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Idaho Black Bear season for 2026-27, with every row

Where and when to hunt black bears in Idaho: 83 season rows, from general tags to the random draw.

Season rows

Every species

Hunting gear

83Rows

Aug 30, 2026Opens

3902026 tags

89Units

Big gameGroup

Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

Black Bear in Idaho at a glance

6 controlled hunts cover black bears, with 390 tags in all (3 fall controlled, 2 spring controlled and 1 fall controlled, youth only). Over-the-counter tags cover 2 general season types for black bears (fall 2026 and spring 2027). Fall 2026 starts the bear year on August 30, 2026; the final bear row closes on July 31, 2027. In the IDFG brochure, the bear bag is: one black bear per legal tag; females with young protected.

83Dated rows

Aug 30, 2026Opener

Jul 31, 2027Closes

6Hunt numbers

390Tag total

89Unit count

42Counties

From Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Idaho black bear rules, bait to bear tables

Topic	IDFG rule
Fall 2026 general rows	38
Spring 2027 general rows	39
Bait	Bait may be used for black bear only under the brochure conditions (bait permit; no game animal, game bird, game fish or protected nongame parts; skin removed; no salt).
Dump grounds	No hunting or pursuing black bears within 200 yards of a designated dump ground or landfill.
Bear identification	No person may hunt black bear without passing the online bear identification test.
Females	Females with young protected; second bear tags in listed units; bait with permit; hound seasons by unit.

No general bear row was printed for the units below in the 2026 fall or 2027 spring tables, so read the brochure before hunting bears there.

From black bear rules, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 69 and general bear tables (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

The general bear calendar for 2026-27

Each line is one IDFG bear window with the area it covers and the tag it needs.

Hunt	Where	Tag or license	When	Limit
Fall 2026	1 62 62A	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: January 1 – December 31
Fall 2026	2 3 5 11A 15	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Fall 2026	4 4A	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: April 15 – April 30; August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Fall 2026	6	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Fall 2026	7 9 10 12	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31
Fall 2026	8	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31; April 15 -April 30
Fall 2026	8A 10A	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Fall 2026	11	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31; April 15 – May 31
Fall 2026	13	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: April 15 – April 30; October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Fall 2026	14 16 18	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Fall 2026	16A 17 19 20	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: April 15 – April 30; September 15 – October 31
Fall 2026	19A 23 25 29 30 +29	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 1 – October 31
Fall 2026	20A 26	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – October 31
Fall 2026	21 21A 28 36B	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – November 8
Fall 2026	22 31	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – September 30; October 10 – October 31
Fall 2026	24 33 34 35 36 +1	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 5 – October 31
Fall 2026	27	General tag	Aug 30–Nov 30, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – November 8
Fall 2026	32	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31
Fall 2026	32A	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – October 31; April 1 – May 22
Fall 2026	68 68A 70 71 72 +6	General tag	Aug 30–Oct 31, 2026	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – October 31; April 15 – June 30
Spring 2027	10 12	General tag	Apr 1–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	16A 17 19 20	General tag	Apr 1–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: April 15 – April 30; September 15 – October 31
Spring 2027	20A 26	General tag	Apr 1–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – October 31
Spring 2027	21 21A 28 36B	General tag	Apr 1–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – November 8
Spring 2027	22 31	General tag	Apr 1–May 22, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – September 30; October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	27	General tag	Apr 1–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – November 8
Spring 2027	32	General tag	Apr 1–May 22, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	32A	General tag	Apr 1–May 22, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: September 15 – October 31; April 1 – May 22
Spring 2027	1	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 15, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: January 1 – December 31
Spring 2027	2 3 5	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 15, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	4 4A	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: April 15 – April 30; August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	6 15	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	7 9	General tag	Apr 15–Jul 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	8	General tag	Apr 15–May 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31; April 15 -April 30
Spring 2027	8A 10A	General tag	Apr 15–May 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Spring 2027	11	General tag	Apr 15–May 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31; April 15 – May 31
Spring 2027	11A	General tag	Apr 15–May 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – September 14; October 10 – October 31
Spring 2027	13	General tag	Apr 15–May 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: April 15 – April 30; October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Spring 2027	14 16	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Spring 2027	18	General tag	Apr 15–May 31, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 10 – October 31; April 15 – April 30
Spring 2027	19A 23 25 50 51 +15	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 1 – October 31
Spring 2027	24	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 7, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 5 – October 31
Spring 2027	29 30 30A 36A 37 +9	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 15, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 1 – October 31
Spring 2027	33 34 35 36 39	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 5 – October 31
Spring 2027	62 62A	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: January 1 – December 31
Spring 2027	68 68A 70 71 72 +6	General tag	Apr 15–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: August 30 – October 31; April 15 – June 30
Spring 2027	24	General tag	Jun 8–Jun 30, 2027	One black bear per tag; females with young protected Dogs prohibited: October 5 – October 31

