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| Idaho Elk | Idaho Mule Deer | Idaho Mountain Goat |
| Idaho Bighorn Sheep | Available Idaho Hunts (HF Adventures) | Idaho Moose |
| Idaho Pronghorn Antelope | Idaho Wolf | Idaho Bear | Idaho Mt Lion |
Idaho’s 2026 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, meaning season dates and permit numbers are 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 May issue.
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 controlled hunts with 10 or fewer permits, no more than one non-resident permit may be issued for that particular unit. In 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 “6000” and “7000” series bighorn sheep hunts on the same application in the same year as other applications. Draw results can be found in mid-May by logging into your account at gooutdoorsidaho.com.
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 ten years old or older may hunt big game. A youth may buy a license when they are nine years old to apply for a controlled hunt, but they must be ten years old at the time of the hunt.
There is not a point system in Idaho.
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 have at least 40 pounds draw weight, and it may not be equipped with any device that holds your bow at full draw. Your arrow must meet all of the following criteria: 24” long, minimum weight of 300 grains, and a mechanical 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. Those likely won’t be any leftover bighorn sheep, 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 through 25, and the drawing will be held in early July. 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 July 24 at the IDFG headquarters. This permit will be valid in any bighorn sheep unit, including unit 11, for 2026. Go to www.idahowildsheep.org for more information. Entries are $20 each. Idaho 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 31, and for the second drawing deadline is August 10. Applications must be received by these dates to apply. The proceeds are used to fund the “Access Yes!” program.
For a hunter who comes up unsuccessful in the draw, Idaho is a great state for predator hunting. They offer over-the-counter tags for wolf, black bear, and mountain lion. These tags are relatively inexpensive, and we highly recommend that all hunters have at least a wolf tag in their pocket while hunting any big game in Idaho. If you have a deer or elk tag, you can harvest a black bear, wolf, or mountain lion if the season is open in the area you are hunting, and you can put either your deer or elk tag on the harvested animal.
To purchase an over-the-counter tag for wolf, black bear, or mountain lion, go to https://license.gooutdoorsidaho.com, stop by any Idaho Fish and Game office, or visit any of the hundreds of license vendors throughout the state.
There are a handful of limited controlled hunts that must be applied for by June 5. Some hunts must be applied for as your first choice only, whereas others may be a second choice. See the table in the deer section for unlimited deer hunts to consider this year.
All unclaimed tags from the main draw and all leftover tags will be available for the second draw. The application period is August 5 through 15. Successful applicants of the second draw will be notified by August 25. Any remaining leftover tags will be sold first-come, first-served on August 25 at 10:00 a.m. MDT.
All 2026 non-resident general elk and deer tags were issued in a draw back in December of 2025. Occasionally, hunters return general elk and deer tags, which can then be redistributed. If returned tags are available, they will be listed online each month and will be made available for first-come, first-served online purchase. Go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/tag/returns for more information and to check the returned tag list when it posts.
Hunters can buy a second deer or elk tag after August 1 if there are non-resident tags that become available. If they become available, Idaho allows residents and non-residents to purchase a second deer tag for $351.75 or a second elk tag for $651.75. Some game units are not eligible to be hunted on a second tag. See Idaho’s 2026 Big Game Regulations for more information on what units you can use a second tag in.
The Gem State can be a great place to hunt on a yearly basis if you figure out the game of getting a tag. If you have any questions about hunting Idaho, give us a call.
Successful applicants will receive a permit in the mail no later than June 10. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a refund to their credit card by July 1. 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.
All hunters who draw a permit for bighorn sheep, moose, or mountain goat must report their harvest within ten days of the date of kill. Hunters who harvest an antlered moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep must check the animal in within ten days of harvest. If unsuccessful, hunters must return their unused permit to an IDFG office within ten days of the end of the hunting season.
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.
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.
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 through June 30). There is no limit to the number of wolf permits hunters or trappers may purchase.
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