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When and where to hunt mountain goats in Idaho, 2026-27
19 controlled hunts for mountain goats with 40 numbered tags, the units they cover and the Hunt Planner harvest record.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Idaho (CC BY 2.0)
Mountain Goat season snapshot, 2026-27
The goat draw holds 19 hunt numbers and 40 tags: 19 either sex. The two-year goat brochure (2025 and 2026) supplies these dates, with 2026 applied to each. The first goat opener still ahead or running in the 2026-27 rows is either sex hunting on August 30, 2026, and the last goat day printed is November 12, 2026. For the goat bag, the brochure line runs: either-sex.
From Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat 2025 & 2026 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Mountain Goat hunt numbers, tags and units
Dates are the 2026 hunt from the 2025 & 2026 brochure. Units are those the Hunt Planner lists for each goat hunt; the hunt area can be smaller than the whole unit.
| Hunt type | Number | Tags | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Either sex | 19 | 40 | Aug 30, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Read the tag column first: 6016, 6017 and 6003 carry the most goat tags.
| Hunt | Weapon or type | Area | Dates | Legal animal | Tags | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6001 | Either sex | 7 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6002 | Either sex | 10-1 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6003 | Either sex | 18 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 3 | |
| 6004 | Either sex | 22 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 3 | |
| 6005 | Either sex | 27-2 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6006 | Either sex | 27-4 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6007 | Either sex | 27-5 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6008 | Either sex | 36-1 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6009 | Either sex | 36A-1 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6010 | Either sex | 36A-2 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6011 | Either sex | 36A-3 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6012 | Either sex | 36A-4 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6013 | Either sex | 36B | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6014 | Either sex | 37A | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6015 | Either sex | 39 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 | |
| 6016 | Either sex | 43 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 6 | |
| 6017 | Either sex | 50 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 6 | |
| 6018 | Either sex | 51 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 2 | |
| 6019 | Either sex | 61 | Aug 30–Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 1 |
From Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat 2025 & 2026 brochure, controlled hunt application periods and IDFG Hunt Planner (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Mountain Goat units across Idaho
| Unit | IDFG region | Rows here | 2026 tags | Elk zone | Main counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 36 | Salmon | 6 | 16 | Sawtooth Zone | |
| Unit 36A | Salmon | 4 | 6 | Pioneer Zone | |
| Unit 27 | Salmon | 3 | 5 | Middle Fork Zone | |
| Unit 48 | Magic Valley | 3 | 8 | Smoky-Bennett Zone | |
| Unit 50 | Upper Snake | 2 | 7 | Pioneer Zone | |
| Unit 51 | Upper Snake | 2 | 3 | Lemhi Zone | |
| Unit 58 | Upper Snake | 2 | 3 | Beaverhead Zone | |
| Unit 7 | Panhandle | 1 | 1 | Panhandle Zone | |
| Unit 9 | Panhandle | 1 | 1 | Panhandle Zone | |
| Unit 10 | Clearwater | 1 | 1 | Lolo Zone | |
| Unit 18 | Clearwater | 1 | 3 | Hells Canyon Zone | |
| Unit 22 | Southwest | 1 | 3 | Weiser River Zone | |
| Unit 23 | Southwest | 1 | 3 | McCall Zone | |
| Unit 28 | Salmon | 1 | 1 | Salmon Zone | |
| Unit 29 | Salmon | 1 | 1 | Lemhi Zone | |
| Unit 35 | Southwest | 1 | 2 | Sawtooth Zone | |
| Unit 36B | Salmon | 1 | 2 | Salmon Zone | |
| Unit 37A | Salmon | 1 | 1 | Lemhi Zone | |
| Unit 39 | Southwest | 1 | 1 | Boise River Zone | |
| Unit 43 | Magic Valley | 1 | 6 | Smoky-Bennett Zone | |
| Unit 49 | Magic Valley | 1 | 6 | Pioneer Zone | |
| Unit 61 | Upper Snake | 1 | 1 | Island Park Zone |
Because unit lines follow ridges, rivers and roads, the counties below are reached by the goat rows, sometimes only by a slice.
| County page | Season rows | Units in the county | Region | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custer | 13 | Salmon | MT | |
| Blaine | 9 | Magic Valley | MT | |
| Lemhi | 5 | Salmon | MT | |
| Butte | 4 | Upper Snake | MT | |
| Valley | 4 | Southwest | MT | |
| Clark | 3 | Upper Snake | MT | |
| Idaho | 3 | Clearwater | PT/MT | |
| Adams | 2 | Southwest | MT | |
| Boise | 2 | Southwest | MT | |
| Clearwater | 2 | Clearwater | PT | |
| Elmore | 2 | Southwest | MT | |
| Jefferson | 2 | – | Upper Snake | MT |
| Shoshone | 2 | Panhandle | PT | |
| Ada | 1 | Southwest | MT | |
| Camas | 1 | Magic Valley | MT | |
| Fremont | 1 | Upper Snake | MT | |
| Washington | 1 | Southwest | MT |
From IDFG Game Units layer, Hunt Planner unit pages and Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat 2025 & 2026 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Mountain Goat results from the Hunt Planner
In 2025, 19 controlled hunt rows for mountain goats produced 40 animals, summed here.
