State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in Idaho

107 named public land units in Idaho from PAD-US 4.1: 55 state wildlife & game areas, 22 forests & grasslands, 7 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 13 BLM units, 10 lake & reservoir project lands. The largest are Boise National Forest, Challis National Forest, Payette National Forest.

107listed areas
32.6Macres (approx.)
55state wildlife & game areas

2026 deer season opening dates by state. For Idaho, check the agency link below.

Regulations & licenses: Idaho Department of Fish and Game

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (55)Forests & grasslands (22)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (7)BLM public land (13)Lake & reservoir project land (10)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside Idaho.

Photos from Idaho public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Boise National Forest
2,648,291 acres
Photo: U.S. Forest Service · public domain · original source
National Forest land
Payette National Forest
2,328,261 acres
Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography · public domain · original source
National Forest land
Sawtooth National Forest
1,731,244 acres
Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography · public domain · original source
National Forest land
Clearwater National Forest
1,682,696 acres
Photo: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest U.S. Forest Service · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 107 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
Boise National Forest
2,648,291 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Valley County, Boise County + 4 more
Open access
National Forest land
Challis National Forest
2,454,852 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Custer County, Lemhi County + 3 more
Open access
National Forest land
Payette National Forest
2,328,261 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Valley County, Idaho County + 2 more
Open access
National Forest land
Nezperce National Forest
2,223,362 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Idaho County
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Upper Snake Field Office Public Lands
1,812,772 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Butte County, Clark County + 10 more
Open access
National Forest land
Salmon National Forest
1,774,643 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Lemhi County, Valley County + 1 more
Open access
National Forest land
Sawtooth National Forest
1,731,244 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Blaine County, Cassia County + 6 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Shoshone Field Office Public Lands
1,723,730 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Lincoln County, Blaine County + 7 more
Open access
National Forest land
Clearwater National Forest
1,682,696 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Idaho County, Clearwater County + 1 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Bruneau Field Office Public Lands
1,448,561 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Owyhee County
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Jarbidge Field Office Public Lands
1,321,707 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Owyhee County, Twin Falls County + 1 more
Open access
National Forest land
Targhee National Forest
1,307,963 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Fremont County, Clark County + 5 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Owyhee Field Office Public Lands
1,259,848 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Owyhee County
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Four Rivers Field Office Public Lands
1,255,494 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Elmore County, Ada County + 8 more
Open access
National Forest land
Caribou National Forest
971,178 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Caribou County, Bonneville County + 5 more
Open access
National Forest land
Kaniksu National Forest
901,974 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Boundary County, Bonner County + 1 more
Open access
National Forest land
St. Joe National Forest
867,963 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Shoshone County, Latah County + 2 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Burley Field Office Public Lands
834,832 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Cassia County, Twin Falls County + 5 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Challis Field Office Public Lands
792,104 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Custer County, Lemhi County
Open access
National Forest land
Coeur d'Alene National Forest
727,111 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Shoshone County, Kootenai County + 1 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Pocatello Field Office Public Lands
600,192 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Oneida County, Power County + 7 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Salmon Field Office Public Lands
493,865 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Lemhi County
Open access
National Forest land
Bitterroot National Forest
467,740 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Idaho County
Open access
National Forest land
Cache National Forest
263,732 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Bear Lake County, Franklin County + 1 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Cottonwood Field Office Public Lands
131,357 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Idaho County, Nez Perce County + 3 more
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Coeur D'Alene Field Office Public Lands
99,756 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Shoshone County, Benewah County + 3 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area
79,153 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Nez Perce County, Lewis County
Open access
National Grassland
Curlew National Grassland
47,541 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Oneida County
Open access
National Forest land
Kootenai National Forest
46,681 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Bonner County, Boundary County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sikes Act Wildlife Habitat Area
35,522 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Twin Falls County, Cassia County + 8 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area
33,136 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bonneville County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Boise River Wildlife Management Area
32,198 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Ada County, Elmore County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area
28,922 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fremont County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
18,278 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Bear Lake County
Restricted access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Blackfoot Reservoir
16,397 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Caribou County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Cascade Reservoir
14,839 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Valley County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Palisades Reservoir
14,640 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Bonneville County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area
12,098 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Shoshone County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cecil D. Andrus Wildlife Management Area
10,861 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Washington County, Adams County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Camas National Wildlife Refuge
10,798 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Jefferson County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area
8,525 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Jefferson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Coeur D'Alene River Wildlife Management Area
7,634 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Kootenai County, Benewah County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area
6,925 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bonner County, Kootenai County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area
6,192 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Camas County, Elmore County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Market Lake Wildlife Management Area
4,964 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Jefferson County
Open access
National Forest land
Wallowa National Forest
4,888 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Nez Perce County, Idaho County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
4,837 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Bonneville County, Caribou County
Restricted access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Anderson Ranch Reservoir
