Start with the official rules.
Idaho seasons vary by unit, species, tag, weapon, and hunt number. Roam Idaho can help organize a trip, but Idaho Fish and Game is the authority for legal dates and restrictions.
2026 Big Game Seasons and Rules
IDFG's current brochure for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, and wolf.
Open official rulesIdaho Hunt Planner
Look up the exact unit, species, tag, weapon, dates, restrictions, and controlled-hunt details for your plan.
Open Hunt PlannerWhat Idaho published for 2026
1,224 hunts across 4 species, pulled from the IDFG Hunt Planner API (2026). These are season windows, not a schedule for any one unit — Idaho seasons are set per unit, tag and weapon, so the dates that apply to you live on your unit page and in the official rules.
| Species | Hunts | General | Controlled | Season window | General openers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | 674 | 462 | 212 | Aug 1 – Dec 31 | Aug 30, Sep 8, Sep 15, Oct 1 +12 more |
| Elk | 327 | 99 | 228 | Jan 1 – Dec 31 | Aug 1, Aug 15, Aug 30, Sep 1 +19 more |
| Black Bear | 164 | 162 | 2 | Apr 1 – Jul 31 | Apr 1, Apr 15, May 23, Jun 1 +3 more |
| Pronghorn | 59 | 0 | 59 | Aug 1 – Dec 31 | Controlled hunts only |
Not represented above: Mountain Lion (idfg returned no 2026 hunts). A species missing from this dataset is not the same as a species with no season — check the official rules.
Before you rely on a date
- •Choose the exact species, tag, and hunt area—not just a statewide date range.
- •Confirm the weapon, sex, and access restrictions attached to that hunt.
- •Check IDFG corrections and updates again shortly before leaving.
- •Verify land access and closures with the managing agency or landowner.
Need interactive map layers?
The season guide is free. Pro adds the interactive hunting map with GMU, BLM, terrain, weather, wind, and wildfire layers.