Upland game bird
Pheasant season in Idaho, 2026-27 dates and bag
The Idaho pheasant season at a glance: pheasant – youth (17 and under) on October 8, 2026 and pheasant – resident on October 15, 2026, limits, paperwork and the brochure source.
Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Idaho pheasants, the short version
The first pheasant opener still ahead or running in the 2026-27 rows is pheasant – youth (17 and under) on October 8, 2026, and the last pheasant day printed is December 31, 2026. The basic pheasant bag reads: 3 roosters daily (2 on release areas), 9 possession.
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 pheasant areas, tags and permits
| Row | Dates | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant – resident | Oct 15–Dec 31, 2026 | 3 roosters daily (2 on Upland Game Bird Permit release areas), 9 possession |
| Pheasant – nonresident | Oct 20–Dec 31, 2026 | 3 roosters daily (2 on release areas), 9 possession |
| Pheasant – youth (17 and under) | Oct 8–Oct 14, 2026 | 3 roosters daily, 9 possession |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | Hunter orange is recommended, required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required (including IDFG properties and leases) and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts; minimum 36 square inches above the waist. |
| Upland game bird permit, nonresident | $56.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024); Department-stocked birds, 18+. |
From pheasant seasons and hunter orange policy (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The pheasant calendar for 2026-27
Read across: season, area, tag, dates, the pheasant bag and whether it is open now.
| Row | Open area | Paperwork | Dates | Bag limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant – youth (17 and under) | Statewide | – | Oct 8–Oct 14, 2026 | 3 roosters daily, 9 possession | |
| Pheasant – resident | Statewide | – | Oct 15–Dec 31, 2026 | 3 roosters daily (2 on Upland Game Bird Permit release areas), 9 possession | |
| Pheasant – nonresident | Statewide | – | Oct 20–Dec 31, 2026 | 3 roosters daily (2 on release areas), 9 possession |
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 pheasant bag in Idaho
Limits are recorded from the IDFG brochures; check the counting rule for pheasants before a second trip.
| Rule | Bag |
|---|---|
| Pheasant | 3 roosters daily (2 on release areas), 9 possession |
| Row bag | 3 roosters daily (2 on Upland Game Bird Permit release areas), 9 possession |
| Row bag | 3 roosters daily, 9 possession |
From bag limit (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Buying a pheasant license in Idaho
What it costs to hunt pheasants 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) |
| Small game hunting license | Nonresident | $141.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| 3-day small game license | Nonresident | $71.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Upland game bird permit | Nonresident | $56.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
For pheasants: 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.
Pheasant hunting rules in Idaho
Rules picked for pheasants from the IDFG brochures and Idaho Code Title 36; the laws page covers the rest.
| Topic | Wording |
|---|---|
| Technology | Pheasant hunters: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators). |
| Hunter orange | Pheasant hunters: hunter orange is recommended, required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required (including IDFG properties and leases) and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts; minimum 36 square inches above the waist. |
| Hunter education | Pheasant hunters: 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 | Pheasant hunters: 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. |
From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7, IDFG page, Idaho Code 36-411 and Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 122 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Public land for Idaho pheasants
Each card is a place open under Idaho rules; when it quotes a source, that source mentions pheasants or their group.
Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area: pheasant listed (IDFG WMA page). Units: Unit 63.
C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area: pheasant listed (IDFG WMA page). Units: Unit 38 and Unit 41.
Market Lake Wildlife Management Area: pheasant listed (IDFG WMA page). Units: Unit 63 and Unit 63A.
Sterling Wildlife Management Area: pheasant listed (IDFG WMA page). Units: Unit 68A.
Deer Parks Wildlife Mitigation Units: pheasant listed (IDFG WMA page). Units: Unit 60A and Unit 63A.
From Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area, C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area and Market Lake Wildlife Management Area (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho pheasant gear picks
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Alpine meadow of red paintbrush and white wildflowersPhoto: Katja Schulz (CC BY 2.0)
A golden oat field on the Camas Prairie near Fairfield with hills behindPhoto: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The wide Sawtooth Valley with meadows, forest and distant peaksPhoto: Acroterion (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions on pheasants
Do I need hunter orange for pheasants in Idaho?
For pheasants, yes in some places: hunter orange is recommended, required only while hunting pheasants where the Upland Game Bird Permit is required (including IDFG properties and leases) and on sponsored hunts such as organized youth hunts; minimum 36 square inches above the waist.
Can I use trail cameras for pheasants?
For pheasants: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
Where may I not shoot at pheasants?
For pheasants: no discharge of a firearm from or across a public highway; entering private land to hunt, retrieve wildlife, fish or trap requires permission (Idaho Code 36-1603 and 18-7008).
What is the Hunting Passport for pheasant hunters?
For pheasants: 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 (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.
What are the 2026-27 Idaho pheasant dates?
First pheasant day printed: October 8, 2026; last: December 31, 2026. Pheasant – youth (17 and under): October 8, 2026; Pheasant – resident: October 15, 2026; Pheasant – nonresident: October 20, 2026. On November 12, 2026 at least one pheasant row is open somewhere in Idaho.
How many pheasants may one hunter keep in Idaho?
For pheasants, the brochure line reads: 3 roosters daily (2 on release areas), 9 possession; 3 roosters daily (2 on Upland Game Bird Permit release areas), 9 possession; 3 roosters daily, 9 possession.
Do I need a tag for pheasants in Idaho?
A hunting license covers pheasants ($15.75 resident, $12.75 with Price Lock; $185.00 nonresident as of December 1, 2024); the fee table also lists a nonresident small game license at $141.75.
Where in Idaho do pheasant rules apply?
The pheasant rows name Statewide. Reservation land is not open to state pheasant seasons.
Do nonresidents start pheasant later?
Pheasant rows: Pheasant – resident: October 15 to December 31, 2026, 3 roosters daily (2 on Upland Game Bird Permit release areas), 9 possession; Pheasant – nonresident: October 20 to December 31, 2026, 3 roosters daily (2 on release areas), 9 possession; Pheasant – youth (17 and under): October 8 to October 14, 2026, 3 roosters daily, 9 possession.