Hunting in Idaho: 3 Animals Designated Nongame, Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Species

Hunting in Idaho offers plentiful opportunities for stalking big game such as deer, elk, and mountain lion, but several other species are considered endangered or threatened and are off-limits to hunters.

In some cases, these conservation efforts have already paid off. The Idaho Department of Fish and Games said wolves, for example, were listed as endangered in 1974 after nearly being decimated.

However, they were removed from the list in 2011 after the implementation of a conservation and management plan. Others, however, remain listed, and anyone capturing, killing or owning one could face fines or other legal action.

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Before you hunt in Idaho, keep in mind that you cannot kill any of the following species:

1. Woodland Caribou (Southern Selkirk Mountains Population): Endangered
According to the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation, a 2012 aerial survey found only four woodland caribou on the Idaho side of the United States-Canada border. The species was first included in the Endangered Species Act in 1984.

The woodland caribou population in Idaho belongs to a larger group found across the border in Canada. There have been several attempts to bolster the numbers of those found in the Selkirk Mountains, located in northern Idaho and northeast Washington, but without much success.

2. Grizzly Bear: Threatened
The Grizzly Bear has been listed as a threatened species since 1975. In Idaho, it is found in three areas: the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem, the Selkirk Ecosystem, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the conservation office said.

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Thanks to recent conservation efforts in Yellowstone, the bear may be removed from the threatened list in that region. There is no hunting season for the grizzly bear in Idaho, and according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, it is illegal to take or own one except in specific circumstances such as scientific research.

3. Ground Squirrels: Threatened
There are two subspecies of ground squirrel whose numbers are dwindling in Idaho. The first, the northern subspecies, was listed as threatened in 2000, with the population’s numbers decreasing by 80 percent since 1985, according to the conservation office.

Another group, the southern species, also appears to be declining and might be listed as threatened. Some private landowners have agreed to conserve the species on their property.

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

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