Merged view: 77 IDFG bear rows shown as 47 lines, unit lists intact.

From Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

The bear draw, hunt by hunt

Hunt areas follow the brochure codes, such as 1-1 or 69-1, inside the units shown.

Type	Hunt numbers	2026 tags	Opens	Closes
Fall controlled	3	215	Sep 1, 2026	Oct 31, 2026
Spring controlled	2	150	Apr 1, 2027	May 22, 2027
Fall controlled, youth only	1	25	Sep 1, 2026	Oct 31, 2026

By tags, 8502, 8503 and 8001 are the biggest bear hunts on the list.

No.	Hunt type	Hunt area	When	2026 tags	Units
8502	Fall controlled	22-1a	Sep 1–Oct 31, 2026	100	22
8503	Fall controlled	32A	Sep 1–Oct 31, 2026	100	32A
8504	Fall controlled, youth only	22-1a	Sep 1–Oct 31, 2026	25	22
8501	Fall controlled	1-1b	Sep 15–Oct 9, 2026	15	1
8001	Spring controlled	22-1a	Apr 1–May 22, 2027	75	22
8002	Spring controlled	32A	Apr 1–May 22, 2027	75	32A

From Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules, controlled hunt application periods and IDFG Hunt Planner (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Every hunt number

Draw rules

Black Bear units across Idaho

Unit	IDFG region	Lines	Tags issued	Zone	In counties
Unit 22	Southwest	5	200	Weiser River Zone	Adams Washington
Unit 32A	Southwest	4	175	Weiser River Zone	Adams Gem Valley
Unit 1	Panhandle	3	15	Panhandle Zone	Boundary Bonner
Unit 24	Southwest	3	0	McCall Zone	Valley
Unit 2	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Bonner Kootenai
Unit 3	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Kootenai Shoshone
Unit 4	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Shoshone Kootenai Bonner
Unit 4A	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Bonner Kootenai
Unit 5	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Benewah Kootenai
Unit 6	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Shoshone Benewah Latah
Unit 7	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Shoshone
Unit 8	Clearwater	2	0	Palouse Zone	Latah Nez Perce Clearwater
Unit 8A	Clearwater	2	0	Palouse Zone	Latah Clearwater Benewah
Unit 9	Panhandle	2	0	Panhandle Zone	Shoshone
Unit 10	Clearwater	2	0	Lolo Zone	Clearwater Idaho Shoshone
Unit 10A	Clearwater	2	0	Dworshak Zone	Clearwater Idaho Shoshone
Unit 11	Clearwater	2	0	Hells Canyon Zone	Nez Perce Lewis Idaho
Unit 11A	Clearwater	2	0	Palouse Zone	Idaho Lewis Nez Perce
Unit 12	Clearwater	2	0	Lolo Zone	Idaho Clearwater
Unit 13	Clearwater	2	0	Hells Canyon Zone	Idaho
Unit 14	Clearwater	2	0	Elk City Zone	Idaho
Unit 15	Clearwater	2	0	Elk City Zone	Idaho
Unit 16	Clearwater	2	0	Elk City Zone	Idaho
Unit 16A	Clearwater	2	0	Selway Zone	Idaho
Unit 17	Clearwater	2	0	Selway Zone	Idaho
Unit 18	Clearwater	2	0	Hells Canyon Zone	Idaho Adams
Unit 19	Clearwater	2	0	Selway Zone	Idaho
Unit 19A	Southwest	2	0	McCall Zone	Idaho Valley
Unit 20	Clearwater	2	0	Selway Zone	Idaho
Unit 20A	Southwest	2	0	Middle Fork Zone	Idaho Valley
Unit 21	Salmon	2	0	Salmon Zone	Lemhi
Unit 21A	Salmon	2	0	Salmon Zone	Lemhi
Unit 23	Southwest	2	0	McCall Zone	Idaho Adams
Unit 25	Southwest	2	0	McCall Zone	Valley
