Idaho Antelope Hunting 2025

Application Deadlines Non-Resident Fees Resident Fees Big Game Season Dates Draw Result Dates State Contact Information

Spring Bear: February 15, 2025
Sheep, Moose, Mtn Goat: April 30, 2025
Super Hunt Tags 1st Draw: May 31, 2025
Deer, Elk, Antelope: June 5, 2025
Resident Capped Elk Tags Available: July 10, 2025
Resident Sawtooth Elk Tags Available: July 12, 2025
Deadline to Pickup Controlled Tags Drawn: August 1, 2025
Super Hunt Tags 2nd Draw: August 10, 2025
Deer, Elk, Antelope Leftover Draw: August 15, 2025
Non-resident General Tags: New Draw TBD

UP-FRONT FEES
Annual Hunting License and Access Fee (Adult) + Processing Fee	$195.00
Annual Hunting License and Access Fee (Youth)	$95.75
Trophy Species Application Fee (Adult or Youth)	$45.75
Bighorn Sheep, Moose, or Mtn Goat Tag (Adult or Youth)	$2,626.75
Online & Phone Application Processing Fee (Adult)	$90.03
Online & Phone Application Processing Fee (Youth)	$87.05
Elk, Deer, Antelope Application Fee (Adult or Youth) + Processing Fee	$22.15
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Elk Tag	$651.75
Deer Tag	$351.75
Antelope Tag	$342.75
Black Bear Tag	$231.75
Wolf Tag	$31.75
Junior Mentored Elk (10-17 years old)	$299.75
Junior Mentored Deer (10-17 years old)	$176.75
Junior Mentored Black Bear (10-17 years old)	$116.75
Archery Permit	$81.75
Muzzleloader Permit	$81.75
All transactions that take place on the phone or online are subject to a processing fee. The only way to avoid processing fees is to apply at a regional F&G office with a debit card, personal check, or with cash. Credit cards used at regional offices incur a 3% processing fee. *Tag fees listed do not include online/phone application processing fees.

UP-FRONT FEES
Annual Hunting License and Access Fee (Adult)	$15.75
Annual Hunting License and Access Fee (Youth)	$8.25
Trophy Species Application Fee (Adult or Youth)	$16.75
Bighorn Sheep, Moose, or Mtn Goat Tag (Adult or Youth)	$199.75
Elk, Deer, Antelope Application Fee (Adult or Youth)	$6.25
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)
Elk Tag	$36.75
Deer Tag	$24.75
Antelope Tag	$36.50
Black Bear Tag	$13.75
Wolf Tag	$13.75
Junior Mentored Elk (10-17 years old)	$18.75
Junior Mentored Deer (10-17 years old)	$12.50
Junior Mentored Black Bear (10-17 years old)	$7.75
All transactions that take place on the phone or online are subject to a processing fee. The only way to avoid processing fees is to apply at a regional F&G office with a debit card, personal check, or with cash. Credit cards used at regional offices incur a 3% processing fee. *Tag fees listed do not include online/phone application processing fees.

IDAHO ELK SEASON DATES
Archery (General / Controlled)	Late Aug – late Sep 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
Rifle (General / Controlled)	Oct – Nov 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
Muzzleloader (General / Controlled)	Oct – Dec 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
IDAHO DEER SEASON DATES
Archery (General / Controlled)	Late Aug – Sep 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
Rifle (General / Controlled) (Mule & Whitetail)	Oct – Nov 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
Muzzleloader (General / Controlled)	Nov – Dec 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
IDAHO ANTELOPE (PRONGHORN) SEASON DATES
Archery (Controlled Hunts)	Mid-Aug – mid-Sep 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
Rifle (Controlled Hunts)	Sep 25 – Oct 24 (permit- and unit-specific)
IDAHO BLACK BEAR SEASON DATES
Spring (Most Units)	Apr – Jun 2025 (bait/hound rules vary by unit)
Fall (Most Units)	Aug – Nov/Dec 2025 (unit-specific)
IDAHO MOUNTAIN LION SEASON DATES
General (Most Units)	Aug 30, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 (unit-specific rules/limits)
IDAHO WOLF SEASON DATES
General (Most Units)	Year-round or long seasons (unit-specific rules/limits)
IDAHO MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASON DATES
Any Legal Weapon	Aug 30 – Nov 12, 2025
IDAHO MOOSE SEASON DATES
Any Legal Weapon	Sep – Nov 2025 (unit- & weapon-specific)
IDAHO BIGHORN SHEEP SEASON DATES
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Any Legal Weapon	Sep – Oct 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
California Bighorn Any Legal Weapon	Sep – Oct 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)

