Small gameForest grouse, cottontail, and snowshoe hare seasons open
Forest grouse limits are 4 daily and 12 in possession. Cottontail and snowshoe hare limits are 8 daily and 24 in possession. Pygmy rabbit season remains closed.
Through November 14, big-game hunters in designated units may use motor vehicles only on established roads open to full-sized automobiles. Check the official map and exceptions for your unit.
Migratory birdsDove and tagged sandhill crane seasons open
The dove season runs through October 30 with a 15 daily and 45 possession limit. Crane dates depend on the tag; the daily and season limits are 2. Dove hunters need a HIP permit. Crane hunters need a crane tag and a HIP permit with the first tag. A federal duck stamp is not required for either.
Fishing and migratory birdsFall coho, steelhead harvest, and early goose seasons open
Idaho Fish and Game lists September 1 for fall coho, fall steelhead harvest in most rivers, and early goose. Water, area, license, permit, and species rules still vary, so confirm each season in its current guide.
Fishing accessBeauty Bay Recreation Site is closed
BLM's full-site closure is in effect through October 8 for hazardous-tree removal and vegetation work. Use another Lake Coeur d'Alene access or rest stop.
Upland gameChukar, partridge, quail, and sage-grouse seasons open
Idaho Fish and Game lists September 15 for chukar, gray partridge, California and bobwhite quail, and sage-grouse openers. Check the current upland guide for areas, dates, limits, permits, and sage-grouse tags.
Idaho Fish and Game schedules a returned-tag sale for September 17 at 10 a.m. Mountain time. Availability can change before the sale, so check the official returned-tag list and purchase rules.
WaterfowlYouth, Veterans, and Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Weekend
The special waterfowl weekend is September 26 and 27. Eligibility, accompanying-adult, license, permit, stamp, area, and species rules still apply under the current migratory game guide.
Franklin County, Southeast Region · September 8 through December 31, 2026
Before you go: Carry a valid Idaho fishing license and never transport live fish from either reservoir. Only fishing vessels are allowed. Each watercraft needs an Idaho State Department of Agriculture invasive-species inspection within the previous five days, with proof displayed in the vehicle window or provided on request.
What changed
Idaho Fish and Game suspended bag, possession, size, and rod limits while the reservoirs drain for irrigation. Harvest methods may not use firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current. Draining is anticipated by September 20; refilling is expected to begin January 1, 2027.
Lake Coeur d'Alene on Highway 97, about 11 miles southeast of Coeur d'Alene · September 8 through October 8, 2026
Before you go: Do not use the picnic area, half-mile trail, or site access through October 8. Contact the BLM Coeur d'Alene Field Office at 208-769-5000 if you need current status.
What changed
BLM's full recreation-site closure is in effect while crews remove hazardous and beetle-damaged trees and complete vegetation work.
Snake, Clearwater, and Salmon rivers · August 18 through November 1; reach dates vary
Before you go: Check the live reach status before fishing. The North Fork Clearwater is scheduled to open September 1, and several other reaches close before November 1.
What changed
The daily limit is three adult fall Chinook, but only one may be adipose-intact. The possession limit is nine adults, including no more than three adipose-intact fish. There is no daily limit on jack fall Chinook.
Near Elk City, Clearwater Region · Through September 30
Before you go: A valid Idaho fishing license is still required, and no live fish may leave the pond.
What changed
Bag, possession, size, and fishing-rod limits are suspended. Fish may be taken by any method except firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current.
Franklin County, Southeast Region · August 14 through October 31
Before you go: A valid license is required. No live fish may leave the reservoir, motorized watercraft are prohibited, and flotation devices need proof of aquatic-invasive-species inspection.
What changed
Bag, possession, size, and fishing-rod limits are suspended. Fish may be taken by any method except firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current.
Oakley Reservoir, Cassia County, Magic Valley Region · August 13 through November 1
Before you go: A valid Idaho fishing license is still required. Low water and high temperatures are making the reservoir unsuitable for cold- and cool-water fish.
What changed
Bag, possession, and size limits are removed. Fish may be taken by any method except firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current.
Hayden Creek drainage, GMU 29, Salmon Region · Begins September 14, 2026; no end date stated
Before you go: Check the treatment map before entering Hayden Creek and avoid active spraying. Confirm the current work schedule with Salmon-Challis National Forest at 208-756-5100 or Idaho Fish and Game at 208-756-2271.
What changed
Low-level helicopter flights will spray invasive cheatgrass and noxious weeds in the Hayden Fire area. The Salmon-Challis National Forest leads the work with BLM and Idaho Fish and Game. The notice includes a treatment map and says the work will affect hunters and other recreationists; it does not announce a general hunting closure.
Game management unit 57, Magic Valley Region · Fall 2026 access announced September 1
Before you go: Stay on the designated road. Do not park on the access road or Arimo Corporation property. Leave gates and fences as you find them. Contact the Magic Valley Regional Office at 208-324-4359 for access information.
What changed
A new easement provides road access to public lands in Kelsaw Canyon. Private land on either side remains closed to public access, and hunting there requires written permission.
Statewide, with forecasts for all seven Idaho Fish and Game regions · September 2026 season planning
Before you go: Use the regional forecast to choose a general area, then check the official upland guide for dates, areas, tags, and limits. Birds may be concentrated near dependable water and food. Recheck wildfire closures the morning you leave.
What changed
Idaho Fish and Game expects drought to reduce upland bird production, especially in southern Idaho. Clearwater chukar numbers look strongest, while Panhandle populations appear stable and results elsewhere may vary by species and location.
