Idaho hunting
Public hunting land in Idaho
Caliber maps 120 public hunting areas in Idaho, with Idaho Department of Fish and Game's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Idaho · 120 areas
Boise National Forest
National forest · 2,648,335 acres
Challis National Forest
National forest · 2,454,807 acres
Payette National Forest
National forest · 2,328,123 acres
Nezperce National Forest
National forest · 2,223,552 acres
Upper Snake Field Office
BLM land · 1,813,172 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 120 by distance from you.
- 78
- State wildlife areas
- 22
- National forests
- 1
- National grasslands
- 12
- BLM land
- 7
- National wildlife refuges
Idaho hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game
- Phone
- (208) 334-3700
- Resident license
- $15.75 — Hunting License, Adult (annual); plus $5.00 Access/Depredation fee on first annual license
- Nonresident license
- $141.75 — Hunting Small Game license (annual); plus $10.00 access fee; big game tags extra
- Hunter education
- Required for all hunters born on or after Jan 1, 1975, to buy an Idaho hunting license (proof of prior license or course accepted).
Fees and rules as published by Idaho Department of Fish and Game, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Idaho
The 12 biggest of 120 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise National Forest | National forest | 2,648,335 | Open |
| Challis National Forest | National forest | 2,454,807 | Open |
| Payette National Forest | National forest | 2,328,123 | Open |
| Nezperce National Forest | National forest | 2,223,552 | Open |
| Upper Snake Field Office | BLM land | 1,813,172 | Open |
| Salmon National Forest | National forest | 1,774,542 | Open |
| Sawtooth National Forest | National forest | 1,731,197 | Open |
| Shoshone Field Office | BLM land | 1,723,598 | Open |
| Clearwater National Forest | National forest | 1,682,727 | Open |
| Bruneau Field Office | BLM land | 1,448,603 | Open |
| Jarbidge Field Office | BLM land | 1,321,755 | Open |
| Targhee National Forest | National forest | 1,308,278 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 78
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 22
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
National grasslands · 1
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws. Grasslands are often mixed with private land, so know the boundaries.
BLM land · 12
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws. BLM land is often scattered between private parcels, so legal access can be the hard part.
National wildlife refuges · 7
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Idaho hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Idaho?
Caliber lists 120 public hunting areas in Idaho: 78 state wildlife areas, 22 national forests, 1 national grasslands, 12 blm land, 7 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Idaho Department of Fish and Game also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Idaho?
As published by Idaho Department of Fish and Game (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $15.75 — Hunting License, Adult (annual); plus $5.00 Access/Depredation fee on first annual license; nonresident, $141.75 — Hunting Small Game license (annual); plus $10.00 access fee; big game tags extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Idaho?
Required for all hunters born on or after Jan 1, 1975, to buy an Idaho hunting license (proof of prior license or course accepted). Check Idaho Department of Fish and Game for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Idaho?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Idaho Department of Fish and Game's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Idaho hunting land near you
All 120 Idaho areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
More in Caliber
Public hunting land
Public hunting land in all 50 states, with each state's license fees and official links.
Learn more →
Ballistic calculator & shooting tools
Free bullet drop calculator, DOPE book, scope clicks, distance estimating and more.
Learn more →
Shooting range finder
5,600+ shooting ranges nationwide, on a list or a map, with filters.
Learn more →
Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the managing agency before you hunt.
CaliberBecome a safer, more skilled firearm owner. Free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFeatures
Guides & directories
- The four firearm safety rules
- California FSC practice test
- Texas LTC practice test
- Hunter education practice test
- Shooting range directory
- Public hunting land in Colorado
- Public hunting land in Florida
- Public hunting land in Georgia
- Public hunting land in Michigan
- Public hunting land in Minnesota
- Public hunting land in Pennsylvania
- Public hunting land in Texas
- Public hunting land in Wisconsin
Caliber is an educational and tracking tool for lawful, responsible ownership. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for in-person instruction. Caliber doesn't sell firearms, ammunition or accessories. Always follow the four safety rules and your local laws. Caliber is made by Norbrook Media LLC. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.