Disclaimer: Idaho seasons vary by unit/zone, weapon, and tag type; some hunts are controlled with limited windows, quotas, or harvest closures. Always verify exact dates and regulations with Idaho Fish & Game before planning a hunt: https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/seasons

YEAR	MOOSE, SHEEP & GOAT	DEER, ELK & ANTELOPE	SPRING BEAR	SECONDARY DRAW
2025	May 6, 11:54 a.m. (MDT)	June 12, 12:00 p.m. (MDT)	February 27	August 21
2024	May 8, 1:35 p.m. (MDT)	June 25, 10:27 a.m. (MDT)	February 28	August 22
2023	May 19, 1:45 p.m. (MDT)	June 29, 2:00 p.m. (MDT)	March 3	August 23
2022	May 19, 11:40 a.m. (MDT)	June 28, 8:40 p.m. (MDT)	March 4
2021	May 13, 10:50 a.m. (MDT)	July 1, 10:00 a.m. (MDT)	February 19
2020	May 15, 11:10 a.m. (MDT)	June 19, 2:30 p.m. (MDT)	February 21
2019	May 17	June 25
2018	June 8	July 8

Idaho Fish and Game Department

600 S Walnut • PO Box 25
Boise, ID 83707
ph. 208-334-3700

APPLY

Idaho has the potential to produce a Boone and Crockett antelope, but that is not what you should expect if you draw a tag. It is more of a good hunt for 70-75” bucks. Antelope populations are mostly stable across most of the state, and there are mature bucks available in all units. With the mild winter Idaho has experienced, there should be good horn growth for antelope throughout the state. If you are looking for an 80” buck, stick with our top units. The southern portion of the state continues to produce the best bucks. Units 38, 54, and 55 are the top units in the state. The Owyhee Desert units, 40-42, can produce some great bucks every year. Other units that have been producing some good bucks are 31, 36B, 37, 39, 45, 46, and 52A. Idaho reopened unit 76-1 for 2025. This unit was closed in 2024 due to winterkill. There will be five tags available with a couple of good bucks available on the unit.

If you are an archery antelope hunter, then you should be thinking about Idaho. The best two archery units available are 54 and 55-1. Both of these units hold bigger bucks, and the archery hunters get the first opportunity at them. As you look over the rest of the archery table, you will see 10 unlimited archery antelope areas. All of the unlimited areas listed hold Pope and Young bucks. These archery tags are a good fallback for those looking to pick up an extra hunt. Some of the unlimited archery antelope hunts were changed from either-sex to buck only for 2025. These areas that are buck only are 28-1, 30A-1, 36-1, 49-1, 51-2, 59A-1, and 68.

Idaho antelope country is typically broken, which can allow for some good archery spot-and-stalk hunting opportunities. Waterhole hunting has become popular, and there can be plenty of competition for waterholes, especially from the resident hunters. Most of Idaho’s antelope units have a lot of public land, but there is enough private agricultural land that hunters should be using onXmaps.

