Waterfowl
Idaho Swan season for 2026-27, with every row
Season dates, bag and license for Idaho swans in 2026-27, starting swan controlled hunt on October 10, 2026.
Photo: Fredlyfish4 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Swan in Idaho at a glance
Swan controlled hunt starts the swan year on October 10, 2026; the final swan row closes on December 1, 2026. In the IDFG brochure, the swan bag is: 1. County lists define the swan areas, so a county page shows which dates apply there.
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Swan areas and counties
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Counties | |
| Dates | Oct 10–Dec 1, 2026 |
| Bag | 1 daily, 1 possession |
| License | Swan controlled hunt tag + HIP + duck stamp |
| Applications | Swan controlled hunt applications May 1-June 5; no more than 10% of tags to nonresidents. |
| Check | Present swan carcass within 3 days of kill. |
From swan controlled hunt (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho counties in the swan areas
County lists define the swan areas; the count column shows how many rows reach each county.
| County | Rows | Hunting units | Region | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benewah | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Bonner | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Boundary | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
| Kootenai | 1 | – | Panhandle | PT |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Limits on swans for 2026-27
These are the swan limits in IDFG's words; check the counting period before a second trip.
| Where or what | Limit as recorded |
|---|---|
| Swan | 1 |
| Also printed | 1 daily, 1 possession |
From bag limit (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Idaho swan fees for 2026-27
From the IDFG fee tables: the license first, then any tag, permit or application the swan 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) |
| Small game hunting license | Nonresident | $141.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| 3-day small game license | Nonresident | $71.75 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | Resident | $2.75 ($1.75 Price Lock) |
| Migratory bird (HIP) permit | Nonresident | $5.00 (as of Dec. 1, 2024) |
| Swan tag | Resident | $22.75 |
License basics behind the swan 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.
Field rules that matter for swans
Read these before heading out for swans; the penalty schedule is on the laws page.
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Shooting hours | Swan hunters: official shooting hours table for the 2026-2027 migratory game bird seasons (except crows) by county group (brochure pages 15-17). |
| Shot | Swan hunters: shotgun holding no more than 3 shells; shot no larger than size T (0.2 in). |
| Baiting | Swan hunters: state and federal baiting rules for migratory game birds (brochure page 18). |
| Super Hunt | Swan hunters: Super Hunt drawings for a hunt in any open general or controlled hunt; no license needed to enter. |
| Taking wildlife | Swan hunters: taking game animals, birds or furbearers is unlawful except as provided by law, rule or proclamation. |
From Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 15, Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 12, Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 brochure p. 18, 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.
Public land for Idaho swans
Public land picked for swans: first the places named for them, then wildlife areas, refuges and Access Yes! ground in swan country.
PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) carries the waterfowl flag in the IDFG brochure.
The IDFG brochure mark North Idaho Timber Group (Large Tracts) for waterfowl.
Waterfowl listed at Coeur d' Alene River Wildlife Management Area (IDFG WMA page).
Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area carries the waterfowl flag in the IDFG WMA page.
The 50 CFR 32.31 mark Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge for migratory game bird.
Waterfowl listed at Boundary-Smith Creek Wildlife Management Area (IDFG WMA page).
From PotlatchDeltic (Large Tracts) and Coeur d' Alene River Wildlife Management Area (Idaho Department of Fish and Game); data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Carry this in Idaho swan
Built around mountain, desert and river-bottom hunts.
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The Salmon River near Lower Stanley with the jagged Sawtooth peaks behindPhoto: Katja Schulz (CC BY 2.0)
A blue alpine lake below the rocky White Cloud PeaksPhoto: Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0)
Snowy grass and a low sun over the Kootenai River valley at Kootenai National Wildlife RefugePhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Swan, answered
Does IDFG print swan shooting times?
Swans follow the official IDFG table on pages 15 to 17 of the migratory brochure, set by county group; this page does not recalculate it.
Where in Idaho do swan rules apply?
The swan rows name Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties. Tribal reservations stay closed to non-member swan hunting.
Is swan hunting by draw?
For swans: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties, October 10 to December 1, 2026, 1 daily, 1 possession; Swan controlled hunt tag + HIP + duck stamp.
What must I do after taking a swan?
For swans: present swan carcass within 3 days of kill.
Can I use any shotgun for swans?
For swans: shotgun holding no more than 3 shells; shot no larger than size T (0.2 in); nontoxic shot required for all waterfowl.
Is hunter orange the law for swan season?
The swan 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.
Which tech rules apply to swan hunters?
For swans: new restrictions on technology for hunting or scouting big game and game birds August 30-December 31 (not wolves, lions or predators).
Are bait sites legal for swan hunting?
For swans: state and federal baiting rules for migratory game birds (brochure page 18).
How many swans may one hunter keep in Idaho?
For swans, the brochure line reads: 1; 1 daily, 1 possession.
When can I hunt swans in Idaho?
The swan calendar spans October 10, 2026 through December 1, 2026. Swan controlled hunt: October 10, 2026. Some swan dates are live as of November 12, 2026.
How does the swan draw work in Idaho?
For swans: swan controlled hunt applications May 1-June 5; no more than 10% of tags to nonresidents. Idaho draws swan controlled hunts at random.
What license do I need for swans in Idaho?
Hunting swans takes a hunting license plus the migratory bird (HIP) permit ($2.75 resident). The swan row lists: Swan controlled hunt tag + HIP + duck stamp. The swan tag costs $22.75 for residents.