Hunting in Idaho: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Summer

Hunting in Idaho during the summer is much more restrictive than other times of the year. Many animals are off limits throughout the state between the months of June and August — in fact during August, only gray wolves can be hunted, and these hunts can only take place on private land.

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Here are three animals that can be legally hunted in Idaho during summer. Know, however, that how much you will pay to hunt each one will differ depending on whether you are a resident of Idaho or not as out-of-state tag fees are significantly higher.

Whether you live in or out of state, you need to have a valid Idaho hunting license and tag for the animal and follow all state rules and regulations pertain to legal hunting.

1. Gray Wolves
The wolf-hunting season on public land in Idaho ends on July 1, but if you're hunting on private land, you can do so throughout the summer legally. If you are wolf hunting in Idaho, you can buy up to five wolf tags per calendar year. You cannot use bait or dogs to hunt wolves in Idaho, but you can use electronic calls to attract the animals.

2. Black Bears
Hunting black bears in Idaho in summer is limited to only a few regions, and even in these areas it's only allowed through the end of July — August is off-limits everywhere — with the appropriate bear tag. It should also be noted that when you are hunting black bears, you cannot shoot a female bear with cubs. It is also important to know the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear. The later is federally protected from hunting at any time of year. There are some significant differences to look for.

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"The best indicators are the size of the shoulders, the profile of the face and the length of the claws," says Bear Smart. "The grizzly bear has a pronounced shoulder hump, which the black bear lacks. It also has a concave or 'dished' facial profile, smaller ears and much larger claws than the black bear. Black bears have a flatter, 'Roman-nose' profile, larger ears, no visible shoulder hump and smaller claws."

3. Mountain Lions
Like bears, mountain lions can be hunted in some parts of Idaho in June, but the rules are restrictive. There are just two zones that allow summer mountain lion hunts (and mothers with cubs also must be left alone). Even in the zones where hunting is only allowed, it only can take place through the end of June, with July and August prohibited across the state. Check the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website to find out the hunting specifics.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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