With Idaho not having a point system, you have as equal odds as everyone else. If you are a rifle only antelope hunter, we do not recommend you spend $195 on a hunting license and an additional $18 application fee just to apply for antelope in Idaho, but if you are an archery hunter and want to hunt the unlimited areas, then we do recommend it as it is a guaranteed tag. That way, no matter how the rest of your draws go, you will have an antelope tag in your pocket. If you are already applying for elk and/or deer or you are just looking to add another state for a fun antelope hunt, make sure you apply for Idaho.

UNIT	COMMENTS
28-1	Salmon/Lemhi — Central portion of the state. Valid in units 28, 36B, 37, and 37A. Buck only tag. 65–75"+ bucks with potential for better. Units 37 and 37A are the best, with more antelope on public land.
30A-1	Salmon/Lemhi/Beaverhead — Central portion. Valid in units 21A, 29, 30, and 30A. Buck only tag. Mostly 65–70" bucks with upside. Ample public land and good roads. Some private fields in units 29 & 30 hold many antelope.
36-1	Sawtooth/Pioneer — Central portion. Valid in units 36 & 36A. Buck only tag. Mostly 65–70" bucks, with chance at bigger. Unit 36 mixes public & private land; water can concentrate deer. Unit 36A has abundant public land & access.
40-1	Owyhee — Southwestern portion. Valid in units 40, 41, & 42. 65–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Vast flat desert with rolling sage draws. Boise-area waterholes see heavy pressure; remote holes in units 41 & 42 offer solitude.
44-3	Smoky/Bennett — Southwestern portion. Valid in units 44, 45, 48, & 52. 65–75"+ potential. Sage & lava country with private ag pockets that hinder access. Public land with good roads exists.
46-1	South Hills — Southwestern portion. Valid in units 46 & 47. 70–75"+ potential. Large mostly public unit with good roads. Rolling sage & grass, some ag lands that deer use.
49-1	Pioneer — Central portion. Valid in units 49 & 50. Buck only tag. 60–70"+ potential. Both units have ample public land & roads. Unit 50’s population low. Options include spot-stalk & waterhole hunting; some private fields hold antelope.
51-2	Lemhi/Snake River — Central portion. Valid in unit 51 & part of 63 south of Hwy 33. Buck only tag. 60–70"+ potential. Unit 51 has more public land; unit 63 more private. Antelope frequent private fields; good for spot-stalk & waterhole.
52A-1	Big Desert/Snake River — Southcentral portion. Valid in units 52A & 53. Part of Craters of the Moon Monument closed. 60–70"+ potential. Unit 52A has extensive public land & access; good waterhole opportunities.
54	South Hills — Southcentral portion. Borders top Nevada antelope unit. 70–75"+ bucks, 80"+ potential. Broad desert flats with rolling sage & grass. Plenty of public land; deer favor private land at times.
55-1	South Hills — Southcentral portion. Valid in units 55–57. 70–75" bucks, 80"+ potential. Mix of public & private. Antelope move onto irrigated fields then back to BLM daily.
59A-1	Beaverhead — Central portion. Valid in units 58, 59, & 59A. Buck only tag. 60–70"+ potential. Ample public land & access. Unit 58 waterholes are prime. Some private fields consistently hold antelope.
68	Big Desert — Central portion. Buck only tag. 65–75"+ potential. Large public land unit with good roads. Agriculture along perimeter holds many antelope.

