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American Coot season in Idaho, 2026-27 dates and bag
The Idaho coot season at a glance: American coot on October 3, 2026, limits, paperwork and the brochure source.
Photo: mark6mauno (CC BY-SA 2.0)
American Coot season snapshot, 2026-27
Across every row, coots may be hunted somewhere in Idaho between October 3, 2026 and January 31, 2027. The basic coot bag reads: 25 daily. Coot dates are set by area, and the area list names counties, so the table below shows which counties each coot row reaches.
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The coot area map in words
| Duck area | Defined as | American Coot dates |
|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | All parts of the state not in Areas 2 and 3 |
|
| Area 2 | Bear Lake, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Valley; Blackfoot Reservoir drainage of Bingham; part of Caribou |
|
| Area 3 | Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone |
|
From duck areas (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The coot calendar for 2026-27
Read across: season, area, tag, dates, the coot bag and whether it is open now.
| Row | Open area | Paperwork | Dates | Bag limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American coot | Area 2 | – |
| 25 daily | |
| American coot | Area 3 | – |
| 25 daily | |
| American coot | Area 1 | – |
| 25 daily |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
American Coot by county
The coot areas are made of whole counties, so the county pages are the quickest way to check local dates.
| County | Rows reaching it | Its units with rows | IDFG region | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bingham | 2 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Caribou | 2 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Ada | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Adams | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Bannock | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Bear Lake | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Benewah | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Blaine | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Boise | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Bonner | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Bonneville | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Boundary | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Butte | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Camas | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Canyon | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Cassia | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Clark | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Clearwater | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Custer | 1 | – | Salmon | MT |
| Elmore | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Franklin | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Fremont | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Gem | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Gooding | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Idaho | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT/MT |
| Jefferson | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Jerome | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Kootenai | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Latah | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Lemhi | 1 | – | Salmon | MT |
| Lewis | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Lincoln | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Madison | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Minidoka | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Nez Perce | 1 | – | Clearwater | PT |
| Oneida | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Owyhee | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Payette | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Power | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Shoshone | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Teton | 1 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Twin Falls | 1 | – | Magic Valley | MT |
| Valley | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Washington | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Limits on coots for 2026-27
Limits are recorded from the IDFG brochures; check the counting rule for coots before a second trip.
| Rule | Bag |
|---|---|
| Row bag | 25 daily |
From species row source (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Buying a coot license in Idaho
What it costs to hunt coots 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) |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | Resident | $2.75 ($1.75 Price Lock) |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | Nonresident | $5.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
For coots: 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 coot hunters
Rules picked for coots from the IDFG brochures and Idaho Code Title 36; the laws page covers the rest.
| Topic | Wording |
|---|---|
| Shooting hours | Coot hunters: official shooting hours table for the 2026-2027 migratory game bird seasons (except crows) by county group (brochure pages 15-17). |
| Shot | Coot hunters: nontoxic shot required for all waterfowl. |
| Baiting | Coot hunters: state and federal baiting rules for migratory game birds (brochure page 18). |
| Youth and veterans | Coot hunters: youth-only controlled deer, elk, pronghorn and bear hunts; pheasant youth season October 8-14, 2026; youth/veterans waterfowl weekend September 26-27, 2026; youth spring turkey April 8-14. |
| Trespass | Coot hunters: entering private land to hunt, retrieve wildlife, fish or trap requires permission (Idaho Code 36-1603 and 18-7008). |
| Highways | Coot hunters: no discharge of a firearm from or across a public highway. |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 15, Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 25, Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 18, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 115, Idaho Code 36-1603 and Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 108 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
American Coot: wildlife areas, refuges and access sites
Each card is a place open under Idaho rules; when it quotes a source, that source mentions coots or their group.
Flagged for waterfowl: PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) (IDFG brochure).
Waterfowl listed at North Idaho Timber Group (Large Tracts) (IDFG brochure).
Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area carries the waterfowl flag in the IDFG WMA page.
Flagged for waterfowl: Hugas Creek & St. Joe River Basin (Access Yes!) (Access Yes! flags).
Waterfowl listed at East Idaho Grazing Association (Access Yes!) (Access Yes! flags).
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge carries the migratory game bird flag in the 50 CFR 32.31.
From PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) and Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho coot gear picks
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Snow geese in flightPhoto: Birding for Climate (Public domain)
Canada geese flying low over a marshPhoto: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain)
Mallard drakes taking flightPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0)
Answers about Idaho coots
Can I use trail cameras for coots?
For coots: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
When can I hunt coots in Idaho?
From October 3, 2026 to January 31, 2027, depending on the coot row and area. American coot: October 3, 2026. On November 12, 2026 at least one coot row is open somewhere in Idaho.
How many coots can I take in Idaho?
For coots, the brochure line reads: 25 daily.
Which Idaho license covers coot hunting?
Hunting coots takes a hunting license plus the migratory bird (HIP) permit ($2.75 resident).
Can I hunt coots in every county?
The coot rows name Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3. Reservation land is not open to state coot seasons.
Which hours table applies to coots?
Coots follow the official IDFG table on pages 15 to 17 of the migratory brochure, set by county group; this page does not recalculate it.
What are the orange rules for Idaho coots?
For coots, orange is a recommendation only: 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 any shotgun for coots?
For coots: nontoxic shot required for all waterfowl.
May I use feed to attract coots?
For coots: state and federal baiting rules for migratory game birds (brochure page 18).