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2026-27 county guide
Payette County for Idaho Hunters
Unit shares both ways, A and B elk tag lines, 11 drawn hunts, 2025 harvest in the units that cross into Payette County, public land by owner and the shops around Payette.
Photo: Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Payette County size, people and time zone
Payette County sits wholly inside the IDFG Southwest Region, which also takes in Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore and Gem. Census figures put Payette County at 27,662 people in 2024 (9.0% up from the 2020 base of 25,385); the courthouse stands in Payette. The county spreads across 407 square miles of land, close to 260,403 acres, 44th statewide.
Counties on its edges: Canyon County, Gem County and Washington County, plus Malheur County (OR) beyond the border, which the other state licenses on its own terms. Payette County keeps Mountain Time, like 33 other Idaho counties; only the nine northern counties and part of Idaho County use Pacific Time. Nampa hosts the Southwest Region South – Nampa Office, the office IDFG assigns to Payette County.
Population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; area from the 2024 Census gazetteer; neighbours from Census county adjacency; regions from the IDFG regions and the IDFG administrative regions layer; offices from the IDFG office locations page; time zone from 49 CFR 71.9. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County by hunting unit
Percentages come from overlaying the IDFG unit polygons on county lines.
2 IDFG hunting units reach into Payette County, and Unit 32 covers the largest piece, 58% of the county. The neighbour with the most shared units is Gem County: 2 of them.
| Unit | County share | Unit share | Elk zone | Wolf zone | CWD status | Other counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 32 | 58% | 17% | Weiser River Zone | McCall – Weiser | — | Washington, Gem, Boise +3 |
| Unit 38 | 42% | 9% | Boise River Zone | Southern Idaho | — | Ada, Canyon, Elmore +1 |
The general black bear tables leave out Unit 38; read the brochure before planning a bear hunt there.
Unit shares from the IDFG Game Units layer overlaid on Census county polygons (GIS shares of land area, both ways); elk zone of each unit from the IDFG Elk Zones layer; wolf zones from the IDFG Wolf Zones layer; CWD units from the 2026 brochure; bear tables from the 2026 brochure. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County zone tags for elk
Area cells name the part of the zone a line covers.
Pick an elk zone before buying a general tag: Payette County sits in 2 of them, chiefly the Weiser River Zone (58%).
| Zone | County share | Zone share | Its units here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weiser River Zone | 58% | 8% | 32 |
| Boise River Zone | 42% | 4% | 38 |
Zone tag seasons reaching Payette County
| Zone | A or B | Weapon | From | To | Take | Area | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weiser River | B Tag | Any Weapon | Aug 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Antlerless | 32 | — |
| Weiser River | A Tag | Archery | Aug 30, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | 22/32/32A | — |
| Weiser River | B Tag | Any Weapon | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | Antlerless | Unit 32 | — |
| Weiser River | B Tag | Any Weapon | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | Antlered | Units 22,32,32A | — |
| Weiser River | A Tag | Any Weapon | Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | Antlerless | Unit 32 | — |
| Weiser River | A Tag | Any Weapon | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | Antlerless | 32 | — |
| Boise River | B Tag | Any Weapon | Aug 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | Unit 38 | — |
| Boise River | B Tag | Any Weapon | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Antlerless or Spike | Unit 38 | — |
| Boise River | B Tag | Any Weapon | Oct 27, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | Antlered | Portion of Unit 39 | — |
| Boise River | A Tag | Archery | Nov 10, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | Portion of Unit 39 | — |
Zone shares from the IDFG Elk Zones layer overlaid on county polygons; A and B tag lines from the IDFG Hunt Planner general hunt pages and the brochure elk zone table; tag sale dates from the 2026 brochure. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County CWD rules and wolf zones
CWD rules for 2026 do not reach Payette County: the zone is Units 14, 18 and part of Unit 1, and testing adds Units 23, 63A, 64 and 69.
Payette County wolf zones, units and dates
IDFG maps Payette County into 2 wolf zones, McCall – Weiser and Southern Idaho, and sets wolf dates separately for public and private land. Wolf trapping takes a trapping license plus wolf trapper education; from July 1, 2026 trap checks may use transmitting cameras.
| Season | Ownership | Units here | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Private land | 32/38 | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 |
| Hunting | Public land | 32 | Apr 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 |
| Hunting | Public land | 38 | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 |
| Hunting | Public land | 32 | Nov 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Trapping | Private land | 32/38 | Nov 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Trapping | Public land | 32 | Sep 10, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 |
| Trapping | Public land | 38 | Sep 10, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 |
| Trapping | Public land | 32 | Nov 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Trapping | Public land | 38 | Nov 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
CWD zone, transport and testing rules from the Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 9; 2026 changes from IDFG, What hunters need to know about CWD requirements for 2026; county units from the IDFG CWD zone rules; wolf rules from the 2026 brochure; wolf zones from the IDFG Wolf Zones layer. Checked November 12, 2026.