UNIT	COMMENTS
29-1	Lemhi — Central. Valid in unit 29 except Poison Creek drainage. 65–70" bucks, occasional 80" buck. Rolling sage & grass foothills. Abundant public land with good roads. Private ag pockets hold many antelope.
30-1	Beaverhead — Central. Valid in units 30 & 21A. 65–70"+ potential. Rolling sage & grass foothills. Plenty of public land & roads. Private ag fields in parts of 29 & 30 concentrate antelope.
31-1	Brownlee/Weiser River — Western, along OR border. Valid in 31,32,32A. 70–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Extensive private land with limited access. SRW only on Payette & Montour WMAs. Youth tags run concurrently.
36B-1	Salmon — Central. Valid in units 36B & 28. 70–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Good public land & roads; some private patches. Rolling grass & sage for excellent glassing.
37-1	Lemhi — Central. Valid in 37,37A & Poison Creek in 29. 70–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Covers Pahsimeroi Valley: open rolling terrain. Valley floor private; ample public land with good access.
38-1	Owyhee — Southwestern. Valid in portion of unit; see regs. 70–75" bucks, occasional book buck. Mixed public/private land. Antelope move between irrigated fields & BLM daily; private holdings can frustrate.
39	Boise River — Southwestern. 70–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Improving unit. Abundant public land; private parcels limit access. Rolling foothills near Danskin Mountains hold antelope.
40	Owyhee — Southwestern. 70–75" potential, occasional bigger buck. Antelope water around available sources. Ample public land; private parcels. Great road access; near Boise recreation increases hunter presence.
41-1	Owyhee — Southwestern. Valid in unit 42 & 41 west of Hwy 51. 65–75"+ potential. Broad desert country. Public land ample; rugged two-tracks; private ranches impede access. Border country offers 80" potential.
45-1	Smoky/Bennett — Southwestern. Valid in unit 45 excluding Camas Creek. 65–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Rolling lava desert on public land; private ag draws deer.
46	South Hills — Southwestern. 70–75"+ bucks, 80" potential. Thriving unit. Large mostly public land, good roads. Rolling sage & grass with some ag pockets.
50	Big Lost River Valley — Central. 65–70"+ potential. Population down; tag cuts. Private ag valley floors hold antelope; access varies by landowner.
51	Little Lost River Valley — Central. 65–70"+ potential. Valley bottom private; antelope feed in fields then move to public adjacent land; high hunter success.
52A-1	Smoky/Bennett — Southcentral. Valid in 52A & 53. 70–75"+ potential. Sage & lava desert; public land & roads abound. Water sources & perimeter ag fields draw antelope; private access tough.
54	South Hills — Southcentral. Top state unit. 70–75" bucks, 80"+ potential. Private land favored by antelope; rolling sage/grass foothills & ample public along Nevada border.
55-1	South Hills — Southcentral. Valid in 55–57. 70–75" bucks, 80"+ potential. Low tag numbers. Mix of public & private; antelope cycle between irrigated fields & BLM daily.
58	Beaverhead — Central. 65–70" bucks, some better. Extensive public land with good roads; private parcels minimal impact. Rolling sage/grass open country.
59-1	Beaverhead — Central. Valid in 59 & 59A. 65–70"+ potential. Mix of private & public land; public access requires effort. Open sage habitat & good glassing.
68	Big Desert — Central. 65–75"+ potential. Large public land with good roads; perimeter ag fields hold antelope; core sage/lava desert.
76-1	Diamond Creek — Southeastern. Valid south of Hwy 89. Reopened 2025 after winterkill closure. 65–75" potential. Small checkerboarded unit; heavy private-land use frustrates hunters.

HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear

Cost: $ 29,500.00

Location: Alaska, United States

HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk

Cost: $ 8,000.00

Location: New Mexico, United States

HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep

Cost: $ 89,250.00

Location: British Columbia, Canada

HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose

Cost: $ 9,800.00

Location: British Columbia, Canada

HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope

Cost: $ 4,500.00

Location: Wyoming, United States

HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion

Cost: $ 6,800.00

Location: Montana, United States

HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer

Cost: $ 5,900.00

Location: Idaho, United States

IDAHO ANTELOPE (PRONGHORN) SEASON DATES	2025 SEASON DATES
Archery (Controlled Hunts)	Mid-Aug – mid-Sep 2025 (permit- and unit-specific)
Rifle (Controlled Hunts)	Sep 25 – Oct 24 (permit- and unit-specific)

Disclaimer: Pronghorn hunts are largely controlled with unit-specific dates and permit limits. Confirm current regulations: https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/seasons

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