rifles for backcountry - All
Broken Arrow Lodge—Alder, MT
Located out of Alder, Montana, the Broken Arrow lodge sponsors guided trips for bow hunting, elk hunting, rifle hunting, and mountain lion hunting, all located in the expansive Montana backcountry. Visitors pay for guided trips between 3 – 5 days (4 – 6 nights), and the Broken Arrow Lodge provides luxurious backcountry accommodations, including wall tents, wood stoves, carpeted floors, and full bathroom and shower amenities.
There are few backcountry “camping” experiences that will match the Broken Arrow’s attention to detail and expertise in the field. Trips are available throughout the year, and vary depending on weather conditions and hunting restrictions for the area. For hunters who also wield a fly rod, the Broken Arrow Lodge offers guided fly fishing trips as well.
Idaho Hunting Season 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide
Plan your 2025 Idaho hunting with our complete guide to big and small game seasons, including whitetail deer, elk, moose, turkey, ducks, wild boar, and coyote. Learn about hunting licenses, bow and rifle hunting rules, bag limits and Idaho state-specific regulations.
Idaho stands as one of the premier states for both big game and small game hunting in the U.S., thanks to its vast wilderness, diverse terrain, and well-managed wildlife populations. Whether you’re an archery enthusiast, a rifle hunter, or someone looking to explore the backcountry for elk, deer, or bear, Idaho offers countless opportunities. Here's your in-depth guide to the 2025 hunting seasons, regulations, and licensing requirements across the Gem State.
What is There to Hunt in Idaho?
Idaho is home to a wide variety of animals available for hunting. These include big game species like elk, moose, mule deer, whitetail deer, black bear, and mountain lion, as well as small game such as rabbits, ducks, turkey, coyote, and grouse. There are also opportunities for hunting wild boar in limited regions. The state is a year-round haven for outdoorsmen thanks to its game diversity and structured hunting seasons.
What Animals Can You Hunt Year-Round in Idaho?
Certain species in Idaho are classified as unprotected and can be hunted all year with no bag limits. These include coyote, jackrabbits, European starlings, flying squirrels, and other invasive or non-game species. However, even for these animals, some weapon and land access regulations may apply.
Idaho Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025
Deer Seasons (Whitetail & Mule Deer)
Archery: August 30 – September 30 (varies by unit)
General Rifle: October 10 – November 24 (unit dependent)
Muzzleloader: Late November – mid-December (selected units only)
Controlled Hunts: October–December (application required)
Idaho offers specific units and dates for both whitetail deer and mule deer hunting. Be sure to check the 2025 regulation booklet to match your unit and method of take.
Elk Seasons
Archery: August 30 – September 30
General Rifle: October 15 – November 8
Muzzleloader: November 10 – December 15 (in select zones)
Controlled Hunts: Dates vary by zone
Controlled hunts are extremely popular for elk in Idaho. Tags are limited and often require advance application.
Moose Seasons
Controlled Hunts Only: September 15 – November 23 (varies by zone)
Moose tags are allocated via a lottery-based controlled hunt system and are very limited in number. Only one moose may be harvested in a lifetime.
Black Bear Seasons
Spring Season: April 15 – June 30
Fall Season: August 30 – October 31
Bear hunting is permitted with bait and dogs in some regions, depending on unit regulations.
Idaho Small Game Hunting Seasons 2025
Turkey Seasons
Spring General Season: April 15 – May 25
Fall Season: August 30 – December 31 (unit-dependent)
Youth Hunt: April 8 – April 14
Ducks & Waterfowl Seasons
Regular Duck Season: October 5 – January 18 (North & South zones differ slightly)
Youth Waterfowl Day: September 28
Goose Season: October 5 – January 25
All migratory bird hunters must have a federal duck stamp and Idaho Migratory Bird Permit.
Upland Game Birds (Grouse, Partridge, Quail)
Season: September 15 – January 31
Coyote
Open Season: Year-round, no bag limit
Coyote hunting is a great option for hunters in the off-season or those seeking predator control opportunities.
Bag Limits
Every hunter should be aware of the legal bag limits for each species during the season. Here are the basic limits for Idaho (always verify specific rules for each hunting unit):
Whitetail & Mule Deer: 1 trophy buck per season under a general tag. Additional harvest may be possible through controlled hunts.
Elk: 1 bull or cow elk (depending on the tag type), with only one tag available per season.
