None
60A, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69Aug 30 - Sep 30NoneMotorized Hunting Rule Applies in 66 & 69
Nov 20 - Dec 19
(White-tailed only)
Nov 20 - Dec 19
(White-tailed only)
Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in 66 & 69

Idaho General Muzzleloader Deer Season 2023: Muzzleloader Permit Required

UnitAntleredAntlerless
4, 7, 9Nov 10 - Nov 14
(White-tailed or Mule)
Nov 10 - Dec 1
(White-tailed only)
Nov 15 - Dec 1
(White-tailed only)
39Sep 8 - Sep 30

Idaho Short Range Weapon Deer Season 2023

UnitAntleredAntlerlessDetails
38Oct 10 - Oct 31Oct 10 - Nov 24Very limited access, See note 3
53Aug 30 - Nov 6Aug 30 - Nov 6Attention: Portion of Unit only, See note 6,Motorized Hunting Rule Applies
63Oct 10 - Oct 24

Idaho Elk Season 2023

General Elk Season: August 1 - December 20

Idaho Pronghorn Season 2023

Controlled Hunt Seasons: September 25 - December 31

Idaho Moose Season 2023

Antlered Season Opens Aug 30 and closes Dec 1

Idaho Black Bear Season 2023

Most fall black bear seasons open August 30 and close Nov 30 but dates vary by zone.

Most spring black bear seasons open April 15 and close June 15 but varies by zone.

Idaho Wild Turkey Season 2023

UnitDatesDetails
1, 2 (except Farragut State Park and Farragut WMA), 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 & 9Aug 30 - Jan 31, 2022See note
8, 8A, 10A, 11, 11A, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 18Aug 30 - Dec 31
10, 12, 16A, 17, 19, & 20Aug 30 - Oct 9
Outside the National Forest System boundary in Units 22, 31, 32 (except that portion in Payette County), & 32AAug 30 - Oct 9
71, 73, 74, 75, 77, & 78Sept 15 - Nov 30

These hunts overlap calendar years. Turkey tags expire on December 31 the year of purchase. Hunters must purchase a valid hunting license and turkey tag for the year in which they intend to hunt. Hunting licenses and tags go on sale December 1 for the upcoming year.

Idaho Small Game Seasons 2023

Cottontail Rabbit and Snowshoe Hare: August 30 - March 31

California and Bobwhite Quail: September 18 - January 31

Chukar and Gray Partridge: September 18 - January 31

Pheasants (Males Only): October 9 - December 31

Red Squirrel: August 30 - March 31

Idaho Hunting Units 2023

See the map below for a breakdown of Idaho's hunting zones:

Idaho Bag Limits 2023

Bag limits vary by animal, zone and season. Please refer to the official site for more details.

Idaho Hunting License 2023

To hunt in Idaho you will need:
A hunting license
A tag for big game species and turkey
To take a hunter education class if born after January 1st, 1975
Dec 1st most license & general seasons tags for the upcoming year go on sale.
Aug 5- Aug 15 second app period for unclaimed controlled hunt tags

You can buy your license at: https://license.gooutdoorsidaho.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx

Idaho Hunting License Costs 2023

Resident/ NonresidentLicenseCost
ResidentAdult Hunting and Fishing$33.75
ResidentSports package$144.60
ResidentHunting$15.75

Idaho Resident Tag Fees 2023

Black Bear$13.75
Deer$24.75
Elk$36.75
Mt. Lion$13.75
Turkey$22.75
Wolf$13.50

Idaho Permit required

Archery$19.50
Muzzleloader$19.50
Sage Grouse$5.75
Turkey$7.75
Upland Game Bird Permit$28.75

Controlled Hunt application periods 2023

Spring Black BearJan 15- Feb 15
Deer, Pronghorn, elk & fall black bearMay 1- June 5

Idaho Hunting Regulations 2023

Antlered deer are have at least one antler longer than 3 inches.

Antlerless deer are without antlers or with antlers shorter than 3 inches and may be taken in a season open for antlerless deer or either sex.

Idaho does not allow the use of natural urine from deer, elk, moose, reindeer, or caribou for big game hunting.

Hunters with valid Idaho licenses and tags in their possession can hunt mule deer and/or white-tailed deer.

Helpful Resources

Official State Site: https://license.gooutdoorsidaho.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx

FAQs
How much is a Idaho hunting license?

Idaho's Combination Hunting and Fishing License is $38.75 for residents and $264 for nonresidents.


When is deer hunting season in Idaho?

Idaho's deer season opens as early as Augst 15 and goes as late as December 31 depending on the zone and weapon.

Where to hunt mule deer in Idaho?

Unit 39 is Idaho's most popular and productive unit for mule deer hunters.

Read more
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