Crooked River and Hungarian Creek country, GMU 39, Boise National Forest · August 23 through December 31, 2026, unless rescinded
Before you go: Do not enter the mapped closure or use a listed closed road or trail. Open the Forest Service map before choosing a route, and check the live alert because the order can be rescinded before December 31.
What changed
Forest Order 0402-03-139 closes the mapped National Forest lands plus listed roads and trails. The affected recreation sites include Black Rock Campground and the Upper and Lower Crooked River trailheads.
Golden Gate Road 456 closure order has reached its end date
NFS Road 456 south of Yellow Pine, Valley County · Previous order ended September 11 at 8 p.m.; current access unconfirmed
Before you go: Check current Boise National Forest alerts or call Cascade Ranger District at 208-382-7400 before entering. The previous closure period has ended, but a reopening has not been confirmed.
What changed
Forest Order 0402-04-114 listed a closure of Golden Gate Road from Johnson Creek Road to its terminus through September 11 at 8 p.m. On September 12, the old notice returns 404 and Golden Gate Road is absent from the Boise National Forest alert list. This does not confirm the road has reopened.
GMUs 14, 18, 23, 63A, 64, 69, and part of Unit 1 · 2026-2027 hunting season
Before you go: If you harvest in GMU 14, GMU 18, or the affected part of Unit 1, also follow the CWD Management Zone carcass-transport rules for deer, elk, and moose.
What changed
Mule deer and white-tailed deer harvested in the listed areas require a head or lymph-node sample within 10 days. Units 64 and 69 are new for 2026; Units 24 and 32A are no longer mandatory-testing units.
Parts of GMUs 40, 41, and 42 in Owyhee County · September 4 through September 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.; end is anticipated
Before you go: Stay on open county-maintained roads. All off-road motorized travel is prohibited. Check the mapped closure and wait for BLM confirmation before entering closed areas; the order does not close private land.
What changed
BLM extended the closure to September 19 at 11:59 p.m. Public land inside the fire perimeter and the mapped unburned areas around South Mountain and south of Mud Flat Road remain closed. County-maintained roads through the fire perimeter are open; two-track roads off them remain closed.
Designated Idaho big-game units; check the official map · August 30 through November 14, 2026
Before you go: Check whether your unit is shaded on Idaho Fish and Game's current map. Land-manager closures still apply, and the rule has limited exceptions for eligible permit holders, downed-game retrieval, camp transport, and private land.
What changed
Big-game hunters in designated units may use motor vehicles only on established roadways that are open to motorized traffic and passable by full-sized automobiles. The rule applies to deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, wolf, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat hunting.
Cress Creek, Little Kelly Canyon, and the Big Rock fire area in eastern Idaho · Current BLM notice has no reopening date
Before you go: Check the live BLM notice and closure map before using the Kelly Canyon or Heise area. Do not rely on the broader closures printed in older fire notices.
What changed
Cress Creek Nature Trail, Little Kelly Canyon Trail, and BLM-managed land inside the Big Rock fire area remain closed while crews assess and repair damage. Several campgrounds and dispersed sites reopened August 14.
Panhandle Region private access program · Public access open since September 8, 2026 with a permit
Before you go: Carry a permit when you enter. Obtain permits only from the Idaho Fish and Game Panhandle Regional Office during regular business hours.
What changed
Lower fire danger allowed public access to reopen September 8 for permit holders. The canceled August 30 entry date is no longer relevant.
Parts of GMUs 43, 44, 48, and 54 in the Magic Valley Region · Scheduled September 1 through 12, 2026; completion unconfirmed
Before you go: Confirm whether crews are still working with the Magic Valley Regional Office at 208-324-4359. Avoid active helicopter treatment and staging areas.
What changed
The posted treatment window ended September 12. IDFG has not confirmed completion in this notice. Crews planned about 8,000 acres of herbicide treatment in parts of GMUs 43, 44, 48, and 54, with two or three suitable-weather days per location.
Statewide deer, elk, pronghorn, and black bear controlled hunts · Leftover sale began August 25 at 10 a.m. MDT
Before you go: Check your result directly. If you want a leftover tag, check live availability because inventory can change during the sale.
What changed
Second controlled hunt draw results are available through Idaho's licensing system. Tags not drawn in the second drawing went on sale first come, first served.
Statewide general and controlled hunt tags · Since July 1, 2026
Before you go: Read the eligibility details before surrendering an unused tag. From August through December, Idaho lists no other-reason tag refund, and the hunting license fee is not refunded.
What changed
Eligible reasons for a license and tag refund include death, pregnancy, military deployment, or an illness or injury that disables the hunter for the full season. Rainchecks are limited to military deployment, and wildfires do not qualify.
Choose All to search both activities, or try a region, GMU, water, species, or notice type. This page tracks selected changes, so check the official sources too.
Check a CWD unit before you hunt deer
See the 2026 deer-testing requirement and whether carcass-transport rules also apply. Source checked .
This checker covers Idaho's selected 2026-2027 CWD testing and management-zone rules. Confirm your exact unit boundary and all carcass exceptions with Idaho Fish and Game.
Open the official trip tools
Check rules first, then confirm the license or tag and use the planner for the exact unit or water.
Current official guides
The update date below is the date Idaho Fish and Game displays for that guide edition.
Regional maps and special-rule waters, salmon and steelhead information, sturgeon and crayfish rules, fish identification, general rules, and license information.
Idaho coverage is a starting point.Wildlf tracks only selected Idaho changes and does not reproduce every unit, species, water, license, access, or in-season rule. Use the official Idaho Fish and Game guide and planner for your exact trip.Verify on Idaho Fish and Game