Licenses, Tags and Permits

Who needs a license to fish in Idaho?

Any person 14 years of age or older must buy a fishing license. Licenses can be bought at vendors and Fish and Game offices, online with a computer or mobile device at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, or by phone at (800) 554-8685.

Anyone who fishes for salmon or steelhead must also have a permit for those species (See pages 51)

For a full menu of licenses and permits, see pages 76 – 78.

• Any license, tag or permit which is defaced, altered or tampered with shall be invalid from the date and time of issuance.
• Fishing on Indian reservations may require tribal licenses and following tribal regulations. Please consult respective tribes for fishing on reservations.

Fishing rules for children under age 14

Children under 14 ARE NOT required to buy a fishing license.

Idaho resident children under 14 may

• Catch and keep their own daily bag limit.
• Buy a salmon/steelhead permit to keep their own limit of salmon/steelhead.
• Buy a 2-pole permit.

Nonresident children under 14

• Must be accompanied by the holder of a valid Idaho fishing license, and
• Harvested fish must be included in the license holder’s limit
• OR, a nonresident child may buy a nonresident license and salmon/steelhead permit to keep their own limit

To Buy a License, Tag or Permit

• Go to Idaho Fish and Game’s online licensing site at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com.
• Download our Go Outdoors Idaho app directly on your smartphone.
• In person, go to any Idaho Fish and Game office or license vendor.
• Dial 1-800-554-8685. Outside the U.S., use the Internet or mail.
• Commercial licenses and tags, duplicate tags, documents that require proof of disability, lifetime licenses, and bear baiting permits canonly be purchased at Fish and Game offices.

*A credit card service fee is added for online and telephone transactions.

Licenses, Tags and Permits

Information on the following pages apply to fishing licenses and permits. For details on licenses, permits, and tags for hunting or trapping, please visit our website at idfg.idaho.gov/licenses, or review the Seasons and Rules brochure for the species you are interested in.

To Buy a License, Tag or Permit

• Visit an Idaho Fish and Game office or license vendor.
• Download the “GoOutdoorsIdaho” mobile application from the Google Play store or Apple Appstore.
• From your computer or mobile device, go to

GoOutdoorsidaho.com

• Within the United States call 1-800-554-8685.
• For an overview of all license buying options, visit idfg.idaho.gov/buy
• Commercial licenses, duplicate permits or tags, documents that require proof of disability, and lifetime certificates, may be purchased only at Fish and Game offices.

Licenses purchased online or over the phone must be printed from the buyer’s computer; they will not be mailed. However, all tags andnotchable permits will be mailed, unless e-tagging is selected. A confirmation number may not be used in lieu of a tag or salmon/steelhead permit. Itemssent in the mail will arrive within

7-10 business days, so customers should be mindful when placing their order for mailed items.

The charge for phone-in purchases is three percent of the transaction plus $6.50; the charge for online purchases is three percent of the transaction plus $3.50.

Any license, tag or permit that is defaced or altered is invalid from the date and time of issue. It is unlawful to use or attempt to use any license that has been defaced or altered.

Refund Policy

No refunds will be made on resident licenses, tags or permits. No refunds will be made on fishing licenses.

Idaho Residency Requirements

Proof of residency is required to buy any resident license. A previous year’s license is not proof of residency.

1. Drivers must present: A valid Idaho driver’s license and must have been domiciled in the state of Idaho for the last six months immediately prior topurchasing a resident license, tag or permit. Owning real property or paying property taxes within the state of Idaho does not in itself establishresidency. You cannot claim resident privileges in any other state or country if you intend to claim residency and purchase resident licenses in the state of Idaho.
2. Non-drivers must present: An Idaho identification card issued by the Department of Transportation; or a combination of two documents bearing your name and address but not issued by yourself.

Examples include:

• Home utility bills for the previous six months.
• Rent receipts or mortgage statements for the previous six months.
• Notarized statement from an employer on business letterhead.
• Proof of voter registration dated six months prior.
• For a minor child under 18, identification from a parent.

3. Military members: A nonresident member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a foreign country, which includes state National Guard or Air National Guard, may obtain a resident license provided the service member presents a copy of assignment orders appropriate for the branch of service, such as “Request for Authorization for Permanent Change of Station-Military”that indicate the member is on active duty with permanent duty station in Idaho at the time of license application. The nonresident activeduty member’s spouse and dependent children less than 18 years of age may obtain a resident license, provided they present a copy of theservice member’s assignment orders and documentation they are a member of the active duty members household. Authorized documentation includes a marriage certificate, identification issued by the Idaho Department of Transportation indicating the same address as the active duty service member, or a current signed “Military Status and Residency Affidavit”. Members of the Armed Forceswho are not residents of Idaho, and who are stationed or domiciled in Idaho fewer than 30 days immediately preceding application are not eligiblefor a resident license or military furlough license and must purchase nonresident licenses and tags.

This is a summary of residency requirements, for additional details see Idaho Code 36-202(S) and 36-405; online at idfg. idaho.gov/ title36 andidfg.idaho.gov/idapa13 or contact your local Fish and game office. Persons who do not qualify as residents must purchase a nonresident license.

Resident Price Lock

Price Lock is a win-win for Idahoans and Idaho Fish and Game. We are keeping resident costs to fish, hunt and trap among the lowest
in the West, and each license purchased directly funds wildlife conservation, management, and enforcement. Once enrolled, residents will need tocontinue to purchase an annual license each year to continue receiving discounted pricing. Some exceptions apply with certain Resident licenseholders and life events. Learn more at idfg.idaho.gov/licenses/pricelock or contact your local Fish and Game office.

