Furbearer
Red Fox trapping dates and limits in Idaho, 2026-27
When and where to hunt red foxes in Idaho for 2026-27: trapping and hunting – other regions (year-round) on July 1, 2026 and trapping and hunting – Panhandle and Clearwater regions on October 10, 2026, plus limits and rules.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Red Fox in Idaho at a glance
Fox dates run from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, starting with trapping and hunting – other regions (year-round). Limit as printed for red foxes: no bag limit stated.
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Red Fox: regions and the trapping license
| Row | Regions | Dates | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping and hunting – Panhandle and Clearwater regions | Panhandle and Clearwater regions |
| No bag limit stated |
| Trapping and hunting – other regions (year-round) | Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast, Upper Snake and Salmon regions |
| No bag limit stated |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trapping license, resident | $29.75 ($26.75 Price Lock); Expires June 30 |
| Regions | Panhandle, Clearwater, Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast, Upper Snake and Salmon |
From furbearer seasons and trapping license fee (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho fox dates, row by row
Dates as printed by IDFG for red foxes, with the area each line covers.
| Season line | Covers | Kind | Dates | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping and hunting – other regions (year-round) | Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast, Upper Snake and Salm… | – |
| No bag limit stated | |
| Trapping and hunting – Panhandle and Clearwater regions | Panhandle and Clearwater regions | – |
| No bag limit stated |
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Where Idaho red foxes rows apply by county
The fox rows are written by area or region, and each area is a county list, so this table shows which counties every fox row reaches.
| County | Rows that reach it | Units | IDFG region | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Adams | 1 | – | Southwest | MT |
| Bannock | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Bear Lake | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| Benewah | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Bingham | 1 | – | Southeast | MT |
| 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 |
| Caribou | 1 | – | Southeast | 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 Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Limits on red foxes for 2026-27
For red foxes the brochures set the numbers below; the row count shows how often each bag appears.
| Source line | Limit |
|---|---|
| Season bag | No bag limit stated |
From species row source (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Licenses and fees for red foxes
Resident prices are the annual price with the Price Lock price beside it; nonresident prices are labelled as of December 1, 2024, as the brochure prints them.
| License | For | 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) |
| Trapping license | Resident | $29.75 ($26.75 Price Lock) |
Paperwork for red foxes starts here: 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.
Red Fox: reporting, methods and conduct
What IDFG expects of fox hunters in the field, from reporting to private land.
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| License | Fox hunters: 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. |
| Highways | Fox hunters: no discharge of a firearm from or across a public highway. |
| Hunter education | Fox hunters: 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). |
From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7, Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 108 and Idaho Code 36-411 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Open land for fox hunters
Places whose own source names red foxes come first; the rest sit inside units where fox rows run, or carry the group flag in their program.
The Access Yes! flags mark Maclaic Corporation (Access Yes!) for trapping.
Osborn Ranch – Indian Valley (Access Yes!) is flagged for trapping (Access Yes! flags).
Upper Lemhi Access Area (Access Yes!): trapping opportunity (Access Yes! flags).
The Access Yes! flags mark Pocatello – 2 and 1/2 Mile Road (Access Yes!) for trapping.
Wolverine Canyon – East (Access Yes!) is flagged for trapping (Access Yes! flags).
Telfer Inc. (Access Yes!): trapping opportunity (Access Yes! flags).
From Maclaic Corporation (Access Yes!) (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Packing list for Idaho fox
Chosen to suit the game listed on this page.
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Sagebrush steppe along the Donkey Hills road with the Lost River Range behindPhoto: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A green grassy hill above the Silver Creek valleyPhoto: Sam Beebe (CC BY 2.0)
Purple lupine on a subalpine slope above forested valleys near ChallisPhoto: Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0)
Red Fox questions
Are there regional fox closures?
Red foxes: panhandle and Clearwater regions. Read the regional exceptions before setting a fox line.
Does Idaho require orange for red foxes?
No statewide fox orange rule applies: 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.
How many red foxes may one hunter keep in Idaho?
For red foxes, the brochure line reads: No bag limit stated.
What are the 2026-27 Idaho fox dates?
The fox rows open July 1, 2026 and the last one ends June 30, 2027. Trapping and hunting – other regions (year-round): July 1, 2026; Trapping and hunting – Panhandle and Clearwater regions: October 10, 2026. Today (November 12, 2026) falls inside an open fox window.
Which parts of Idaho allow fox hunting?
The fox rows name Panhandle and Clearwater regions and Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast, Upper Snake and Salmon regions. Tribal land needs tribal authority, not a state fox license.
Which Idaho license covers fox hunting?
Trapping red foxes takes the Idaho trapping license ($29.75 resident, $26.75 with Price Lock; it expires June 30).
Is Ask First required for fox trapping?
For fox trappers: 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 there two red fox seasons?
Red fox rows: Panhandle and Clearwater regions: October 10, 2026 to March 31, 2027; Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast, Upper Snake and Salmon regions: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Where can fox trappers use Access Yes! land?
38 Access Yes! properties carry the trapping flag in the IDFG Access Yes! layer, such as A L Cattle – Dodson Pass (Access Yes!), A L Cattle – Shirts Creek (Access Yes!) and Arbon – Southwest Bench (Access Yes!); each keeps its own dates and restrictions.
How do WMA trapping rules work for red foxes?
30 IDFG wildlife management areas post trapping text on their pages. For example, Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area: "Trapping is allowed on the WMA, however, access to the area from mid-November until late June is challenging due to snow. Trappers must register with the Panhandle Regional Office or WMA staff before setting out traps on the WMA." Read the WMA page before setting fox traps there.