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As some of you know, Idaho passed a new law that requires nonresident shed hunters to purchase a Nonresident Big Game Hunting License. Idaho Code 36-508 states, “A nonresident collecting, possessing, or transporting antlers or horns shed from deer, elk, moose, or pronghorn in this state shall be required to first procure a license entitling the nonresident to hunt big game.” This law also states that nonresidents under the age of 12 do not have to purchase the nonresident license if they are accompanied by a nonresident that does have the nonresident license. This would also apply to nonresident children under 12 who are accompanied by a RESIDENT who is collecting sheds. Nothing has changed for residents.
This law is also tied to Idaho Code 36-507. Idaho Code 36-507 is the law that gives the Fish and Game Commission the authority to close certain geographical areas to shed hunting to help wintering game during years of harsh winters. This is something you will have to check on for the area you wish to shed hunt. This is also only applicable to public lands and “shall not apply to a person who is a private landowner or his designee on land leased or owned by that person.” This means that if you are on private land shed hunting, get written permission from the landowner to be there for the purposes of shed hunting. That will keep you out of hot water if contacted by a Game Warden.
Also new to Idaho in 2025 is the Bear Identification Test. Effective January 1, 2025, anyone who is hunting black bears in Idaho, must show proof of a passed Bear Identification Test. This test is not mandatory to receive a bear tag but if you are contacted by a Game Warden while bear hunting, you must show proof of the completed (passed) test. This change to Idaho Administrative Code (IDAPA Rule 13.01.02.221 [https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/13/130102.pdf]) was passed by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in November 2024. This rule is temporary for this year and will go through the review process by the Idaho State Legislature during the 2025 legislative session.
Attached below is a link to the Bear Identification landing page. On that page, there is a link to the test, instruction, and a link for a Bear Identification study guide. I took this test recently and there are some questions that are not so straightforward. The test has 15 multiple choice questions, and you need an 80% or higher to pass. That means you must get at least 12 out of the 15 questions right. Once you are finished and pass the test, you will get a certificate. You can save the certificate to the Documents portion of your Go Outdoors Idaho online account. This only works when you are in cell phone service, so I recommend saving the PDF to your phone and taking a screen shot of the certificate. This will make access easier if you need to produce proof in the field.
https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/bear-identification