How To Enroll in Price Lock

• Residents who had a license in 2017 and kept purchasing one every year since or have purchased a three-year license are automatically enrolled in Price Lock.
• Residents who have not purchased a license each year since 2017 can enroll by purchasing a three-year license. Then, as long as they buy a licenseeach year, they'll keep receiving the discounted pricing.

Resident Disabled Licenses

Any resident certified as permanently disabled or eligible for federal supplemental income (SSI), social security disability income (SSDI), railroad retirement board disability, a nonservice-connected veteran’s pension, or a service-connected veteran’s disability benefit with 40 percent or more combined/overall disability rating, may qualify for a “disabled” license. An applicant must provide either a benefit verification letter from theSocial Security Administration in their name showing they are receiving SSI or SSDI benefits for the current year, or a letter from the Railroad Retirement board verifying disability status and being dated within 3 years preceding application for a license, or an official identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, or a letter of any date from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs verifying a service-connected disability rating of 40% or greater, or a current year’s letter from the Veteran Affairs office showing the applicant is receiving a nonservice-connected pension, or a form prescribed by the department that certifies permanent physical disability. A physically disabled person meansa person who has lost the use of one (1) or both lower extremities or both hands, or is unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, cane, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair, or is unable to walk 200 feet or more without great difficulty or discomfort due to one or more of the following impairments: neurological, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, arthritic disorder, blindness (a medically documented loss or impairment of vision and includes any person whose visual acuity with correcting lens does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye, or whose vision in the better eye is restricted to a field which subtends an angle of not greater than 20 degrees), orthe loss of function or absence of a limb.

An applicant may present a valid Idaho driver's license if the holder meets disability requirements or section 49-117(7)(b), Idaho Code, and license is marked as disabled.

Disabled licenses may be purchased at Fish and Game offices, selected license vendors (see website for list), and through the mail.

Resident Lifetime License Certificates

The purchase of a lifetime certificate could be the best investment you ever make. Lifetime certificates authorize all privileges associated with acorresponding annual license, are valid for the life of the certificate holder and are available to Idaho residents. The lifetime certificate does notinclude tags and permits. If a lifetime certificate holder moves out of Idaho, they will continue to receive an annual license, but will pay nonresidenttag and permit fees. Lifetime certificates can be purchased at IDFG offices only. Details on hunting and trapping lifetime certificates can be found at idfg. idaho.gov/licenses/lifetime.

Resident Fishing License, Tag and Permit Fees

Prices listed below are as of December 1, 2024. Prices may change without notice. Licenses, tags and permits are valid through December 31, except where noted. All tags, permits and applications require the purchase of a license.For a complete list of license, tags and permit fees available to purchase, please visit: idfg.idaho.gov/licenses.

For a complete list of license, tags and permit fees available to purchase, please visit: idfg.idaho.gov/licenses

Resident Notes:

¹ Customers who held a license in 2017 and have consistently purchased a license each year are currently in Price Lock. This includes 3-year license holders. Resident customers that are not currently in Price Lock, can opt- in by purchasing a 3-year license and then continue to purchase a license each year following the expiration date of their current license. Price lock is only available to Idaho residents.

² Price Lock on daily fishing is only available as long as the customer has a current year annual or a valid multiyear license. Otherwise customermust pay fees in column 1.

³ Resident children from 0-13 years of age, do NOT need to purchase a daily or annual fishing license. They can keep their own daily bag limit, can purchase a salmon/ steelhead permit to keep their own limit of salmon/ steelhead, and purchase a 2-pole permits.

⁴ If a 3-year resident hunting, fishing or combination license holder moves out of Idaho, the license will remain valid, but the holder will be required to purchase nonresident tags and permits.

⁵ Disability must be certified by a medical doctor on a Fish and Game form.

⁶ A license buyer is required to pay this annual fee when purchasing their first annual license of the year. It will not apply to any additional annuallicenses purchased later in the year, nor is it required to purchase a daily license. This fee helps improve hunting and fishing access and provides more resources to manage big game and depredation impacts.

Nonresident Fishing License, Tag and Permit Fees

Prices listed below are as of December 1, 2024. Prices may change without notice. Licenses, tags and permits are valid through December 31, except where noted. All tags, permits and applications require the purchase of a license.

For a complete list of license, tags and permit fees available to purchase, please visit: idfg.idaho.gov/licenses

Nonresident Notes:

¹ Nonresident children from 0-13 years of age, do NOT need to purchase a fishing license and must be accompanied by the holder of a valid Idaho fishing license, and their harvested catch must be included in the adult license holder’s limit OR, they may purchase a nonresident license and have their own limit.

² Disability must be certified by the U.S. Department of Defense or by Veterans Affairs on their official letterhead showing combined service-connected disability rating of 40% or more.

³ Anyone hunting with this license must be accompanied in the field by an adult license holder close enough to be within normal conversation or hearing range without shouting or the aid of electronic devices.

⁴ A license buyer is required to pay this annual fee when purchasing their first annual license of the year. It will not apply to any additional annual licenses purchased later in the year, nor is it required to purchase a daily license. This fee helps improve hunting and fishing access and provides more resources to manage big game and depredation impacts.