Idaho Black Bear

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IDAHO STATE PAGE

Dates & Fees | Idaho Black Bear Hunting

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    

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

 

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Idaho Black Bear Hunting 2025

There are very few controlled (draw) bear tag options in Idaho, including spring season, fall season, and a youth-only hunt. Other than the less than 10 hunt options for controlled hunt periods, the rest of the state is wide open for general bear hunting. You will need to pay attention in your planning to your specific zone as each unit has multiple variants such as season dates, when/if dogs are prohibited, and what units you can use a second bear tag in. Unfortunately, there is not a really easy way to sum up the dates, but most units will have a spring season from April to June and a fall season from October to November.

All persons placing bait must possess a baiting permit issued by Fish and Game. Baiting permits are issued by mail or in person at Fish and Game offices beginning March 1st of each year. Baiting permits will be valid in the calendar year for which they are issued. A hunter may possess only one Fish and Game baiting permit each year and may maintain up to three bait sites.

Guided Hunts - Featured Idaho Black Bear Hunting

Alaska Peninsula Coast
HFA002-5

Alaska Peninsula Coast

Species: Brown Bear
Cost: $ 29,500.00
Location: Alaska, United States
New Mexico Unit 36
HFA091-1

New Mexico Unit 36

Species: Rocky Mountain Elk
Cost: $ 8,000.00
Location: New Mexico, United States
All-Inclusive Guided Stone
HFA396-3

All-Inclusive Guided Stone

Species: Stone Sheep
Cost: $ 89,250.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Trophy Canadian Moose
HFA038-5

Trophy Canadian Moose

Species: Canadian Moose
Cost: $ 9,800.00
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Wyoming Antelope Hunt
HFA127-2

Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Species: Pronghorn Antelope
Cost: $ 4,500.00
Location: Wyoming, United States
Montana Mountain Lion
HFA245-8

Montana Mountain Lion

Species: Mountain Lion
Cost: $ 6,800.00
Location: Montana, United States
Idaho Trophy Mule Deer
HFA392-4

Idaho Trophy Mule Deer

Species: Mule Deer
Cost: $ 5,900.00
Location: Idaho, United States
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2025 Idaho Black Bear Season Dates

IDAHO BLACK BEAR SEASON DATES 2025 SEASON DATES
Spring (Most Units) Apr – Jun 2025 (bait/hound rules vary by unit)
Fall (Most Units) Aug – Nov/Dec 2025 (unit-specific)

Disclaimer: Unit rules (baiting/hounds), quotas, and weapon restrictions vary. Verify details with IDFG: https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/seasons 

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