Idaho Hunting & Fishing

Idaho is a backcountry hunter's dream, with more federally designated wilderness than any state outside Alaska and a tag system far more accessible than its Western neighbors. Hunting guides in Idaho run elk and mule deer hunts deep in the Frank Church and Selway-Bitterroot wildernesses, where pack strings of horses and mules are still the way to reach camp. The state also offers black bear, mountain lion, and a growing wolf population, plus over-the-counter elk tags in many units.

Fishing in Idaho centers on cold, clear rivers and high mountain lakes. Outfitters and fishing charters work the Salmon River, the South Fork of the Snake, and Henrys Fork for wild cutthroat, rainbow, and trophy brown trout, while reservoirs hold kokanee and bass. Steelhead return to the Salmon and Clearwater rivers each fall, drawing anglers from across the country.