IDAPA 13.01.06
These rules apply to individuals who may hunt, fish, trap, or otherwise take or possess wildlife. These rules also provide reference information for identification, classification and protection status of fish and wildlife.
These rules establish the classification and protection of wildlife including big game animals, upland game animals, game birds, game fish, fur-bearing animals, protected non-game species, and unprotected wildlife. These rules reflect that Section 36-201, Idaho Code, classifies predatory wildlife.
This rule implements the following statutes passed by the Idaho Legislature:
Fish and Game -
Fish and Game Commission:
Classifications and Definitions:
Idaho Department of Fish and Game 600 S. Walnut Street Boise, ID 83712
P.O. Box 25 Boise, ID 83707 Phone: (208) 334-3771 Fax: (208) 334-4885 Email: Rules@idfg.idaho.gov Webpage: http://idfg.idaho.gov
This rule chapter will be reviewed in compliance with Section 67-5292, Idaho Code, and in accordance with the 8-year rule review schedule linked here.
13.01.06 – Rules Governing Classification and Protection of Wildlife
000. Legal Authority. ... 3
001. Scope. ... 3
002. – 099. (Reserved) ... 3
100. Classification Of Wildlife – Big Game Animals. ... 3
101. Classification Of Wildlife – Upland Game Animals. ... 3
102. Classification Of Wildlife – Game Birds. ... 3
103. Classification Of Wildlife – Game Fish. ... 4
104. Classification Of Wildlife – Anadromous Game Fish. ... 6
105. Classification Of Wildlife – Furbearing Animals. ... 6
106. – 149. (Reserved) ... 6
150. Threatened Or Endangered Species. ... 6
151. – 199. (Reserved) ... 6
200. Protected Nongame Species. ... 6
201. Predatory Wildlife. ... 7
202. – 249. (Reserved) ... 7
250. Unprotected Wildlife. ... 7
251. – 299. (Reserved) ... 7
300. Protection Of Wildlife. ... 8
301. – 999. (Reserved) ... 8
Sections 36-104(b) and 36-201, Idaho Code.
(7-1-24)
These rules establish the classification and protection of wildlife.
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
02. Bighorn sheep – Ovis canadensis, identified as “California bighorn sheep” when occurring south of Interstate 84 and as “Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep” when occurring north of Interstate 84.
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
Game birds include upland game birds, migratory game birds, and American crow.
(7-1-24)
(7-1-24)
a. Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus. colchicus).
(7-1-24)
b. Partridge: grey (Hungarian) partridge – Perdix perdix; chukar – Alectoris sp.
(7-1-24)
c. Quail: northern bobwhite – Colinus virginianus; California quail – Callipepla californica; mountain quail – Oreortyx pictus; and Gambel’s quail – Callipepla gambelii.
(7-1-24)
d. Grouse: Dusky (blue) grouse – Dendragapus obscurus; ruffed grouse – Bonasa umbellus; spruce grouse – Falcipennis canadensis; Greater Sage Grouse – Centrocercus urophasianus; and sharp-tailed grouse – Tympanuchus phasianellus. “Forest grouse” means dusky grouse, ruffed grouse, and spruce grouse.
(7-1-24)
e. Wild turkey – Meleagris gallopavo.