Unit 26	Southwest	2	0	Middle Fork Zone	Valley Idaho
Unit 27	Salmon	2	0	Middle Fork Zone	Valley Custer Lemhi
Unit 28	Salmon	2	0	Salmon Zone	Lemhi Custer
Unit 29	Salmon	2	0	Lemhi Zone	Lemhi
Unit 30	Salmon	2	0	Beaverhead Zone	Lemhi
Unit 30A	Salmon	2	0	Beaverhead Zone	Lemhi
Unit 31	Southwest	2	0	Brownlee Zone	Washington
Unit 32	Southwest	2	0	Weiser River Zone	Washington Gem Payette
Unit 33	Southwest	2	0	Sawtooth Zone	Boise Valley
Unit 34	Southwest	2	0	Sawtooth Zone	Valley Boise
Unit 35	Southwest	2	0	Sawtooth Zone	Boise
Unit 36	Salmon	2	0	Sawtooth Zone	Custer Blaine
Unit 36A	Salmon	2	0	Pioneer Zone	Custer
Unit 36B	Salmon	2	0	Salmon Zone	Custer
Unit 37	Salmon	2	0	Lemhi Zone	Custer Lemhi
Unit 37A	Salmon	2	0	Lemhi Zone	Lemhi Custer
Unit 39	Southwest	2	0	Boise River Zone	Elmore Boise Ada
Unit 43	Magic Valley	2	0	Smoky-Bennett Zone	Camas Elmore
Unit 44	Magic Valley	2	0	Smoky-Bennett Zone	Camas Elmore Blaine
Unit 45	Magic Valley	2	0	Smoky-Bennett Zone	Elmore Gooding Camas
Unit 48	Magic Valley	2	0	Smoky-Bennett Zone	Blaine
Unit 49	Magic Valley	2	0	Pioneer Zone	Blaine
Unit 50	Upper Snake	2	0	Pioneer Zone	Custer Butte Blaine
Unit 51	Upper Snake	2	0	Lemhi Zone	Butte Custer Lemhi
Unit 52	Magic Valley	2	0	Smoky-Bennett Zone	Lincoln Blaine Camas
Unit 52A	Upper Snake	2	0	Big Desert Zone	Lincoln Blaine Minidoka
Unit 53	Magic Valley	2	0	Big Desert Zone	Jerome Minidoka Lincoln
Unit 58	Upper Snake	2	0	Beaverhead Zone	Lemhi Clark Butte
Unit 59	Upper Snake	2	0	Beaverhead Zone	Clark
Unit 59A	Upper Snake	2	0	Beaverhead Zone	Clark Lemhi Jefferson
Unit 60	Upper Snake	2	0	Island Park Zone	Fremont Clark
Unit 60A	Upper Snake	2	0	Island Park Zone	Fremont Clark Jefferson
Unit 61	Upper Snake	2	0	Island Park Zone	Fremont Clark
Unit 62	Upper Snake	2	0	Island Park Zone	Fremont Teton Madison
Unit 62A	Upper Snake	2	0	Island Park Zone	Fremont
Unit 63	Upper Snake	2	0	Snake River Zone	Jefferson Bingham Butte
Unit 63A	Upper Snake	2	0	Snake River Zone	Jefferson Bonneville Madison
Unit 64	Upper Snake	2	0	Palisades Zone	Madison Teton Jefferson
Unit 65	Upper Snake	2	0	Palisades Zone	Teton
Unit 66	Upper Snake	2	0	Tex Creek Zone	Bonneville
Unit 66A	Southeast	2	0	Diamond Creek Zone	Bonneville Caribou
Unit 67	Upper Snake	2	0	Palisades Zone	Bonneville Teton Madison
Unit 68	Upper Snake	2	0	Big Desert Zone	Bingham Power Blaine
Unit 68A	Southeast	2	0	Big Desert Zone	Bingham Bannock Power
Unit 69	Upper Snake	2	0	Tex Creek Zone	Bingham Bonneville Caribou
Unit 70	Southeast	2	0	Bannock Zone	Bannock Power
Unit 71	Southeast	2	0	Bannock Zone	Bannock Caribou Bingham
Unit 72	Southeast	2	0	Bannock Zone	Caribou Bingham
Unit 73	Southeast	2	0	Bannock Zone	Oneida Bannock Franklin
Unit 73A	Southeast	2	0	Bannock Zone	Power Oneida
Unit 74	Southeast	2	0	Bannock Zone	Bannock Caribou Franklin
Unit 75	Southeast	2	0	Bear River Zone	Bear Lake Caribou Franklin
Unit 76	Southeast	2	0	Diamond Creek Zone	Caribou Bear Lake
Unit 77	Southeast	2	0	Bear River Zone	Franklin Bear Lake
Unit 78	Southeast	2	0	Bear River Zone	Bear Lake Franklin

