Furbearer
Idaho River Otter trapping season for 2026-27
Season dates, bag and license for Idaho river otters in 2026-27, starting trapping on October 15, 2026.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Idaho (CC BY 2.0)
Idaho river otters, the short version
Trapping starts the otter year on October 15, 2026; the final otter row closes on March 31, 2027. In the IDFG brochure, the otter bag is: regional quotas, statewide 185.
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Regions, license and notes for river otters
| Row | Regions | Dates | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide (all 7 regions) |
| Regional harvest quotas (statewide 185) |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trapping license, resident | $29.75 ($26.75 Price Lock); Expires June 30 |
| Notes | Region exceptions close some drainages and WMAs (brochure pages 31-33). Bobcat, otter and beaver need mandatory check/pelt tags. |
| 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.
River Otter season dates and areas
Each line is one IDFG otter window with the area it covers and the tag it needs.
| Hunt | Where | Tag or license | When | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Trapping |
| Regional harvest quotas (statewide 185) |
From Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 & 2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
River Otter limits from the IDFG brochures
These are the otter limits in IDFG's words; check the counting period before a second trip.
| Where or what | Limit as recorded |
|---|---|
| River otter | Regional quotas, statewide 185 |
| Also printed | Regional harvest quotas (statewide 185) |
From bag limit and species row source (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho otter fees for 2026-27
From the IDFG fee tables: the license first, then any tag, permit or application the otter rows call for.
| License, tag or permit | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
License basics behind the otter 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.
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.
River Otter hunting rules in Idaho
Read these before heading out for river otters; the penalty schedule is on the laws page.
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| License | Otter trappers: 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. |
| Lifetime licenses | Otter trappers: individuals must be an Idaho resident for at least 5 years to buy any lifetime certificate (from July 1, 2026). |
| Hunter orange | Otter trappers: 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. |
From Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules p. 7 and IDFG page (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Public land for Idaho river otters
Public land picked for river otters: first the places named for them, then wildlife areas, refuges and Access Yes! ground in otter country.
Access Yes! property 5838 carries the trapping flag in the Access Yes! flags.
The Access Yes! flags mark Inkom – East Bench (Access Yes!) for trapping.
Trapping listed at Access Yes! property 6012 (Access Yes! flags).
Access Yes! property 5940 carries the trapping flag in the Access Yes! flags.
The Access Yes! flags mark Access Yes! property 5943 for trapping.
Furbearers listed at PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) (IDFG brochure).
From Access Yes! property 5838 (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Carry this in Idaho otter
Built around mountain, desert and river-bottom hunts.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Redfish Lake and the hazy blue peaks of the Sawtooth WildernessPhoto: lamblukas (CC BY 2.0)
A snowy valley and forested slopes at Kootenai National Wildlife RefugePhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
The Boise River and cottonwoods below the bare foothillsPhoto: Kenneth Freeman (CC BY-SA 2.0)
River Otter, answered
Which permits apply to otter trapping in Idaho?
Trapping river otters takes the Idaho trapping license ($29.75 resident, $26.75 with Price Lock; it expires June 30).
What does IDFG allow for river otters?
For river otters, the brochure line reads: Regional quotas, statewide 185; Regional harvest quotas (statewide 185).
How many river otters can be trapped?
For river otters: regional quotas, statewide 185; region exceptions close some drainages and WMAs (brochure pages 31-33); Bobcat, otter and beaver need mandatory check/pelt tags.
Can I trap river otters in every county?
The otter rows name Statewide (all 7 regions). Tribal reservations stay closed to non-member otter trapping.
Can I trap river otters on IDFG wildlife management areas?
30 IDFG wildlife management areas post trapping text on their pages. For example, Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area: "Furbearer trapping is allowed on the WMA after registering at the Upper Snake Regional office." Read the WMA page before setting otter traps there.
May I check otter traps across private ground?
For otter 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).
Do some drainages close to otter trapping?
River otters: statewide (all 7 regions); region exceptions close some drainages and WMAs (brochure pages 31-33); Bobcat, otter and beaver need mandatory check/pelt tags. Check the region pages for otter closures.
Which Access Yes! properties allow otter trapping?
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.
When does otter trapping open in Idaho?
The otter calendar spans October 15, 2026 through March 31, 2027. Trapping: October 15, 2026. Some otter dates are live as of November 12, 2026.