(7-1-24)
02. Migratory Game Birds. (7-1-24)a. American coot – Fulica americana. (7-1-24)b. Doves: mourning dove – Zenaida macroura and white-winged dove – Zenaida asiatica. (7-1-24)c. Ducks: members of the Anatidae family other than geese and swans, including bufflehead – Bucephala albeola; canvasback – Aythya valisineria; gadwall – Mareca strepera; Barrow's goldeneye – Bucephala islandica; common goldeneye – Bucephala clangula; harlequin duck – Histrionicus histrionicus; mallard – Anas platyrhynchos; common merganser – Mergus merganser; hooded merganser – Lophodytes cucullatus; red-breasted merganser – Mergus serrator; long-tailed duck – Clangula hyemalis; northern pintail – Anas acuta; redhead – Aythya americana; ring-necked duck – Aythya collaris; ruddy duck – Oxyura jamaicensis; greater scaup – Aythya marila; lesser scaup – Aythya affinis; northern shoveler – Spatula clypeata; blue-winged teal – Spatula discors; cinnamon teal – Spatula cyanoptera; green-winged teal – Anas crecca; American wigeon – Mareca americana; Eurasian wigeon – Mareca penelope; and wood duck – Aix sponsa. (7-1-24)d. Geese: members of the Anatidae family other than ducks and swans, including Canada goose – Branta canadensis ('Canada goose' to include cackling goose – Branta hutchinsii); Ross's goose – Anser rossii; snow goose – Anser caerulescens; and greater white-fronted goose – Anser albifrons. (7-1-24)e. Swans: members of the Anatidae other than ducks and geese, including Trumpeter swan – Cygnus buccinator; and Tundra swan – Cygnus columbianus. (7-1-24)f. Wilson's snipe – Gallinago delicata. (7-1-24)g. Sandhill Crane – Antigone canadensis. (7-1-24)03. American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos. (7-1-24)103. CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLIFE – GAME FISH. Game fish includes the following fish and crayfish: (7-1-24)01. American shad. (7-1-24)02. Arctic grayling. (7-1-24)03. Bear Lake whitefish. (7-1-24)04. Black bullhead. (7-1-24)05. Black crappie. (7-1-24)06. Blue catfish. (7-1-24)07. Bluegill and hybrid with pumpkinseed. (7-1-24)08. Bonneville cisco. (7-1-24)09. Bonneville whitefish. (7-1-24)10. Brook trout. (7-1-24)11. Brown bullhead. (7-1-24)12. Brown trout. (7-1-24)13. Bull trout. (7-1-24)
14. Burbot. (7-1-24)
15. Channel catfish. (7-1-24)
16. Chinook salmon (land locked) – Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, residing in waters that prohibit migration to the ocean and back. (7-1-24)
17. Coho salmon – Oncorhynchus kisutch. (7-1-24)
18. Crayfish – Pacifastacus spp. (7-1-24)
19. Cutthroat trout – Oncorhynchus clarkii, including subspecies Bonneville cutthroat trout – O. clarkii utah, Lahontan cutthroat trout – O. clarkii henshawi, Westslope cutthroat trout – O. clarkii lewisi, and Yellowstone (including “finespotted”) cutthroat trout – O. clarkii bouvieri. (7-1-24)
20. Flathead catfish. (7-1-24)
21. Golden trout. (7-1-24)
22. Green sunfish. (7-1-24)
23. Kokanee – Oncorhynchus nerka kennelyi (not anadromous). (7-1-24)
24. Lake trout. (7-1-24)
25. Lake whitefish. (7-1-24)
26. Largemouth bass. (7-1-24)
27. Mountain whitefish. (7-1-24)
28. Northern pike. (7-1-24)
29. Pumpkinseed. (7-1-24)
30. Pygmy whitefish. (7-1-24)
31. Rainbow trout – Oncorhynchus mykiss, including redband trout – O. mykiss gairdneri. (7-1-24)
32. Rainbow/cutthroat trout (cutbow) – O. mykiss x O. clarkii hybrid. (7-1-24)
33. Sauger. (7-1-24)
34. Smallmouth bass. (7-1-24)
35. Splake. (7-1-24)
36. Sunapee trout. (7-1-24)
37. Tiger Trout. (7-1-24)
38. Tiger muskie. (7-1-24)
39. Walleye. (7-1-24)
40. Warmouth. (7-1-24)
41. White crappie. (7-1-24)
42. White sturgeon. (7-1-24)
43. Yellow bullhead. (7-1-24)
44. Yellow perch. (7-1-24)
104. CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLIFE – ANADROMOUS GAME FISH. Anadromous game fish include members of the Oncorhynchus family that migrate to the ocean as a juvenile and return to freshwater. (7-1-24)
