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IDFG fee pages of the Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules
Idaho Hunting Licenses
All 40 fee rows the 2026 big game brochure prints: 23 resident licenses, tags, permits and applications with both the annual price and the Price Lock price, and 17 nonresident rows, which the brochure gives at the prices in force as of December 1, 2024. Below the prices sit the license rules, hunter education, the Hunting Passport and the 10-day harvest reports.
Photo: Stephen Hanafin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Which license and which tag from the Panhandle to the Owyhee
Idaho sells a hunting license first and then a tag for each big game animal. The license covers predatory and unprotected wildlife as well as game, a separate trapping license is needed to trap gray wolves, and from July 1, 2026 a lifetime certificate needs five years of Idaho residency. Anyone born after January 1, 1975 has to show a hunter education certificate or an earlier license, unless hunting on a Hunting Passport beside a licensed adult.
Who needs a license
A hunting license is required to hunt (including predatory and unprotected wildlife); a trapping license to trap gray wolf; a tag for every big game species.
Residency proof
Proof of residency is required to buy resident licenses.
Lifetime certificates
Individuals must be an Idaho resident for at least 5 years to buy any lifetime certificate (from July 1, 2026).
Hunter education
No hunting license may be issued to a person born after January 1, 1975, unless they previously held a hunting license in Idaho or another state or show a hunter education certificate (Idaho Code 36-411).
Hunting Passport
Hunting Passport (8+ junior or adult) lets a person hunt without hunter education when accompanied by an adult license holder within normal conversation range; mentors may not accompany more than two mentored hunters.
Archery permit
Archery permit buyers need bowhunter education or proof of a previous archery permit/license.
Bear identification test
No person may hunt black bear without passing the online bear identification test.
Nonresident general tags
From 2026, nonresident general season deer and elk tags are issued by random draw; quota 15,500 deer and 12,815 elk tags.
Sources: Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 119; Idaho Code 36-411; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 122; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 117; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 69; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 8. Data read November 11, 2026; checked: links reopened November 12, 2026.
Idaho license and tag prices, all 40
For residents the brochure prints two columns: the annual price and a lower Price Lock price, which is cheaper on 18 of the 23 resident rows. Nonresident rows carry one price, the one in force as of December 1, 2024. A controlled hunt application costs $6.25 for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear and turkey and $16.75 for moose, sheep and goat.
Resident hunting, combination and trapping licenses (6)
| Item | Annual price | Price Lock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting license (adult 18+) | $15.75 | $12.75 | Three-year license: $43.75 ($34.75 Price Lock). |
| Combination hunting & fishing (adult) | $38.75 | $33.50 | Three-year license: $112.75 ($97.00). |
| Sportsman's Package (adult or youth) | $144.60 | $124.25 | Includes deer, elk, turkey, bear, wolf and lion tags and archery, muzzleloader, salmon and steelhead permits. |
| Junior hunting license (10-17) | $8.25 | $7.25 | Three-year license: $21.25 ($18.25). |
| Senior combination (65+) | $13.75 | $11.75 | Three-year license: $37.75 ($31.75). |
| Trapping license | $29.75 | $26.75 | Expires June 30. |
Resident tags (10)
| Item | Annual price | Price Lock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer tag (adult) | $24.75 | $19.75 | |
| Elk tag (adult) | $36.75 | $30.75 | |
| Pronghorn tag | $36.50 | $31.25 | |
| Black bear / second bear / mountain lion / second lion tag | $13.75 | $11.50 | |
| Gray wolf tag | $13.75 | $11.50 | |
| Turkey tag | $22.75 | $19.75 | |
| Moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag | $199.75 | $166.75 | |
| Sage-grouse tag | $22.75 | $22.75 | |