Dated seasons around Payette County
General tags go over the counter, while a Controlled line needs a successful application in the IDFG draw before the hunt.
| Species | Hunt | Tag or permit | Area | Opening day | Final day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | General tag | Units 32, 38 | Aug 30, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Deer | Controlled: Antlered | Controlled | 3 hunts | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Deer | Controlled: Extra Antlerless | Controlled | 4 hunts | Oct 10, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | |
| Deer | Any Weapon | General tag | Unit 32 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Deer | Any Weapon | General tag | Unit 32 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Short-Range Weapon | General tag | Unit 38 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Deer | Short-Range Weapon | General tag | Unit 38 | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Elk | B Tag | B tag | Unit 32 | Aug 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | B Tag | B tag | Unit 38 | Aug 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | A Tag | A tag | Unit 32 | Aug 30, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | B Tag | B tag | Unit 38 | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Elk | B Tag | B tag | Units 32, 38 | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Elk | B Tag | B tag | Unit 32 | Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | |
| Elk | A Tag | A tag | Units 32, 38 | Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Elk | Controlled: Extra Antlerless | Controlled | 1 hunt | Nov 16, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Elk | A Tag | A tag | Unit 32 | Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Controlled: Either Sex | Controlled | 2 hunts | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Pronghorn | Controlled: Youth Only | Controlled | 1 hunt | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Fall 2026 | General tag | Unit 32 | Aug 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Spring 2027 | General tag | Unit 32 | Apr 1, 2027 | May 22, 2027 | |
| Mountain lion | July 2026 – June 2027 | General tag | Units 32, 38 | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall general – outside National Forest System lands | Unit 32 | Aug 30, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | ||
| Wild turkey | Spring general – youth only | Unit 32 | Apr 8, 2027 | Apr 14, 2027 | ||
| Wild turkey | Spring general | Unit 32 | Apr 15, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | ||
| Forest grouse | Forest grouse (dusky, ruffed, spruce) | Area 2 | Aug 30, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | ||
| Chukar | Chukar | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| Gray partridge | Gray (Hungarian) partridge | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| Quail | California and bobwhite quail | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| Pheasant | Pheasant – youth (17 and under) | Statewide | Oct 8, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | ||
| Pheasant | Pheasant – resident | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | ||
| Pheasant | Pheasant – nonresident | Statewide | Oct 20, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | ||
| Cottontail rabbit | Cottontail | Statewide | Aug 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | ||
| Snowshoe hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Aug 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | ||
| Red squirrel | Red squirrel | Statewide | Aug 30, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | ||
| Ducks | Youth and veterans/active military waterfowl weekend | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | ||
| Ducks | Ducks | Permit | Area 1 | Oct 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Scaup | Scaup | Area 1 | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| American coot | American coot | Area 1 | Oct 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| Wilson's snipe | Wilson's snipe | Area 1 | Oct 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| Canada goose | Canada goose | Area 1 | Oct 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | ||
| White-fronted goose | White-fronted goose (4 areas) | Areas 1-4 | Oct 3, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | ||
| Light goose | Snow, blue and Ross's geese (5 areas) | Areas 1-5 | Oct 3, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | ||
| Mourning dove | Mourning and white-winged dove | Permit | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| American crow | American crow | Statewide | Oct 27, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | ||
| Badger | Trapping and hunting | Trapping | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Trapping | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Trapping and hunting | Trapping | Statewide | Dec 14, 2026 | Feb 16, 2027 | |
| Marten | Trapping | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mink | Trapping | Trapping | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Trapping | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| River otter | Trapping | Trapping | Statewide | Oct 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Trapping and hunting – other regions (year-round) | By region | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 |
From the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules, the Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat 2025 and 2026 brochure, the Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 and 2027 brochure, the Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure and the IDFG Hunt Planner (Idaho Department of Fish and Game), data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Hunt numbers crossing into Payette County
Rows come from the 2026 draw.
The 2026 draw lists 11 hunt numbers whose units cross into the county (7 deer, 1 elk and 3 pronghorn). Together they carry 285 tags for 2026, but the counts are whole-hunt figures and many hunt areas are smaller than their units or spill into other counties.
