Idaho’s 2024 regulations for moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat are available. View a pdf copy of the regulations at idfg.idaho.gov/rules/moose-sheep-goat. Idaho publishes two-year regulations for moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat with season dates and permit numbers being identical for two years. This is the second year of the two-year cycle. Idaho’s regulations for elk, deer, and antelope are also available and will be covered in our May issue.
The controlled hunt application period is April 1-30. A maximum of two hunters may apply as a party for bighorn sheep, moose, or mountain goat. However, we do not recommend that non-residents apply as a party as the permit numbers are low and this may prevent your party from drawing. You can apply online starting April 1st by going to gooutdoorsidaho.com. Applications are also accepted over the phone by calling 800-554-8685. Additional charges will be assessed for online and phone applications, including a 3% surcharge of the total application amount plus a minimal transaction fee. You may also apply at any hunting or fishing license vendor or Idaho Fish and Game office and avoid the 3% surcharge. Mail-in applications are not accepted for controlled hunt drawings.
To withdraw or amend your submitted application, call the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at 208-334-3700. Applications are withdrawn or amended on a case-by-case basis.
You can only apply for one species between bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and moose. If you apply for bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or moose, you may not apply for controlled elk, deer, or antelope unless the unit you apply for has unlimited permits. In Idaho, you have two hunt choices listed on the application; however, everyone’s first choice is awarded before anyone’s second choice is considered. Simply put, your first choice is the only one that counts in regard to bighorn sheep, trophy bull moose, and mountain goat permits. In the controlled hunts with 10 or fewer permits, no more than 1 non-resident permit may be issued for that particular unit. In the controlled hunts with more than 10 permits, no more than 10% of the permits may be issued to non-residents. Non-residents are also limited to no more than 10% of the total number of controlled hunt permits issued statewide for each species.
If you draw a moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat permit, you must wait two years before applying again if you did not harvest one. You may harvest only one antlered moose and one antlerless moose in your lifetime, unless you draw a moose permit in the second drawing. You may harvest only one Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and one California bighorn sheep in your lifetime. If you have harvested a mountain goat since 1977, you may not apply for another mountain goat permit. You may not apply for “5000” and “7000” series bighorn sheep hunts on the same application or in the same year on separate applications. Draw results can be found in mid-May by logging in to your account at gooutdoorsidaho.com.
Upon submission of your application, you will be charged the entire permit, license, and application fees. Only the $2,626.75 permit fee will be refunded if unsuccessful. Hunting license fees ($195) and application fees ($45.75) will not be refunded if you do not draw. Application processing fees will not be refunded. Fees must be paid for by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.
If you were born on or after January 1, 1975, you must have completed a hunter education course to purchase a hunting license, unless you have held a valid hunting license from another state. Idaho has no hunter orange clothing requirements.
Only properly licensed youth who are 10 years old or older may hunt big game. A youth may buy a license when they are 9 years old to apply for a controlled hunt, but they must be 10 years old at the time of the hunt.
There is not a point system in Idaho.
The odds in our tables will provide you the most realistic draw odds as a nonresident. Notice that most draw odds are near equal across many sheep and goat hunts with the way that Idaho conducts the draw. Draw odds were calculated by simulating the draw based off of real applicant data, taking into account the 10% non-resident cap.
Idaho offers a youth hunting license and access fee for $95.75.
For moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep, you may use any legal weapon. If you choose to use a muzzleloader, it must be at least .50 caliber. If you choose to use a bow, it must be at least 40 pounds of draw weight and not have any device that holds your bow at full draw. Your arrow must meet all of the following criteria: 24" long, minimum of 300 grains, and a mechanical or fixed broadhead at least 7/8" wide with a primary cutting edge less than 0.015" thick. You may not have any electronic or tritium-powered devices attached to your arrow or bow except for lighted nocks, which are allowed.
Search Our Database for Available Idaho Big Game Hunts
Any leftover moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat permits from the first drawing will go into a second drawing. There most likely won’t be any leftover bighorn sheep, trophy bull moose, or mountain goat permits. The application period for the second drawing for leftover bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or moose permits is June 15-25, with the drawing to be held around June 30th. Non-resident quotas do not apply in the second drawing. Idaho does not have landowner permits for bighorn sheep, moose, or mountain goat. The Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation will raffle off a bighorn sheep permit on the last Friday in July at the IDFG headquarters. This permit will be valid in any bighorn sheep unit, including unit 11, for 2024. Go to idahowildsheep.org for more information. Entries are $20 each.