4,431 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Elmore County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area
4,350 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Elmore County, Owyhee County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Island Park Reservoir
4,300 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Fremont County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Arrowrock Reservoir
4,059 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Elmore County, Boise County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Portneuf Wildlife Management Area
3,941 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bannock County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sterling Wildlife Management Area
3,799 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bingham County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Deer Parks Wildlife Mitigation Unit
3,216 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Jefferson County, Madison County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Deadwood Reservoir
2,920 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Valley County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge
2,855 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Blaine County, Cassia County + 1 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Henley Basin Wildlife Habitat Area
2,798 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Washington County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
2,773 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Boundary County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Georgetown Summit Wildlife Management Area
2,450 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bear Lake County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Boundary Creek Wildlife Management Area
2,068 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Boundary County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Montpelier Wildlife Management Area
1,901 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bear Lake County
Open access
Waterfowl Production Area
Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area
1,864 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Franklin County, Bannock County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Blackfoot River Wildlife Management Area
1,731 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Caribou County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Montour Wildlife Management Area
1,564 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gem County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area
1,512 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Boundary County, Bonner County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
1,334 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Canyon County, Owyhee County + 2 more
Restricted access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Minidoka Project - American Falls Reservoir
1,309 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Bingham County, Bannock County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area
1,274 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Canyon County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area
1,145 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gooding County, Twin Falls County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cartier Slough Wildlife Management Area
1,024 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Madison County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Payette River Wildlife Management Area
929 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Payette County, Gem County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chilly Slough Wildlife Habitat Area
908 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Custer County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big Cottonwood Wildlife Management Area
808 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Cassia County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hagerman Wildlife Management Area
713 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gooding County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Roswell Marsh Wildlife Habitat Area
707 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Canyon County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Black Canyon Reservoir
583 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Gem County
Open access
National Forest land
Lolo National Forest
458 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Shoshone County, Clearwater County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Carey Lake Wildlife Management Area
432 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Blaine County
Open access
National Forest land
Beaverhead National Forest
413 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Lemhi County, Clark County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chamberlain Basin Backcountry Ranches
402 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Idaho County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
South Fork Clearwater River Wildlife Habitat Area
375 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Idaho County
Open access
National Forest land
Cougar Bar Purchase Unit
363 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Nez Perce County
Open access
Bureau of Reclamation project land
Little Wood Reservoir
359 acres
Bureau of Reclamation · Blaine County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ted Trueblood Wildlife Habitat Area
342 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Elmore County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Red River Wildlife Management Area
321 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Idaho County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Billingsley Creek Wildlife Management Area
281 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gooding County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mormon Creek Ranch/Pole Creek Ranch
220 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lemhi County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dingle Swamp Wildlife Habitat Area
201 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bear Lake County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lawman Ranch
199 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Valley County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Wood River Deer Migration Corridor
192 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Blaine County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Marble Creek Ranch
160 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Valley County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mile High Ranch
160 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Valley County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cameron Ranch
146 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Valley County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Farragut Wildlife Management Area
138 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Kootenai County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Penrod
135 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Boise County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Loon Creek Ranch
112 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Lemhi County, Custer County
Open access
BLM public land
BLM Dillon Field Office Public Lands
108 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Clark County, Lemhi County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
State Fish And Game
101 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Ada County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Palisades Creek Winter Range Wildlife Habitat Area
100 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bonneville County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sand Hollow Wildlife Habitat Area
87 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Canyon County, Gem County
Open access
National Forest land
Whitman National Forest
76 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Adams County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Clover Creek Wildlife Habitat Area
72 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Elmore County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Banbury Springs Wildife Habitat Area
56 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gooding County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Gem State Wildlife Habitat Area
53 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Jefferson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fir Island Wildlife Habitat Area
51 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Nez Perce County
Open access
National Forest land
Gallatin National Forest
50 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Fremont County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Granite Creek
45 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bonner County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Idaho. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.