Special waterfowl season for youth, veterans runs Sept. 28-29
Youth pose with their mentors at the Hagerman WMA in November 2023. Idaho's special waterfowl hunting weekend for youth and veterans begins Sept. 28, offering a two-day season ahead of the regular opening.
Photo courtesy IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
Idaho's special waterfowl hunting weekend for youth and veterans begins Sept. 28, offering a two-day season ahead of the regular opening.
The weekend hunt allows licensed hunters 17 and younger to participate alongside veterans and active-duty military personnel. Youth hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 or older with a valid hunting license.
Veterans must carry proof of eligibility, such as military ID, DD214 form or state-issued identification with veteran designation. Eligible veterans must have served 90 days of continuous active duty and received an honorable discharge, or been discharged earlier due to a service-connected disability. Active-duty military may participate, but National Guard and Reserve members performing drills or training are not eligible.
All participants must obtain a Migratory Bird permit. Hunters 16 and older also need a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp, while those 15 and younger are exempt.
Daily limits for ducks, geese, snipe and coot match regular season regulations statewide. All other state and federal migratory game bird regulations remain in effect.
Hunting Passport program participants must hunt with an Idaho-licensed mentor 18 or older.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Migratory Game Bird webpage and 2024-25 seasons and rules booklet provide additional waterfowl hunting information.