Hunting in Idaho: 3 Things to Know About Hunting on Private Lands

In many states, it is illegal to hunt on privately owned land without the homeowner's verbal or written permission. This is not the case in Idaho, which has much looser trespass laws.

In Idaho, where about 67 percent of the land base is public, a law requiring permission to hunt on private land would be challenging to enforce, as noted in an article in the Coeur d'Alene Press. "With so much public land, and much private land interspersed among tracks of public ground, it isn't always apparent if land is public or private."

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There are some rules to know beforehand prior to hunting on private land. Here are three to know before you go:

1. It is Illegal to Hunt on Cultivated Land
You cannot go shoot a wolf in someone's backyard or even an irrigated pasture or a hay field. Any part of land that is clearly cultivated and habited is not fair game for hunters without permission, and entering these spaces would be considered trespassing under Idaho law.

2. It is Illegal to Hunt on Land With Posted "No Hunting" Signs
On tracks of land that are wild yet privately owned, the homeowner must post a sign stating that hunting is prohibited on their property if they want to keep hunters out. Not posting this sign makes private land fair game to hunters.

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According to the Coeur d'Alene Press: "Proper posting consists of legible 'No Trespassing' signs; trees or posts painted with 100 square inches of high visibility orange paint; or, metal fence posts painted orange for the top 18 inches. One of these markers must be posted every 660 feet (or more often) around the property and at 'reasonable access points.'"

3. Ask Permission
Before hunting on land you know it is private, it is best to ask the homeowner's permission before doing so even if no sign is posted. According to a survey of rural Idaho landowners reported in the Coeur d'Alene Press, 88 percent of homeowners will allow hunting on their property, even if they've posted signs, if permission is asked. The further in advance you ask the better, and also more respectful.

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

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