Bowhunting Education Classes

• To purchase a hunting license, all hunters must show proof

that they have completed a hunter education course if

they were born on or after January 1, 1975, unless they

previously held a hunting license from another state.

• To purchase an archery permit, all bowhunters must

show proof they have completed an approved bowhunter

education course or show evidence of being previously

licensed for an archery-only hunt in Idaho or another state,

or complete an affi davit to that effect.

These options are available for hunters to complete the hunter

education requirement.

• The Hunter Education Course includes 15-17 class hours

plus a 2-4 hour range and live-fi re exercise. The curriculum

includes training in fi rearms safety, basic archery safety,

hunting ethics, wildlife management, conservation, survival,

regulations and a fi nal written exam.

• The Bowhunter Education Course averages 12 class

hours plus a fi eld exercise. Subjects include bowhunting

equipment, techniques, safety, shot placement, ethics,

treestand safety, outdoor preparedness and the state fi nal

exam.

• Independent study courses include a Workbook Option and

an Internet based course for hunter education and internetbased

course for bowhunter education as alternatives to

the traditional classroom courses for students 10 years

or older. There is a small additional cost for the Internet

courses that is paid directly to the course provider.

All independent study courses require the successful

completion of an additional 6-7 hour scheduled fi eld day.

Course and registration information can be found on the

Hunter Education Program page of the IDFG website at

obtained from a regional Fish and Game offi ce (see page 3).

It is highly recommended that individuals planning to participate

in fall hunts register for a course early in the year and prior to

June 30. Hunter education and bowhunter education classes

are taught by volunteer instructors who, like other hunters, want

to be afi eld early in the hunting season. The number of classes

and independent study course fi eld days available becomes

very limited due to a decrease in instructor availability close to

the hunting season.

Individuals with disabilities desiring to attend hunter or

bowhunter education classes may request reasonable

accommodations or obtain additional information by

contacting the IDFG State Hunter Education Coordinator’s

offi ce, 600 S. Walnut St. Boise, ID 83707, phone 208-334-3746,

or toll free at 1-866-285-1544 or through the Idaho Relay

and tags can be purchased at IDFG offi ces and license vendors

throughout the state, or by telephone and internet. However,

there are several items that can be purchased only at IDFG

offi ces: Commercial licenses, duplicate tags, documents that

require proof of disability, lifetime licenses, and bear baiting

permits.

be purchased with a credit card by calling 1-800-554-8685,

1-800-824-3729, or on the Fish and Game website:

transaction. Residents must have an Idaho driver’s license or

Idaho identifi cation card to verify residency. When purchasing

licenses by telephone, the buyer, on request, will be assigned

a validation number which may be used in lieu of the actual

license for 14 days from the date of issue. When this number

is used in lieu of the actual license, the person must carry their

driver’s license or identifi cation card with them. A validation

number may not be used in lieu of a tag. Purchasers must wait

until tags or permits arrive.

Any license, tag, or permit that is defaced, altered, or

tampered with shall be invalid from the date and time of issue.

It is unlawful to use or attempt to use any license that has been

defaced, tampered with, or altered.

the outfi tter should purchase your tags through the “outfi tter

set-aside” pool of tags. No outfi tter should suggest that you

purchase your own tags from the general nonresident pool of

tags.

licenses, tags, or permits. Nonresidents: in the event of illness

or injury which disables a nonresident licensee for the entire

applicable hunting season; military deployment due to armed

confl ict; or death of the license holder or his or her parent,

spouse or child; the hunting license and tags may be refunded

less issuance fees and a $50 processing fee. Tags and license

must be returned with proof (death certifi cate, obituary, written

justifi cation by a licensed medical doctor, or copy of military

orders). Hunting license fees will not be refunded after the

license is used to apply for a controlled hunt or purchase

a turkey, mountain lion, or bear tag. The request must be

postmarked by December 31 of the year in which the license

was valid,