Because unit lines follow ridges, rivers and roads, the counties below are reached by the bear rows, sometimes only by a slice.

County	Rows	Hunting units	Region	Zone
Idaho	29	10 10A 11 11A 12 13 +12	Clearwater	PT/MT
Valley	21	19A 20A 24 25 26 27 +4	Southwest	MT
Adams	15	18 22 23 32 32A	Southwest	MT
Clearwater	12	6 8 8A 10 10A 11A +1	Clearwater	PT
Shoshone	12	3 4 6 7 9 10 +1	Panhandle	PT
Washington	11	22 31 32 32A	Southwest	MT
Blaine	10	36 44 48 49 50 52 +3	Magic Valley	MT
Custer	10	27 28 36 36A 36B 37 +3	Salmon	MT
Lemhi	10	21 21A 27 28 29 30 +6	Salmon	MT
Nez Perce	10	8 8A 11 11A	Clearwater	PT
Bonneville	8	63 63A 66 66A 67 68A +1	Upper Snake	MT
Butte	8	50 51 52A 58 63 68	Upper Snake	MT
Clark	8	51 58 59 59A 60 60A +2	Upper Snake	MT
Fremont	8	60 60A 61 62 62A	Upper Snake	MT
Bonner	7	1 2 4 4A	Panhandle	PT
Benewah	6	4 5 6 8A	Panhandle	PT
Bingham	6	63 68 68A 69 71 72	Southeast	MT
Boise	6	32 32A 33 34 35 39	Southwest	MT
Caribou	6	66A 69 71 72 74 75 +1	Southeast	MT
Elmore	6	39 43 44 45 53	Southwest	MT
Gem	6	32 32A	Southwest	MT
Jefferson	6	59A 60A 63 63A 64 67	Upper Snake	MT
Kootenai	6	2 3 4 4A 5 6	Panhandle	PT
Latah	6	6 8 8A	Clearwater	PT
Madison	6	60A 62 63A 64 67	Upper Snake	MT
Bear Lake	4	75 76 77 78	Southeast	MT
Camas	4	43 44 45 52	Magic Valley	MT
Cassia	4	53	Magic Valley	MT
Lewis	4	11 11A	Clearwater	PT
Minidoka	4	52A 53 68	Magic Valley	MT
Power	4	68 68A 70 73 73A	Southeast	MT
Teton	4	62 64 65 67	Upper Snake	MT
Boundary	3	1	Panhandle	PT
Ada	2	32 39	Southwest	MT
Bannock	2	68A 70 71 73 74	Southeast	MT
Franklin	2	73 74 75 77 78	Southeast	MT
Gooding	2	45 52 53	Magic Valley	MT
Jerome	2	53	Magic Valley	MT
Lincoln	2	52 52A 53	Magic Valley	MT
Oneida	2	73 73A	Southeast	MT
Payette	2	32	Southwest	MT
Twin Falls	2	53	Magic Valley	MT

