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Idaho

Idaho Black Bear Tags and Dates

General-season tags go on sale Dec 1. Controlled spring bear applications run Jan 15 to Feb 15; fall bear, May 1 to Jun 5, with a second drawing Aug 5 to 15. We do not invent draw odds.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Midwest Region) via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Permit first. Then pack for this hunt.

Hunt units and controlled hunt areas on this page are approximate and are not legal boundary descriptions. Check the current IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules before you apply or hunt. Full disclaimer.

Tags, applications and dates

  • General-season tags: tags for the coming year go on sale Dec 1, per IDFG’s general / OTC tags page. Checked Nov 11, 2026. IDFG lists this day without a year attached.
  • Spring controlled hunts: applications run Jan 15 to Feb 15, per IDFG’s application periods. Checked Nov 14, 2026.
  • Fall controlled hunts: applications run May 1 to Jun 5, with a second drawing for leftover fall bear tags Aug 5 to 15, per the same IDFG table. Checked Nov 14, 2026. The second-drawing row lists fall bear, not spring bear.
  • Points: none. Idaho uses no preference or bonus points. Each controlled-hunt application gets a random number.
  • Cost: $18 application fee per species, and a hunting license valid for big game before you apply. A nonresident adult hunting license is $185.00, per IDFG fees on Nov 11, 2026. Confirm current bear tag fees on IDFG if you buy a general tag or draw.
  • Group applications: two hunters may apply on the same application for spring or fall bear, per IDFG.
  • Bear identification: IDFG requires a bear identification test. Confirm the current requirement on that page before you hunt.

Idaho black bear dates

These dates are from IDFG, not estimates. Application days are listed by IDFG without a year attached. We do not invent controlled-hunt odds or leftover-tag counts.

Idaho black bear tag and application dates, per IDFG
Hunt typeWhen
General-season tagsOn sale Dec 1
Spring controlled hunt applicationsJan 15 to Feb 15
Fall controlled hunt applicationsMay 1 to Jun 5
Fall controlled hunt second drawingAug 5 to 15

Where to apply, and official odds

Apply for controlled spring or fall bear hunts through IDFG’s controlled hunt application page. Buy a general-season tag, when they are on sale, through IDFG’s general / OTC tags page.

Official controlled-hunt drawing odds are published by IDFG on its drawing odds page. TagCanyon does not invent applicant counts, tag quotas or odds for Idaho black bear, and this page has no odds table for that reason. Always confirm dates, fees, hunt numbers and rules in the current IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules.

More: Idaho draw overview, Idaho elk odds, Idaho deer odds, Idaho moose odds and all draw deadlines.

Dates and fees: Idaho Department of Fish and Game controlled-hunt application periods (checked Nov 14, 2026) and general / OTC tag sale date and nonresident license fee (checked Nov 11, 2026). TagCanyon is not affiliated with or endorsed by IDFG. Always confirm dates, fees and hunt rules on IDFG before you apply or hunt. Full disclaimer.