Available Idaho Wolf Hunts --- Search HF Aventures
Idaho has a large wolf population estimated at over 1,300 wolves. Tons of public land and unlimited, inexpensive wolf tags make Idaho a perfect wolf hunting destination. There are no individual unit harvest quotas in place, so licensed hunters can hunt statewide within season dates. Idaho’s wolf regulations can be found starting on page 77 at https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/big-game. You can purchase a license or tag at any Idaho Fish and Game office or license vendor throughout the state. To purchase a license or tag over the phone with a credit card, call 800-554-8685. For online license and tag sales, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses. Wolf tags are valid statewide. Idaho hunters and trappers have done a great job of harvesting wolves. The wolf harvest for the last three years has been 234 in 2022, 486 in 2021, and 477 in 2020.
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Hunter education is required if you were born after January 1, 1975. A person must have a trapping license and must attend a wolf trapper education class before being able to purchase a trapping tag. Hunters and trappers are not required to retrieve the meat. Trappers must check their traps every 72 hours. All traps must have a metal trapper’s identification tag fastened to them. Hunter orange is not required.
Youth must be 10 years of age to hunt big game in Idaho. A youth hunting license is $91.75, and the Depredation Management/Access fee is $4.
July 2023 - June 2024
Not all wolf zones are open for trapping, but every zone is open for hunting. See the regulations for more information.
A non-resident deer or elk tag may be used to tag a black bear, lion, or wolf. See the regulations for more information.
Hunters must present the hide and skull within 10 days of harvest to Idaho Fish and Game personnel. Evidence of sex must be left attached to the hide of any wolf.
There is not a daily or season limit on wolves. No person can take more wolves than they have tags for.
Idaho allows year-round trapping for wolves on private property. In addition, special wolf seasons allow for expanded methods of take. These include weapon restrictions that do not apply to wolf hunting, exemption from shooting hours, and allowance for spotlight or night vision equipment. Written permission from the landowner is required on private land, and a permit from the Director of Fish and Game is required on public land, which is consistent with requirements for spotlighting coyotes at night. Hunting wolves over bait is allowed on private land with landowner permission. Motorized vehicle restrictions for hunting big game do not apply for wolf hunting. Dogs may be used to pursue wolves, and no hound hunter permit is required. These rules are only valid in units that have the expanded methods of take. See the regulations for further information.
Idaho’s annual grey wolf harvest totals have steadily increased each year, except in 2022 there was a significant decrease in those harvested in from 486 down to 234 wolves harvested. The population estimate also appears to be lower than previously reported in 2021, dropping from 1,543 to 1,337. Wolves can be found almost anywhere throughout Idaho, with higher concentrations in the northern and central regions of the state. This is especially true in GMUs 1 and 4, which combined, account for around 25% of Idaho’s statewide wolf harvest each year. In the northern Panhandle, you will be hunting logging areas as well as some thickly-timbered mountains. If you want a true wilderness hunt, look toward the Lolo, Selway, and Middle Fork zones. If you want to hunt more open, glassable country, look toward the Beaverhead, Lemhi, Pioneer, Southern Mountains, Salmon, and Sawtooth zones.
A lot of wolves are harvested each year by hunters who are in the field hunting other big game. Most hunters going to Idaho after wolves typically go December through February. There is usually snow on the ground, which allows for tracking. Finding where the wolves are is most efficiently done by running roads and covering country while looking for tracks. Another good tactic this time of year is glassing elk wintering areas as they are typically a big part of the wolves’ winter diet. Once a pack has been found, calling can work well. If you get lucky and find a fresh wolf kill, get comfortable as the wolves will typically be back. February is the wolves’ breeding season, and they become very territorial during this time. The breeding season is a great time to call for wolves.
Give us a call if you would like help planning a wolf hunt or if you are looking for an Endorsed Outfitter. We work with the best wolf outfitters in Idaho.
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2023 Idaho Wolf Non-Resident Hunting Fees
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| Hunting License | $185 |
| Depredation Management/Access Fee | $10 |
| Trapping License | $331.75 |
| Wolf Tag | $31.75 |
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