01. Chinook salmon – Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (7-1-24)
02. Coho salmon – Oncorhynchus kisutch. (7-1-24)
03. Sockeye salmon – Oncorhynchus nerka. (7-1-24)
04. Steelhead – Oncorhynchus mykiss. (7-1-24)
105. CLASSIFICATION OF WILDLIFE – FURBEARING ANIMALS.
01. American badger. (7-1-24)
02. American marten. (7-1-24)
03. American mink. (7-1-24)
04. North American Beaver. (7-1-24)
05. Bobcat. (7-1-24)
06. Canada lynx. (7-1-24)
07. Common muskrat. (7-1-24)
08. Fisher. (7-1-24)
09. North American river otter. (7-1-24)
10. Pacific marten. (7-1-24)
11. Red fox – Vulpes vulpes (all color phases). (7-1-24)
106. – 149. (RESERVED)
150. THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES. 151. – 199. (RESERVED)
200. PROTECTED NONGAME SPECIES.
01. Mammals. (7-1-24) a. American pika. (7-1-24)
| b. | Bats – all species. | (7-1-24) |
|---|---|---|
| c. | Chipmunks – Tamias spp. | (7-1-24) |
| d. | Merriam’s ground squirrel – Urocitellus canus. | (7-1-24) |
| e. | Common golden-mantled ground squirrel – Callospermophilus lateralis. | (7-1-24) |
| f. | Piute ground squirrel – Urocitellus mollis. | (7-1-24) |
| g. | Kit fox. | (7-1-24) |
| h. | Wolverine. | (7-1-24) |
| i. | Northern Idaho ground squirrel – Urocitellus brunneus. | (7-1-24) |
| j. | Northern flying squirrel. | (7-1-24) |
| k. | Common rock squirrel – Otospermophilus variegatus. | (7-1-24) |
| l. | Southern Idaho ground squirrel – Urocitellus endemicus. | (7-1-24) |
| m. | Caribou. | (7-1-24) |
| n. | Wyoming ground squirrel – Urocitellus elegans nevadensis. | (7-1-24) |
| 02. | Birds. All native species, except game birds. | (7-1-24) |
| 03. | Amphibians. All native species. | (7-1-24) |
| 04. | Reptiles. All native species. | (7-1-24) |
| 05. | Fish. | (7-1-24) |
| a. | Bear Lake sculpin. | (7-1-24) |
| b. | Northern leatherside chub. | (7-1-24) |
| c. | Pacific lamprey. | (7-1-24) |
| d. | Sand roller. | (7-1-24) |
| e. | Shoshone sculpin. | (7-1-24) |
| f. | Wood River sculpin. | (7-1-24) |
| g. | Green sucker. | (7-1-24) |
| 201. | PREDATORY WILDLIFE. | |
| Predatory wildlife are defined in Section 36-201, Idaho Code. | (7-1-24) | |
| 202. – 249. | (RESERVED) | |
| 250. | UNPROTECTED WILDLIFE. | |
| Unprotected Wildlife includes all wildlife not classified in the preceding categories. | (7-1-24) | |
| 251. – 299. | (RESERVED) |
01. Game Species. Those species of wildlife classified as Big Game Animals, Upland Game Animals, Game Birds, Migratory Birds, Game Fish/Crustacea, or Furbearing Animals may be taken only in accordance with Idaho law. (7-1-24)
02. Protected Nongame and Threatened or Endangered Species. No person may take or possess those species of wildlife classified as Protected Nongame, or Threatened or Endangered at any time or in any manner, except as provided in Idaho Code (including Sections 36-106(e), and 36-1107), and Commission rules. Protected Nongame status is not intended to prevent unintentional take of these species, protection of personal health or safety, limit property and building management, or prevent management of animals to address public health concerns or agricultural damage. (7-1-24)
03. Unprotected and Predatory Wildlife. Those species of wildlife classified as Unprotected Wildlife and Predatory Wildlife may be taken in any amount, at any time, and in any manner, by holders of the appropriate valid Idaho hunting, trapping, fishing, or combination license, provided such taking is not otherwise in violation of federal, state, county, or city laws, rules, ordinances, or regulations. (7-1-24)