Idaho also offers Super Tags for deer, elk, antelope, and moose. These tags are good for any season on any unit. Hunters must abide by the same regulations as regular draw tag hunters. There are two drawings for these tags. The deadline to apply for the first drawing is May 31st, and the second drawing deadline is August 10th. Applications must be received by these dates to apply. The proceeds are used to fund the “Access Yes!” program. For more information, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/superhunt.
The Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation will raffle off a bighorn sheep tag in late July 2024. This tag will be valid in all units, including unit 11, during the 2024 season. Visit www.idahowildsheep.org for more information.
Successful applicants will receive a permit in the mail no later than June 10th. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a refund to their credit card by July 1st. Turning your permit back in for a refund is only allowed if you, a parent, spouse, or child pass away; you have a medical condition where a doctor does not allow you to hunt; or you are deployed in the military. If you draw a bighorn sheep, moose, or mountain goat permit, you cannot transfer it to your child or grandchild.
Non-resident hunting licenses and tags may be refunded, minus the application fees and a $50 processing fee, in the case of illness or injury that disables the license holder for the entire applicable hunting season, military deployment, or death of the license holder or their parent, spouse, or child. If a refund is requested for any other reason, only the permit and tag fees (not the license fee) may be refunded on a sliding scale. If postmarked before April 1st, you will receive a 75% refund; if before June 30th, a 50% refund; and if before August 31st, a 25% refund. After September 1st, there are no refunds.
A holder of a controlled hunt tag for big game other than bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat may transfer that tag to their child or grandchild who is under the age of 18 and is qualified to participate in the hunt. The child or grandchild may be designated only one controlled hunt tag per species per calendar year. The transfer must be made before the opening day of the hunt. Call IDFG at 208-334-3700 for more information.
All hunters who draw a permit for bighorn sheep, moose, or mountain goat must report harvest within 10 days of the date of kill. Hunters who harvest an antlered moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep must check the animal in, within 10 days of harvest. If unsuccessful, hunters must return their unused permit to an IDFG office within 10 days of the end of the hunting season.
All deer, elk, and antelope hunters are required to complete a mandatory hunter report for each tag they purchase. Hunters are required to submit a report by phone or online within 10 days after harvest. Hunters who do not harvest or who do not hunt with their tag are required to report within 10 days after the close of the hunting season. You can report online at https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/report or over the phone at 877-268-9365.
Idaho has one of the best hunt planning pages on their website that allows users to view a map of the entire state with overlays of GMUs, roads, trailheads, etc. Go to https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/mapcenter/ to view the map and start researching. For a variety of unit maps as well as topo maps, go to www.huntinfool.com/map. Huntin’ Fool offers an online 3D mapping system with various overlays and base map options. Potential hunts can also be found through the interactive filtering tool. All members can access the online map at www.huntinfool.com.
Idaho has an “Access Yes!” program which allows the public more access on private and public lands for hunting and fishing. To learn more about the “Access Yes!” program, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/yes. Idaho’s Super Hunt program helps fund this program.
Most of Idaho’s hunting units will have some private/public land issues that can inhibit the access to public land. An onXmaps Hunt membership is highly recommended to help navigate private/public land boundaries and trailheads. Idaho also has the Access Yes! program where hunters can access private property for free. This program provides access to hundreds of thousands of acres of both public and private land and is partially funded by the Super Hunt Tag program. To learn more about the Access Yes! program, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/yes.
Idaho requires non-residents riding in Idaho to purchase a non-resident offhighway vehicle (OHV) sticker. The fee will be the same $12 that Idaho residents are currently required to purchase. Non-residents may purchase their OHV registration sticker on the IDPR website at https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/.
You can buy a wolf permit for $31.75 at any Idaho Fish and Game office or any license vendor throughout the state. Wolf permits bought with a hunting license are valid for the calendar year they were purchased in. Wolf tags bought with a trapping license are valid for the trapping year (July 1-June 30). There is no longer a limit to the amount of wolf permits hunters or trappers may purchase.
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