Furbearer
Mink trapping season in Idaho (2026-27)
The Idaho mink season at a glance: trapping on October 15, 2026, limits, paperwork and the brochure source.
Photo: Fredlyfish4 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Idaho mink, the short version
Opening first is trapping (October 15, 2026); nothing for mink runs past April 15, 2027. The basic mink bag reads: no bag limit stated.
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Where Idaho mink trapping runs
| Row | Regions | Dates | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide (all 7 regions) |
| No bag limit stated |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trapping license, resident | $29.75 ($26.75 Price Lock); Expires June 30 |
| Notes | Region exceptions close some drainages and WMAs (brochure pages 31-33). |
| Regions | Panhandle, Clearwater, Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast, Upper Snake and Salmon |
From furbearer seasons and trapping license fee (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The mink calendar for 2026-27
Read across: season, area, tag, dates, the mink bag and whether it is open now.
| Row | Open area | Paperwork | Dates | Bag limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Trapping |
| No bag limit stated |
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The mink bag in Idaho
Limits are recorded from the IDFG brochures; check the counting rule for mink before a second trip.
| Rule | Bag |
|---|---|
| Row bag | No bag limit stated |
From species row source (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
What it costs to hunt mink
What it costs to hunt mink in Idaho: license, tags and permits, with who can buy each.
| Item | Resident or not | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting license | Resident | $15.75 ($12.75 Price Lock) |
| Hunting license | Nonresident | $185.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Junior hunting license | Resident | $8.25 ($7.25 Price Lock) |
| Combination hunting & fishing | Resident | $38.75 ($33.50 Price Lock) |
| Combination hunting & fishing | Nonresident | $264.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Sportsman's Package | Resident | $144.60 ($124.25 Price Lock) |
| Trapping license | Resident | $29.75 ($26.75 Price Lock) |
For mink: 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.
From license and tag fees, nonresident fees and license requirements (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho rules for mink hunters
Rules picked for mink from the IDFG brochures and Idaho Code Title 36; the laws page covers the rest.
| Topic | Wording |
|---|---|
| License | Mink trappers: 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 | Mink trappers: proof of residency is required to buy resident licenses (brochure page 118). |
| Super Hunt | Mink trappers: Super Hunt drawings for a hunt in any open general or controlled hunt; no license needed to enter. |
From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 119 and Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 8 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Public places for mink
Each card is a place open under Idaho rules; when it quotes a source, that source mentions mink or their group.
Flagged for furbearers: PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) (IDFG brochure).
Furbearers listed at North Idaho Timber Group (Large Tracts) (IDFG brochure).
Hugas Creek & St. Joe River Basin (Access Yes!) carries the trapping flag in the Access Yes! flags.
Flagged for trapping: East Idaho Grazing Association (Access Yes!) (Access Yes! flags).
Trapping listed at Mica Creek Drainage on St. Joe River (Access Yes!) (Access Yes! flags).
Faulkner Land & Livestock (Access Yes!) carries the trapping flag in the Access Yes! flags.
From PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) and Hugas Creek & St. Joe River Basin (Access Yes!) (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho mink gear picks
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A bend of the Salmon River through green meadows near Lower StanleyPhoto: Katja Schulz (CC BY 2.0)
Redfish Lake stretching toward the steep peaks of the Sawtooth WildernessPhoto: lamblukas (CC BY 2.0)
Jagged Sawtooth peaks above a forested lakeshorePhoto: Riley Yerkovich (CC BY 2.0)
Mink questions
Can I trap mink in every county?
The mink rows name Statewide (all 7 regions). Reservation land is not open to state mink seasons.
Do I need permission to trap mink on private land?
For mink trappers: entering private land to hunt, retrieve wildlife, fish or trap requires permission (Idaho Code 36-1603 and 18-7008); written or other lawful permission required to enter private land (Ask First).
Do WMAs have their own mink trapping rules?
30 IDFG wildlife management areas post trapping text on their pages. For example, Montour Wildlife Management Area: "Furbearer trapping is allowed on the WMA. Trappers must register with the Southwest Regional Office or WMA staff before setting out traps on the WMA." Read the WMA page before setting mink traps there.
Can I trap mink on Access Yes! land?
38 Access Yes! properties carry the trapping flag in the IDFG Access Yes! layer, such as A L Cattle – Dodson Pass (Access Yes!), A L Cattle – Shirts Creek (Access Yes!) and Arbon – Southwest Bench (Access Yes!); each keeps its own dates and restrictions.
Where are mink exceptions listed?
Mink: statewide (all 7 regions); region exceptions close some drainages and WMAs (brochure pages 31-33). IDFG lists the mink exceptions by region.
What are the 2026-27 Idaho mink dates?
First mink day printed: October 15, 2026; last: April 15, 2027. Trapping: October 15, 2026. On November 12, 2026 at least one mink row is open somewhere in Idaho.
What does IDFG allow for mink?
For mink, the brochure line reads: No bag limit stated.
Which Idaho license covers mink trapping?
Trapping mink takes the Idaho trapping license ($29.75 resident, $26.75 with Price Lock; it expires June 30).