From IDFG Game Units layer, Hunt Planner unit pages and Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Unit pages

Counties

What the bear harvest tables show

Summing the 2025 unit rows gives 2,936 black bears; by unit, Unit 39, Unit 4, Unit 1 and Unit 10A were highest.

Year	Harvest (sum of rows)	Rows
2021	3,511	99
2022	3,636	99
2023	2,975	99
2024	3,287	99
2025	2,936	99

Unit	Harvest	Hunters
Unit 39	186	–
Unit 4	149	–
Unit 1	128	–
Unit 10A	127	–
Unit 12	126	–
Unit 10	116	–
Unit 33	103	–
Unit 17	83	–
Unit 14	81	–
Unit 6	76	–

Controlled bear hunts ranked

Hunt	Area	Hunters	Harvest	Success
8502	22-1	–	18	–
8001	22-1	–	15	–
8002	32-1	–	13	–
8501	1-1	–	11	–
8503	32A	–	9	–
8504	22-1	–	3	–
8003	32-2	–	1	–

7 rows in the 2025 controlled bear hunts table sum to 70 black bears (computed here).

IDFG publishes harvest by game management unit and controlled hunt only (Hunt Planner harvest statistics); no county harvest exists.

From black bear harvest 2021, black bear harvest 2022, black bear harvest 2023, black bear harvest 2024, black bear harvest 2025, controlled bear hunts harvest 2025 and Hunt Planner harvest statistics (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Harvest statistics

How many black bears you may take in Idaho

These are the bear limits in IDFG's words; check the counting period before a second trip.

Where or what	Limit as recorded
Black bear	One black bear per legal tag; females with young protected.
Also printed	One black bear (females with young protected)
Also printed	One black bear per tag; females with young protected

From bag limit and species row source (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Idaho bear fees for 2026-27

From the IDFG fee tables: the license first, then any tag, permit or application the bear rows call for.

License, tag or permit	Who	Price
Hunting license adult 18+	Resident	$15.75 ($12.75 Price Lock)
Hunting license includes 3-day fishing	Nonresident	$185.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024)
Junior hunting license 10-17	Resident	$8.25 ($7.25 Price Lock)
Combination hunting & fishing adult	Resident	$38.75 ($33.50 Price Lock)
Combination hunting & fishing	Nonresident	$264.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024)
Sportsman's Package adult or youth	Resident	$144.60 ($124.25 Price Lock)
Bear or lion tag	Resident	$13.75 ($11.50 Price Lock)
Black bear tag	Nonresident	$231.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024)
Controlled hunt application deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, turkey	Resident	$6.25
Archery or muzzleloader permit	Resident	$19.50 ($18.25 Price Lock)
Archery or muzzleloader permit	Nonresident	$81.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024)
Hound hunter permit	Resident	$15.00 ($12.75 Price Lock)
Hound hunter permit	Nonresident	$301.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024)

License basics behind the bear table: 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.