| Sandhill crane tag | $22.75 | $19.75 | |
| Swan tag | $22.75 | $22.75 |
Resident permits and validations (5)
| Item | Annual price | Price Lock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery or muzzleloader permit | $19.50 | $18.25 | |
| Hound hunter permit | $15.00 | $12.75 | |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | $2.75 | $1.75 | |
| Sharp-tailed grouse permit | $5.75 | $4.75 | |
| Access-depredation fee (adult) | $5.00 | $5.00 | Paid with first annual license of the year. |
Resident controlled hunt applications (2)
| Item | Annual price | Price Lock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled hunt application (deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, turkey) | $6.25 | $6.25 | |
| Controlled hunt application (moose, sheep, goat) | $16.75 | $16.75 |
Nonresident hunting, combination and trapping licenses (4), prices as of Dec. 1, 2024
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting license (includes 3-day fishing) | $185.00 | Three-year license $551.50. |
| Combination hunting & fishing | $264.00 | Three-year license $788.50. |
| Small game hunting license | $141.75 | |
| Three-day small game hunting license | $71.75 |
Nonresident tags (9), prices as of Dec. 1, 2024
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deer tag | $351.75 | Nonresident general deer tags by random draw from 2026. |
| Elk tag | $651.75 | Nonresident general elk tags by random draw from 2026. |
| Pronghorn tag | $342.75 | |
| Black bear tag | $231.75 | |
| Mountain lion tag | $204.50 | |
| Gray wolf tag | $31.75 | |
| Turkey tag | $88.00 | |
| Moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag | $2,626.75 | Tag only. |
| Sage-grouse tag | $74.25 |
Nonresident permits and validations (4), prices as of Dec. 1, 2024
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery or muzzleloader permit | $81.75 | |
| Hound hunter permit | $301.75 | |
| Upland game bird permit | $56.75 | Department-stocked birds, 18+. |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | $5.00 |
Sources: Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 121; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 122; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 123. Data read November 11, 2026; checked: links reopened November 12, 2026.
Resident and nonresident Idaho prices side by side
14 items can be lined up across the two tables. The gap is widest on the rarest tags: a moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag is $199.75 for a resident and $2,626.75 for a nonresident, and an elk tag $36.75 against $651.75. From 2026 nonresident general deer and elk tags are issued by random draw.
| Item | Resident (annual) | Nonresident (as of Dec. 1, 2024) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting license | $15.75 | $185.00 | 12x |
| Combination license | $38.75 | $264.00 | 7x |
| Deer tag | $24.75 | $351.75 | 14x |
| Elk tag | $36.75 | $651.75 | 18x |
| Pronghorn tag | $36.50 | $342.75 | 9x |
| Black bear tag | $13.75 | $231.75 | 17x |
| Mountain lion tag | $13.75 | $204.50 | 15x |
| Gray wolf tag | $13.75 | $31.75 | 2x |
| Turkey tag | $22.75 | $88.00 | 4x |
| Moose, sheep or goat tag | $199.75 | $2,626.75 | 13x |
| Sage-grouse tag | $22.75 | $74.25 | 3x |
| Archery or muzzleloader permit | $19.50 | $81.75 | 4x |
| Hound hunter permit | $15.00 | $301.75 | 20x |
| HIP permit | $2.75 | $5.00 | 2x |
Ratios are worked out here from the two printed prices. Sources: Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 121; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 123. Data read November 11, 2026; checked: links reopened November 12, 2026.
How IDFG handles tags, checks and harvest reports
Deer, elk and pronghorn tag holders report within 10 days of a kill, or within 10 days of the season closing if they did not fill the tag. Bear, mountain lion and wolf hunters bring the skull and hide to a regional office, a checkpoint or a conservation officer within 10 days.
- Deer, elk and pronghorn reportsMandatory hunter report within 10 days after harvest, or within 10 days after the season closes if not hunted or unsuccessful (online, app or 1-877-268-9365).
- Bear, lion and wolf checksPresent skull and hide within 10 days of kill at a regional office, checkpoint or to a conservation officer.
