Idaho Waterfowl Season 2025-26
Idaho waterfowl season dates start with Sep 1, 2025-Jan 1, 2026. The table below keeps every listed waterfowl row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Idaho's listed 2025-26 waterfowl season runs Sep 1, 2025-Jan 1, 2026.
Regular Canada Goose opens Oct 4, 2025 and closes Jan 16, 2026.
Regular Duck (including Mergansers) opens Oct 4, 2025 and closes Jan 16, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Idaho Fish & Game.
Waterfowl
18 listed rowsAmerican Coot
Regular
Possession limit: 3 times daily bag limit. Season dates follow duck Area 1 season.
Zone: Area 1
Canada Goose
Early/Regular
Two segments: Sept 1-15, 2025 and Oct 4, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026. Bear Lake County east of Hwy 30 to Montpelier, south of Hwy 89 to Ovid, east of Hwy 89 to state line, and Caribou County north of Hwy 30.
Zone: Area 4
Canada Goose
Regular
Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, and Valley counties.
Zone: Area 2
Canada Goose
Regular
All parts of state not in Areas 2, 3, and 4.
Zone: Area 1
Canada Goose
Regular
Bannock, Bear Lake County west of Hwy 30 to Montpelier/north of Hwy 89 to Ovid/west of Hwy 89 to state line, Benewah, Bingham County except Blackfoot Reservoir drainage, Blaine, Bonner, Boundary, Caribou County south of Hwy 30, Cassia, Franklin, Gooding, Jerome, Kootenai, Lincoln, Minidoka, Oneida, Power, Shoshone, and Twin Falls counties.
Zone: Area 3
Duck (including Mergansers)
Regular
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties. Scaup season: October 23, 2025 – January 16, 2026.
Zone: Area 3
Duck (including Mergansers)
Regular
Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, portion of Power County east of SH-37 and SH-39, Teton, and Valley counties. Scaup season: October 4, 2025 – December 28, 2025.
Zone: Area 2
Duck (including Mergansers)
Regular
Includes all parts of state not in Areas 2 and 3. Scaup season: November 7, 2025 – January 31, 2026.
Zone: Area 1
Duck, Goose, Coot
Youth/Veterans/Active Military Weekend
Open to licensed hunters 17 and younger plus veterans and active military. At least one adult 18+ with valid hunting license must accompany youth. HIP permit required; Duck Stamp not required for hunters 15 and younger.
Zone: Statewide
Light Goose (Snow including Blue, Ross's)
Regular
Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, portions of Bingham County east of west bank of Snake River/west of McTucker boat ramp access road/east of American Falls Reservoir bluff, Bonner, Bonneville County east of I-15, Boundary, Caribou, Clark County east of I-15, Fremont, Jefferson County east of I-15, Kootenai, Madison, portions of Power County below American Falls Reservoir bluff and within Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley.
Zone: Area 1
Light Goose (Snow including Blue, Ross's)
Regular/Conservation Order
Bingham County west of west bank of Snake River/east of McTucker boat ramp access road/west of American Falls Reservoir bluff, Bonneville County west of I-15, Butte County, Clark County west of I-15, Franklin, Jefferson County west of I-15, Oneida, and Power County except below American Falls Reservoir bluff and Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Two segments: Oct 4 – Dec 24, 2025 and Feb 16 – Mar 10, 2026. Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns allowed Feb 16 – Mar 10, 2026.
Zone: Area 4
Light Goose (Snow including Blue, Ross's)
Regular
All parts of state not in Areas 1, 3, and 4.
Zone: Area 2
Light Goose (Snow including Blue, Ross's)
Regular/Conservation Order
Ada, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington. Two segments: Oct 19 – Dec 24, 2025 and Feb 1 – Mar 10, 2026. Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns allowed Feb 16 – Mar 10, 2026. Closures: Fort Boise and Payette River WMAs, Roswell Marsh WHA south of SH-18, Snake River Islands Unit of Deer Flat NWR closed Feb 1 – Mar 10, 2026.
Zone: Area 3
Tundra Swan
Controlled Hunt
Controlled hunt; 50 tags available. Requires Swan Controlled Hunt Tag, HIP Permit, Federal Duck Stamp, nontoxic shot, shotgun max 3 shells. Shot size max 0.2 inches (size T). Mandatory check within 3 days of kill.
Zone: Area 1 (Hunt 9301) – Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai counties only
White-fronted Goose
Regular
Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison, portion of Power County east of SH-37 and SH-39, Shoshone, Teton, and Valley counties.
Zone: Area 1
White-fronted Goose
Regular
All parts of state not included in Areas 1 and 3.
Zone: Area 2
White-fronted Goose
Regular
Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, and Washington counties. Closure: Fort Boise and Payette River WMAs, Roswell Marsh WHA south of SH-18, Snake River Islands Unit of Deer Flat NWR closed February 1 – March 10, 2026.
Zone: Area 3
Wilson's Snipe
Regular
Possession limit: 3 times daily bag limit. Season dates follow duck Area 1 season.
Zone: Area 1
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Nearby waterfowl seasons
Idaho Waterfowl Season FAQ
When does waterfowl season open in Idaho?
September 1, 2025 is the earliest listed waterfowl opener in Idaho — early/regular canada goose runs Sep 1, 2025-Jan 1, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with Idaho Fish & Game.
What are the 2025-26 waterfowl season dates in Idaho?
Idaho lists 18 waterfowl season windows: Regular American Coot (Oct 19, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Early/Regular Canada Goose (Sep 1, 2025-Jan 1, 2026); Regular Canada Goose (Oct 4, 2025-Jan 16, 2026); Regular Canada Goose (Oct 19, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); Regular Canada Goose (Nov 3, 2025-Feb 15, 2026); Regular Duck (including Mergansers) (Oct 4, 2025-Jan 16, 2026); Regular Duck (including Mergansers) (Oct 4, 2025-Jan 16, 2026); Regular Duck (including Mergansers) (Oct 19, 2025-Jan 31, 2026); and more. Always verify against Idaho Fish & Game before hunting.
Are there different waterfowl seasons in Idaho?
Yes — Idaho lists separate waterfowl seasons for Regular American Coot, Early/Regular Canada Goose, Regular Canada Goose, Regular Duck (including Mergansers), Youth/Veterans/Active Military Weekend Duck, Goose, Coot, Regular Light Goose (Snow including Blue, Ross's). Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Idaho Fish & Game.
Do I need a license to hunt waterfowl in Idaho?
Yes. Idaho generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and waterfowl hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Idaho Fish & Game.