Moose: 1 trophy moose per lifetime, only through controlled lottery hunts.
Black Bear: Up to 2 bears in certain units, if allowed under specific zone regulations.
Turkey: Up to 2 birds in the spring season (1 per day), with additional opportunities in the fall.
Ducks & Geese: Up to 7 ducks per day, including no more than:
2 canvasbacks
2 black ducks
2 hen mallards
1 scaup — only allowed for 15 days of the season
Coyote & Wild Boar: No bag limit — hunting is permitted year-round with unlimited harvest.
License & Tags Information for Idaho Hunters (2025)
To hunt in Idaho, both residents and non-residents must purchase a valid hunting license, and often species-specific tags.
License Types:
Resident Adult Hunting License: $38.75
Nonresident Adult Hunting License: $185.00
Junior, Senior, and Disabled Licenses available at discounted rates
Tag Fees (Big Game):
Elk Tag: Resident $36.75 | Nonresident $651.75
Deer Tag: Resident $23.00 | Nonresident $351.75
Bear Tag: Resident $13.75 | Nonresident $231.75
Moose Tag (Controlled): Resident $216.50 | Nonresident $2,626.50
Hunting with Bow, Rifle, or Muzzleloader in Idaho
Hunters in Idaho can choose from several legal weapon types including compound bows, recurve bows, rifles, muzzleloaders, and shotguns depending on the species and season. Always verify your unit-specific restrictions regarding weapon types and legal calibers.
Regulations & Resources
Hunters are responsible for understanding and following all Idaho Fish and Game regulations, which cover topics such as:
Legal shooting hours
Hunting zones and boundaries
Blaze orange requirements
Weapon restrictions
Private land access rules
It’s highly recommended to review the official 2025 Idaho Big Game Regulations booklet before your hunt.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website.
This guide was created based on information from the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG): https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/big-game
10 Classic Hunting Rifles Every Hunter Should Own (Part 1)
These classic hunting rifles bring a good dose of nostalgia, and plenty of real-world performance
1. Springfield Armory Model 1903 Sporter
Many, if not most, of our modern bolt-action hunting rifles have their roots in military rifles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After the World Wars, an abundance of surplus rifles was quickly taken advantage of by hunters. The 1903 Springfield was commonly “sporterized” by pulling the action and putting it in a shorter, more-handy “sporter” stock. Of course, they were often re-barreled, re-chambered, and highly-modified for specific hunting purposes—all based around the robust 1903 action.
It was common for gunsmiths to “sporterize” surplus rifles for customers, turning them into heirloom hunting rifles. If I was to buy one, I’d take the original .30/06 chambering, although they were often re-barreled in other calibers like .270 Win. The 1903’s action was built for battle, and its heavier and more robust than most of our hunting actions today. There’s no doubt though that it would make a fine hunting rifle even today.
2. Winchester Pre-64 Model 70
If there is a ubiquitous American hunting rifle that transcends time and space, it’s the pre-64 Winchester Model 70. After being introduced in 1937, the Model 70 became known as “the rifleman’s rifle,” and a favorite of long-time Outdoor Life editor Jack O’Connor.
The Model 70 was more refined than previous copies of Mauser-style controlled-feed actions and featured a three-position safety. A redesign of the Model 70 in 1964—including conversion to a push-feed action—almost instantly made the pre-64 Model 70’s collector’s items. Even today, pre-64 actions are popular for custom hunting rifle builds and original rifles are as collectible as ever.
Although O’Connor noted—in his introduction of the “new” Model 70 in the March, 1964 issue of OL—that the “new Model 70” featured a stronger action, better case head support, and several other features he viewed as improvements, he still believed that the Model 70’s produced prior to World War II “were probably the best factory-produced big-game rifles ever turned out.”
3. Savage Model 99
Somewhat odd-looking, this design from 1899 was one of the most popular American hunting rifles in the early 20th century—and still carries quite a following.
It was a lever-action that featured a unique rotary magazine that allowed for spitzer-style bullets to be used—something tube-fed lever guns couldn’t do. It was offered in a variety of cartridges, but if I had to pick one, I’d probably go with the .250/3000 Savage. It was a screaming-fast cartridge when it was released in 1915 and doesn’t lag too far behind the .25/06.
In just about any offering, the Model 99 would be a great deer or black bear rifle, and the aforementioned Frank Glaser noted that in .250/3000 Savage, it was his favorite all-around market hunting rifle.