- Swan carcass checkPresent swan carcass within 3 days of kill.
- CWD testingHunter-harvested mule deer and white-tailed deer in Units 14, 18, 23, 63A, 64, 69 and the Unit 1 portion must be tested within 10 days of harvest; heads of elk or moose transported out of a management zone must be presented for testing.
- Carcass transportUnlawful to transport any deer, elk or moose (including salvaged animals) out of Units 14, 18 and the Unit 1 portion, with exceptions for meat and some parts.
- Sportsman's PackageIncludes deer, elk, turkey, bear, wolf and lion tags and archery, muzzleloader, salmon and steelhead permits.
Sources: Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 10; Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 12; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 9; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 121. Data read November 11, 2026; checked: links reopened November 12, 2026.
Idaho Price Lock against the annual price
The ten resident items with the widest gap between the two printed columns. On a resident hunting license the difference is $3.00; on the Sportsman's Package it is $20.35. Application fees and the access-depredation fee are the same in both columns.
| Resident item | Annual | Price Lock | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag | $199.75 | $166.75 | $33.00 |
| Sportsman's Package (adult or youth) | $144.60 | $124.25 | $20.35 |
| Elk tag (adult) | $36.75 | $30.75 | $6.00 |
| Combination hunting & fishing (adult) | $38.75 | $33.50 | $5.25 |
| Pronghorn tag | $36.50 | $31.25 | $5.25 |
| Deer tag (adult) | $24.75 | $19.75 | $5.00 |
| Hunting license (adult 18+) | $15.75 | $12.75 | $3.00 |
| Trapping license | $29.75 | $26.75 | $3.00 |
| Turkey tag | $22.75 | $19.75 | $3.00 |
| Sandhill crane tag | $22.75 | $19.75 | $3.00 |
Differences are worked out here from the two printed columns. Sources: Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 121; Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 122. Data read November 11, 2026; checked: links reopened November 12, 2026.
Idaho license questions
Do I need a trapping license for wolves in Idaho?
A hunting license is required to hunt (including predatory and unprotected wildlife); a trapping license to trap gray wolf; a tag for every big game species. The resident trapping license is $29.75 and expires June 30.
Who needs an Idaho archery permit?
Archery permit buyers need bowhunter education or proof of a previous archery permit/license. Archery permit validation required in any archery-only season.
What is inside the Idaho Sportsman's Package?
The $144.60 resident package ($124.25 with Price Lock) includes deer, elk, turkey, bear, wolf and lion tags and the archery, muzzleloader, salmon and steelhead permits; it is sold to adults and youth.
What is the 2026 price of an Idaho hunting license?
A resident adult pays $15.75, or $12.75 with Price Lock; a nonresident pays $185.00, the price as of December 1, 2024, and that license includes three days of fishing.
What does a nonresident pay for an Idaho deer tag?
$351.75 (as of December 1, 2024), against $24.75 for a resident adult. From 2026 nonresident general deer tags are issued by random draw.
What do Idaho junior hunters pay?
$8.25 for the resident junior hunting license, ages 10 to 17 ($7.25 with Price Lock).
When must an Idaho deer or elk kill be reported?
Mandatory hunter report within 10 days after harvest, or within 10 days after the season closes if not hunted or unsuccessful (online, app or 1-877-268-9365).
What does a resident senior pay in Idaho?
$13.75 for the senior combination license at 65 and over, or $11.75 with Price Lock.
Does Idaho require hunter education to buy a license?
No hunting license may be issued to a person born after January 1, 1975, unless they previously held a hunting license in Idaho or another state or show a hunter education certificate (Idaho Code 36-411).
IDFG wording, unfiltered
Every fee, date and count on this page was read from an IDFG brochure, the Hunt Planner or the Idaho Code and looked at again on November 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: daveynin (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Tom Koerner (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Bureau of Land Management – Utah (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0).