Every fee

Youth hunting

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 bear hunters

Read these before heading out for black bears; the penalty schedule is on the laws page.

Area	Requirement
Reporting	Bear hunters: present skull and hide within 10 days of kill at a regional office, checkpoint or to a conservation officer.
Technology	Bear hunters: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
Archery and muzzleloader	Bear hunters: archery permit validation required in any archery-only season; Muzzleloader permit validation required.
Hound hunting	Bear hunters: females with young protected; second bear tags in listed units; bait with permit; hound seasons by unit.
Super Hunt	Bear hunters: Super Hunt drawings for a hunt in any open general or controlled hunt; no license needed to enter.
Taking wildlife	Bear hunters: taking game animals, birds or furbearers is unlawful except as provided by law, rule or proclamation.

Hunting laws

From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 10, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 11, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 69, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 8 and Idaho Code 36-1101 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Where to hunt black bears on public ground

Public land picked for black bears: first the places named for them, then wildlife areas, refuges and Access Yes! ground in bear country.

Wildlife Management Area · 122,922 acres

Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area names black bear (IDFG WMA page); it lies in Unit 11.

Wildlife Management Area · 32,550 acres

Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area names black bear (IDFG WMA page); it lies in Unit 7 and Unit 9.

Wildlife Management Area · 7,272 acres

Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area names black bear (IDFG WMA page); it lies in Unit 1 and Unit 2.

Wildlife Management Area · 4,353 acres

Georgetown Summit Wildlife Management Area names black bear (IDFG WMA page); it lies in Unit 75 and Unit 76.

Wildlife Management Area · 2,052 acres

Boundary-Smith Creek Wildlife Management Area names black bear (IDFG WMA page); it lies in Unit 1.

BLM District · 3,625,567 acres

Idaho Falls District sits in Unit 21A, Unit 28 and Unit 29, where bear rows run.

National Forest · 2,789,991 acres

Idaho Panhandle National Forests: public ground in Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 (bear rows).

National Forest · 2,762,182 acres

Inside Unit 51, Unit 58 and Unit 59, named in the bear rows: Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

All public land

IDFG WMAs

From Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area and Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.

Black Bear hunting hours on key dates

East and west Idaho differ by many minutes, so use the column nearest your bear hunt.

For black bears, IDFG's rule reads: "Big game animals may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset." The table works it out for three county centres with the NOAA solar formula.

Date	Clearwater County centre (PT)	Valley County centre (MT)	Adams County centre (MT)
Aug 30, 2026	5:29 a.m. PT to 7:59 p.m. PT	6:31 a.m. MT to 8:56 p.m. MT	6:35 a.m. MT to 8:59 p.m. MT
Sep 1, 2026	5:31 a.m. PT to 7:55 p.m. PT	6:34 a.m. MT to 8:52 p.m. MT	6:37 a.m. MT to 8:56 p.m. MT
Dec 21, 2026	6:54 a.m. PT to 4:27 p.m. PT	7:47 a.m. MT to 5:34 p.m. MT	7:50 a.m. MT to 5:37 p.m. MT
Apr 1, 2027	5:54 a.m. PT to 7:40 p.m. PT	6:55 a.m. MT to 8:39 p.m. MT	6:59 a.m. MT to 8:42 p.m. MT

Hours rule from Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 96; time zones from 49 CFR 71.9; times worked out with the NOAA solar formula for each county centre; checked November 12, 2026. Legal hours for every county.

Carry this in Idaho bear

Built around mountain, desert and river-bottom hunts.

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Trail camera

On the short list for an Idaho season: trail camera.

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Purple larkspur on a rocky slope in the White Knob Mountains Wilderness Study AreaPhoto: Bureau of Land Management Idaho (CC BY 2.0)

Aerial view of the jagged Sawtooth Range peaks and valleysPhoto: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0)

Highway 75 west of Challis below colorful cliffsPhoto: cifraser1 (CC BY 2.0)

Questions about black bears in Idaho

Is blaze orange required for Idaho bear hunters?