The first application period for deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear runs May 1 to June 5 and results post in early July; the draw is random.
Payette County deer hunt numbers (7)
| Number | Kind | Units | Weapon | From | To | Take | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1023 | Antlered | 32 | Any Weapon | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | Antlered | 40 |
| 1028 | Antlered | 38 | Short-Range Weapons | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | Antlered | 5 |
| 1029 | Antlered | 38 | Short-Range Weapons | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | Antlered | 20 |
| 1138 | Extra Antlerless | 38 | Short-Range Weapons | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 | Antlerless | 10 |
| 1139 | Extra Antlerless | 38 | Short-Range Weapons | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026 | Antlerless | 10 |
| 1140 | Extra Antlerless | 38 | Short-Range Weapons | Nov 19, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | Antlerless | 10 |
| 1141 | Extra Antlerless | 38 | Short-Range Weapons | Dec 9, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | Antlerless | 10 |
Elk hunts with units in Payette County (1)
| Number | Kind | Units | Weapon | From | To | Take | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2165 | Extra Antlerless | 32 | Any Weapon | Nov 16, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Antlerless | 150 |
Pronghorn hunts with units in Payette County (3)
| Number | Kind | Units | Weapon | From | To | Take | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4003 | Either Sex | 32 | Any Weapon | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | 5 |
| 4006 | Either Sex | 38 | Any Weapon | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | 10 |
| 4050 | Youth Only | 32 | Any Weapon | Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | 15 |
Hunt numbers, types, units, dates, bags and 2026 tags from the IDFG Hunt Planner hunt pages (each hunt number links its page) matched to the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules and the Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat 2025 and 2026 brochure; counties are whole units, so a hunt area can be smaller. Application periods from the 2026 brochure, the moose, sheep and goat brochure and the spring bear page. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County unit harvest, 2025
Bear, lion and wolf cells are animals taken in the unit.
IDFG publishes harvest by unit and by hunt, not by county, so the rows below are 2025 harvest in the hunting units that reach Payette County (unit totals). 1,860 general season elk hunters took 395 elk in Unit 32 during 2025. Unit 32 posted the largest general deer harvest among these units, 886.
| Unit | Deer (success) | Elk (success) | Black bear | Mountain lion | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 32 | 886 (29%) | 395 (21%) | 21 | 4 | 463 |
| Unit 38 | 246 (28%) | 51 (16%) | — | — | 227 |
2025 harvest from the IDFG Hunt Planner statistics: general season deer 2025; general season elk 2025; black bear 2025; mountain lion 2025; spring turkey 2025. Deer and elk cells are IDFG’s “All Weapons Combined” unit rows (harvest and success); bear, lion and wolf cells are unit harvest; turkey is the spring unit row. IDFG publishes harvest by hunting unit and controlled hunt only (Hunt Planner harvest statistics); no county harvest exists. `counties` on unit rows list every county named in the unit boundary description. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County forests, BLM and WMAs
Solid points on the map are places in the county; hollow ones lie just outside it.
Of every hundred acres in Payette County, about 25 are public hunting ground, 63,833 acres on the merged layers. Sort the owners by size and BLM land comes first, 62,857 acres within the county line. Call the Four Rivers Field Office about BLM roads and closures here; its share is roughly 62,853 of 62,857 BLM acres.
| Owner | Acres (GIS) | Share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMA land | 880 | under 1% | WMA rules apply |
| Public domain (BLM) | 62,857 | 24% | Open to hunting |
| Refuge land | 96 | under 1% | Refuge-specific |
| Public total (union) | 63,833 | 25% | Counted once |
| Access Yes! 2026 | 390 | under 1% | Separate |
| State endowment land | 7,565 | 3% | Read rule |
Idaho Department of Lands endowment land adds about 7,565 acres, kept out of the public total because recreation there is a secondary use.
Payette County places, card by card
Payette River Wildlife Management Area
Units 32/38
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Units 31/32/38
Boise District
Units 22/23/24 +13
Four Rivers Field Office
Units 22/23/24 +12
Payette County neighbours with open land
- Letha – Payette River Access (Access Yes!)9 miles, Access Yes! property
- Paddock Valley Reservoir (Access Yes!)16 miles, Access Yes! property
- Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area18 miles, IDFG WMA
- Montour Wildlife Management Area21 miles, IDFG WMA
- Midvale Hill (Access Yes!)31 miles, Access Yes! property
- A L Cattle – Dodson Pass (Access Yes!)31 miles, Access Yes! property
Acres are GIS measures of polygons with water over 2 square km removed, not official acreage: IDFG WMA layer, PAD-US 4.1 (forest, grassland, BLM, refuge, park, endowment, Reclamation, military, DOE and tribal land), IDFG Access Yes! 2026 layer, IDFG Large Tracts layer; refuges counted only when listed in 50 CFR 32.31; tribal rule from 18 U.S.C. 1165; closures from the 2026 brochure; Craters of the Moon from the NPS laws and policies page. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County IDFG contacts and shops
Region: IDFG Southwest Region. Call the office before driving in with a skull or hide to present.
