Idaho › Species › Hawks, Owls and Eagles
No season
Hawks, Owls and Eagles in Idaho, no hunting season
Idaho opens no season on hawks, owls and eagles; the IDFG entry, the open season nearby and the penalties are below.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
The Idaho status of hawks, owls and eagles
Hawks, owls and eagles stay closed to hunting in Idaho; the table shows the status, the wording and its source.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | No season |
| IDFG entry | Protected (general rules). |
| Printed in | Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 45 |
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 45 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
The open season closest to hawks, owls and eagles
Idaho opens crows, not hawks, owls and eagles. The rows show exactly what the crow season allows.
| Season | Area | Tag | Dates | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American crow | Statewide | – |
| No limits |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Hawks, Owls and Eagles violations and penalties
What a court can do after unlawful take of hawks, owls and eagles, from Idaho Code Title 36.
| Topic | Statute | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Taking wildlife | Idaho Code 36-1101 | Taking game animals, birds or furbearers is unlawful except as provided by law, rule or proclamation. |
| Infraction | Idaho Code 36-1402(a)-(b) | Fine of $72 (some listed infractions $250). |
| Misdemeanor | Idaho Code 36-1402(c) | $25-$1,000 and/or up to 6 months jail; minimum fines per animal: bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose $500; elk $300; other big game $200; wild turkey and swan $200. |
| Felony | Idaho Code 36-1402(d) | Punished under Idaho Code 18-112; lifetime revocation for 3+ felony violations within 5 years. |
| License revocation | Idaho Code 36-1402(e) | Up to 3 years for violations (longer for felonies and flagrant violations). |
| Reimbursable damages | Idaho Code 36-1404(a) | Elk $750; caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, grizzly bear and moose $1,500; other big game $400; wild turkey and swan $250; other game birds and furbearers $50; doubles for each additional animal in 12 months. |
| Trophy damages | Idaho Code 36-1404(a) | Trophy mule deer, white-tailed deer and pronghorn $2,000; trophy elk $5,000; trophy bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goat, caribou and grizzly $10,000. |
From Idaho Code 36-1402, Idaho Code 36-1404 and Idaho Code 36-1101 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Seven closed entries, including hawks, owls and eagles
Every no-season entry in the IDFG brochures, hawks, owls and eagles included.
| Species | IDFG line | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gambel's and Mountain Quail | No season. | Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 7 |
| Pygmy Rabbit | Season closed. | Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 16 |
| Hen Pheasant | No season on hen (female) pheasants. | Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 11 |
| Canada Lynx | Threatened species; be sure of target when hunting bobcat. | Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 39 |
| Female Black Bears with Young | May not be taken. | Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 69 |
| Hawks, Owls and Eagles | Protected (general rules). | Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer brochure p. 45 |
| Grizzly Bear | Caution areas in bear tables; bear identification test required; grizzly is listed with reimbursable damages in Idaho Code 36-1404. | Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 71 |
Game groups compared with hawks, owls and eagles
Which groups IDFG opens, for readers checking on hawks, owls and eagles.
| Group | Members |
|---|---|
| Big game |
|
| Upland game birds |
|
| Upland game animals |
|
| Furbearers |
|
| Migratory game birds |
|
From Big game, Upland game birds, Upland game animals, Furbearers and Migratory game birds (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Public land where hawks, owls and eagles and crows meet
No public land is open for hawks, owls and eagles, but these places are open for crows, the season most likely to bring a hunter near them.
Camas National Wildlife Refuge: migratory game bird opportunity (50 CFR 32.31).
Flagged for migratory game bird: Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge (50 CFR 32.31).
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge is flagged for migratory game bird (50 CFR 32.31).
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge: migratory game bird opportunity (50 CFR 32.31).
Flagged for migratory game bird: Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge (50 CFR 32.31).
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge is flagged for migratory game bird (50 CFR 32.31).
From Camas National Wildlife Refuge (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Aerial view of steep ridges above the lower Salmon River canyonPhoto: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0)
A green lichen-covered cliff above Deep Creek in the Owyhee canyonlandsPhoto: Bureau of Land Management Idaho (CC BY 2.0)
Impassable Canyon on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the Salmon-Challis National ForestPhoto: Jane Cropp (U.S. Forest Service, posted by Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Hawks, Owls and Eagles FAQ
Which Idaho legal species groups exist next to hawks, owls and eagles?
Big game: mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, pronghorn and moose; Upland game birds: dusky grouse, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, California quail and bobwhite quail; Upland game animals: cottontail, snowshoe hare and red squirrel; Furbearers: badger, beaver, bobcat, red fox and marten; Migratory game birds: ducks, geese, swan, snipe and coot.
Do I need hunter education to hunt near hawks, owls and eagles?
Where hawks, owls and eagles occur, the usual Idaho rule holds: 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.
Can I enter private land to look at hawks, owls and eagles?
Where hawks, owls and eagles occur: 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).
Why are hawks, owls and eagles closed to hunting?
Hawks, owls and eagles have no Idaho season, and the IDFG entry reads: protected (general rules).
Which open season could put me near hawks, owls and eagles?
American Crow: 1 row, October 27, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Hawks, owls and eagles are never legal, whatever the season.
What is the crow bag where hawks, owls and eagles live?
American Crow bag: No limits. Hawks, owls and eagles are not part of that limit.
Which penalties apply to hawks, owls and eagles?
For hawks, owls and eagles, Idaho Code 36-1101 applies: taking game animals, birds or furbearers is unlawful except as provided by law, rule or proclamation. Misdemeanor penalties that cover hawks, owls and eagles: $25-$1,000 and/or up to 6 months jail; minimum fines per animal: bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose $500; elk $300; other big game $200; wild turkey and swan $200.
Can a raptor violation cost my hunting license?
For hawks, owls and eagles: up to 3 years for violations (longer for felonies and flagrant violations); punished under Idaho Code 18-112; lifetime revocation for 3+ felony violations within 5 years.