The bear rule is a recommendation: 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.

Are some Idaho units missing from the bear tables?

For black bears: No person may hunt black bear without passing the online bear identification test. Units 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 54, 55, 56, 57 are not listed in the 2026 fall or 2027 spring general bear tables; read the brochure page before planning a hunt there.

When does bear hunting open in Idaho?

From August 30, 2026 to July 31, 2027, depending on the bear row and area. Fall 2026: August 30, 2026; fall controlled hunting: September 1, 2026; fall controlled – youth only hunting: September 1, 2026. Some bear dates are live as of November 12, 2026.

Which tech rules apply to bear hunters?

For black bears: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).

What does it cost to hunt black bears in Idaho?

A bear hunter in Idaho needs a hunting license ($15.75 resident, $12.75 with Price Lock; $185.00 nonresident as of December 1, 2024) and a black bear / second bear / mountain lion / second lion tag ($13.75 resident, $231.75 nonresident). Controlled hunts add the application fee ($6.25).

What is the daily limit on black bears in Idaho?

For black bears, the brochure line reads: One black bear per legal tag; females with young protected; One black bear (females with young protected); One black bear per tag; females with young protected.

Can I buy an Idaho bear tag over the counter?

General bear tags are sold over the counter to residents, with no application. General season deer, elk (A/B zone tags, some capped), black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf and turkey tags are sold over the counter to residents.

How are bear tags drawn in Idaho?

For black bears: deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear controlled hunts: first application period May 1-June 5, results early July; second period August 5-15 (results by August 25), leftover tags August 25 at 10 am MT; controlled tags must be bought by August 1; Spring controlled bear applications January 15-February 15. Idaho draws bear controlled hunts at random.

Can I hunt black bears at night in Idaho?

For black bears, IDFG says: big game animals may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. North Idaho runs on Pacific Time, so the bear table shows each time with its zone.

Where can I hunt black bears in Idaho?

Bear rows tied to units name 89 hunting units reaching 42 counties; the most bear rows fall in Unit 22, Unit 32A and Unit 1.

What does the 2025 bear report show?

The 2025 black bear unit rows add up to 2,936 black bears (computed here from 99 rows).

Is bear harvest reporting mandatory?

For black bears: present skull and hide within 10 days of kill at a regional office, checkpoint or to a conservation officer.

What bear methods does Idaho allow?

For black bears: bait may be used for black bear only under the brochure conditions (bait permit; no game animal, game bird, game fish or protected nongame parts; skin removed; no salt); no hunting or pursuing black bears within 200 yards of a designated dump ground or landfill.

Idaho Black Bear season for 2026-27, with every row

Black Bear in Idaho at a glance

Idaho black bear rules, bait to bear tables

The general bear calendar for 2026-27

The bear draw, hunt by hunt

Black Bear units across Idaho

What the bear harvest tables show

Controlled bear hunts ranked

How many black bears you may take in Idaho

Idaho bear fees for 2026-27

Idaho rules for bear hunters

Where to hunt black bears on public ground

Black Bear hunting hours on key dates

Carry this in Idaho bear

Headlamp

Binoculars

Game bags

Trail camera

Black Bear: related pages

Mountain Lion

Grizzly Bear

Female Black Bears with Young

Elk

Questions about black bears in Idaho

Is blaze orange required for Idaho bear hunters?

Are some Idaho units missing from the bear tables?

When does bear hunting open in Idaho?

Which tech rules apply to bear hunters?

What does it cost to hunt black bears in Idaho?

What is the daily limit on black bears in Idaho?

Can I buy an Idaho bear tag over the counter?

How are bear tags drawn in Idaho?

Can I hunt black bears at night in Idaho?

Where can I hunt black bears in Idaho?

What does the 2025 bear report show?

Is bear harvest reporting mandatory?

What bear methods does Idaho allow?