| Year | Harvest (sum of rows) | Rows |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 | 20 |
| 2022 | 34 | 20 |
| 2023 | 38 | 20 |
| 2024 | 35 | 20 |
| 2025 | 40 | 19 |
| Hunt | Area | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6016 | 43 | 6 | 6 | 100% |
| 6017 | 50 | 6 | 6 | 100% |
| 6003 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| 6004 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| 6005 | 27-2 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 6007 | 27-5 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 6008 | 36-1 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 6011 | 36A-3 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 6012 | 36A-4 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 6013 | 36B | 2 | 2 | 100% |
From mountain goat harvest 2021, mountain goat harvest 2022, mountain goat harvest 2023, mountain goat harvest 2024, mountain goat harvest 2025 and Hunt Planner harvest statistics (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
How many mountain goats you may take in Idaho
The table copies the goat limit lines from the brochures and the row bags beside them.
| Which limit | Bag |
|---|---|
| Bag line | Either-sex |
From species row source (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Licenses and fees for mountain goats
Idaho fees for mountain goats; licenses and tags run on the calendar year, the trapping license to June 30.
| Item | Residency | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Moose, sheep or goat tag | Resident | $199.75 ($166.75 Price Lock) |
| Moose, sheep or goat tag | Nonresident | $2,626.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Controlled hunt application | Resident | $16.75 |
| Access-depredation fee | Resident | $5.00 |
IDFG license rule as it applies to mountain goats: 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.
Before you hunt mountain goats: the rules
A short list for mountain goats, each line with its source.
| Subject | What it says |
|---|---|
| Technology | Goat hunters: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators). |
| Minimum fines | Goat hunters: $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. |
| Trespass | Goat hunters: entering private land to hunt, retrieve wildlife, fish or trap requires permission (Idaho Code 36-1603 and 18-7008). |
| Highways | Goat hunters: no discharge of a firearm from or across a public highway. |
From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7, Idaho Code 36-1402, 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.
Public places for mountain goats
The land list for mountain goats uses IDFG WMA pages, refuge rules and Access Yes! flags.
Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District sits in Unit 27, Unit 29 and Unit 36, where goat rows run.
Public ground in Unit 28, Unit 36A and Unit 36B, part of the goat map: Challis Field Office.
North Fork Ranger District: public ground in Unit 10 (goat rows).
North Fork Ranger District sits in Unit 27 and Unit 28, where goat rows run.
Public ground in Unit 49 and Unit 50, part of the goat map: Craters of The Moon National Monument (BLM part).
Mountain Home Ranger District: public ground in Unit 39 and Unit 43 (goat rows).
Craters of the Moon National Preserve sits in Unit 49 and Unit 50, where goat rows run.
Public ground in Unit 27, Unit 28 and Unit 29, part of the goat map: Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District.
From Challis-Yankee Fork Ranger District and Challis Field Office (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Mountain Goat hunting hours on key dates
Idaho clocks fall back on November 1, 2026 and spring forward on March 14, 2027, so goat times jump an hour across those dates.
"Big game animals may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset." That is the line for mountain goats; the times below come from the NOAA solar formula for each county centre.
| Date | Clearwater County centre (PT) | Custer County centre (MT) | Blaine County centre (MT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2026 | 5:29 a.m. PT to 7:59 p.m. PT | 6:27 a.m. MT to 8:50 p.m. MT | 6:27 a.m. MT to 8:47 p.m. MT |
| Sep 15, 2026 | 5:49 a.m. PT to 7:27 p.m. PT | 6:45 a.m. MT to 8:20 p.m. MT | 6:44 a.m. MT to 8:18 p.m. MT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 6:54 a.m. PT to 4:27 p.m. PT | 7:39 a.m. MT to 5:30 p.m. MT | 7:35 a.m. MT to 5:32 p.m. MT |
| Jan 15, 2027 | 6:53 a.m. PT to 4:49 p.m. PT | 7:39 a.m. MT to 5:52 p.m. MT | 7:36 a.m. MT to 5:53 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.
Gear for a Idaho goat hunt
Four items that cover an Idaho year, from August archery elk to January chukar.
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A mountain goat rolling in a dust bath among rocksPhoto: mountainamoeba (CC BY 2.0)
Fresh snow on the Sawtooth Mountains above a green meadowPhoto: Stephen Hanafin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Storm clouds rolling over green hills and white wildflowers near Bannock PassPhoto: Bureau of Land Management Idaho (CC BY 2.0)
Common questions on mountain goats
What is the Idaho goat bag limit?
For mountain goats, the brochure line reads: Either-sex.
What does it cost to hunt mountain goats in Idaho?
A goat 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 moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag ($199.75 resident, $2,626.75 nonresident). Controlled hunts add the application fee ($16.75).
How are goat tags drawn in Idaho?
For mountain goats: application period April 1-30 (2025 & 2026 brochure). IDFG runs the goat draw at random.
Which units have goat hunts?
Goat rows tied to units name 22 hunting units reaching 17 counties; the most goat rows fall in Unit 36, Unit 36A and Unit 27.
How late can I shoot mountain goats in Idaho?
For mountain goats, IDFG says: big game animals may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Clock times for mountain goats are worked out above with the NOAA solar formula, in Pacific or Mountain Time.
What is goat hunter success in Idaho?
The 2025 mountain goat rows add up to 40 mountain goats for 40 hunters (computed here from 19 rows).
What is the two-year goat brochure?
For mountain goats: two-year brochure (2025 & 2026 seasons); month/day printed once, 2026 year applied. Each goat row here is labelled "2026 hunt, 2025 & 2026 brochure". Minimum goat fines under 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.
Is blaze orange required for Idaho goat hunters?
Mountain goats: orange is advised, not required, and the policy reads: 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.
What scouting technology rules apply to mountain goats?
For mountain goats: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
How long is the Idaho goat season?
Mountain goats can be hunted between August 30, 2026 and November 12, 2026, depending on the row. either sex hunting: August 30, 2026. One or more goat windows are running on November 12, 2026.