Payette County town guides
- Payette8,754 people · Unit 32 · 5 places within 10 mi
- New Plymouth1,608 people · Unit 38 · 5 places within 10 mi
Payette and New Plymouth have a town page with nearby land within 10 and 25 miles. Listings place 2 gun, archery or outdoor shops, 1 taxidermist and 0 game processors inside the county; nearby counties fill the gaps.
Offices from the IDFG office locations page; skull and hide rule from the 2026 brochure; towns from the 2024 Census gazetteer; shops from Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; outfitters from the IDFG outfitter layer of OGLB licences. Listings not individually verified; call ahead. Checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County: club benches and clay fields
Payette County has 2 ranges on file.
For a public IDFG range, the Payette County centre shooters go 30 miles to Nampa Public Shooting Range.
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2027 | Postal .22 | Match page |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Long range | Match page |
| Jan 14, 2027 | Postal .22 | Match page |
Ranges from IDFG range pages, the BLM qualified range list, club sites and directory listings, checked November 12, 2026.
Payette County sunrise and shooting times
Deer, elk, bear, lion and wolf hunters around Payette County share the same half-hour rule at both ends of the day.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Big game hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2026 | General elk opener | 6:34 a.m. MT | 9:13 p.m. MT | 6:04 a.m. MT to 9:43 p.m. MT |
| Aug 30, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:07 a.m. MT | 8:29 p.m. MT | 6:37 a.m. MT to 8:59 p.m. MT |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Chukar opener | 7:25 a.m. MT | 8:00 p.m. MT | 6:55 a.m. MT to 8:30 p.m. MT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | General deer opener | 7:54 a.m. MT | 7:14 p.m. MT | 7:24 a.m. MT to 7:44 p.m. MT |
| Oct 19, 2026 | Duck opener | 8:05 a.m. MT | 6:59 p.m. MT | 7:35 a.m. MT to 7:29 p.m. MT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 8:18 a.m. MT | 5:11 p.m. MT | 7:48 a.m. MT to 5:41 p.m. MT |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 7:05 a.m. MT | 8:29 p.m. MT | 6:35 a.m. MT to 8:59 p.m. MT |
Hours rule from the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules (wolf and upland game animals: same rule, wolf, upland); time zone from 49 CFR 71.9; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); migratory bird hours: IDFG migratory bird table; checked November 12, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Payette County hunting kit
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Mule deer does feeding in sagebrushPhoto: Bureau of Land Management – Utah (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Eastern cottontail rabbit at the edge of a fieldPhoto: mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Snow geese in flightPhoto: Birding for Climate (Public domain)
Payette County FAQ
How far is the nearest IDFG office from Payette County?
About 30 miles in a straight line from mid-county to the Southwest Region South – Nampa Office in Nampa.
Which Payette County unit gave up the most general season elk in 2025?
Unit 32, 395 (general season elk), a figure for the whole unit.
What hunter orange rule applies in Payette County?
IDFG recommends hunter orange. It becomes required on pheasant ground where the Upland Game Bird Permit is needed and on sponsored hunts like organized youth hunts (36 square inches minimum above the waist).
Do I report an unsuccessful hunt in Payette County?
Yes. Unsuccessful deer, elk and pronghorn hunters report within 10 days after the season closes.
What elk zones overlap Payette County?
Which species have controlled hunts reaching Payette County?
7 deer, 1 elk and 3 pronghorn: 11 hunt numbers in all.
What does the merged public land count show for Payette County?
63,833 acres with overlaps counted once.
Which Payette County units carry CWD rules?
None. The 2026 CWD units all lie in other counties.
What are the big game shooting hours in Payette County?
From half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; migratory birds follow the separate IDFG table.
From the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules, IDFG hunter orange policy, harvest reporting, CWD rules, 49 CFR 71.9, 18 U.S.C. 1165 and the county data above. Checked November 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Bureau of Land Management – Utah (Public Domain Mark 1.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); Birding for Climate (Public domain).