BigGameHoundsmen.com

Idaho hunting regs....
Hound Hunting
Anyone hunting with hounds, unless hunting with an
outfitter, must have a hound hunter permit. (Please see
section on hound hunting rules on page 66, following the
section on weapons restrictions.)
Hound Hunting Rules
Dogs
Dogs may be used to pursue black bears or mountain lions in
either an open take season where use of dogs is allowed, or
during a dog training season open for bear or mountain lion.
Pursuit is allowed regardless of whether a black bear or lion
already has been harvested. During a dog training season,
black bears or lions may be pursued and treed, but may not
be captured, killed, or possessed. Dogs may not be used to
take or pursue any other big game species.

Any dog found running at large and actively tracking,
pursuing, harassing, attacking or killing any big game animal,
except black bear and mountain lion, may be destroyed
without criminal or civil liability by the director of Fish
and Game, any peace officer, or other persons authorized to
enforce Idaho wildlife laws.

Hound Hunter Permit
When dogs are being used to hunt black bear or mountain
lion, the following persons must have a valid hound hunter
permit and a black bear or mountain lion tag for the current
year in possession:

• Anyone who owns pursuit dogs.
• Anyone having control of dogs owned by another
person.
• Anyone who harvests a black bear, mountain lion,
bobcat, raccoon, or fox with the use of dogs. Except,
clients of licensed outfitters are not required to have a
hound hunter permit.
Resident hound hunter permits may be obtained from any
license vendor. There is no limit on the number of resident
hound hunter permits.

Limitation on hound hunter permits for nonresidents:
Nonresidents who want to apply for hound hunter permits
should notify the license section at Fish and Game
headquarters office in October. Permits for the following year
are issued in December. No more than 70 nonresident hound
hunter permits will be issued to nonresident hunters who are
not licensed outfitters (see exceptions for Middle Fork and
Selway zones). Nonresident outfitters and guides who have
obtained a hound hunter permit shall not use the permit for
personal hunting. Sales of nonresident hound hunter permits
to the following persons shall not be counted in the quota for
nonresidents:

• Persons who have moved into Idaho and by notarized
affidavit show proof of their intent to become bona fide
Idaho residents but are not yet qualified to buy a resident
license.
• Middle Fork Zone: Persons who hound hunt solely in
game management units within the Middle Fork elk zone
(Units 20A, 26, and 27).
• Selway Zone: Persons who hound hunt solely within
the Selway Zone (Units 16A, 17, 19, and 20). A total of
40 permits will be issued for Units 16A, 19, 20, and allof Unit 17, excluding Hunt Area 17-1 which will have
six permits. Hunt Area 17-1 is defined as that portion of

Unit 17 south of the following boundary:
Beginning at the junction of the Unit 17 boundary and
Forest Service Trail 24, then west along Forest Service
Trail 24 to the Selway River, then north along the
Selway River to Forest Service Trail 40, then southwest
along Forest Service Trail 40 to Forest Service Trail 3,
then west along Forest Service Trail 3 to the Unit 17
boundary.
Hound Hunter Alert: Selway and Middle Fork zones are
wilderness areas. Vehicle access is restricted and rugged
terrain can make pursuit extremely difficult. Contact the local
Forest Service office for maps showing trails and access.
Wolves may be present in any game management unit.