---
title: "Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Idaho"
description: "When it comes to access, few states can match the variety and magnitude of those offered by Idaho. The state boasts nearly 53 million acres of publicly-owne land, the fourth-largest amount in the United States. Public hunting opportunities for western big game species are excellent. And the fishing? Top notch with thousands of miles of high-quality trout streams, scores of trout-rich high country lakes and plenty of reservoirs with classic warm-water fisheries."
date: "2013-03-26"
modified: "2013-03-26"
authors:
  - name: "Tony Hansen"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/tony-hansen/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/open-country/2013/04/public-land-hunting-and-fishing-idaho/"
categories:
  - "Conservation"
  - "Fishing"
  - "Hunting"
  - "Public Lands & Waters"
---

# Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Idaho

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/5MILBOQPYYT775DTMN27YOZVDE.jpg>)

When it comes to access, few states can match the variety and magnitude of those [offered by Idaho](<https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/?getPage=250/>). The state boasts nearly 53 million acres of publicly-owne land, the fourth-largest amount in the United States. Public hunting opportunities for western big game species are excellent. And the fishing? Top notch with thousands of miles of high-quality trout streams, scores of trout-rich high country lakes and plenty of reservoirs with classic warm-water fisheries.

**[Craig Mountain WMA](<https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/wma/#craig/>)**

• Access by boat along the Snake River

• Excellent hunting opportunities for whitetails, mountain lions, mule deer, elk, bears

• Special controlled hunts for bighorn sheep

**[Boise National Forest](<https://www.fs.usda.gov/boise/>)**

• 2.6 million acres, located in central Idaho just north of Boise

• Reservoir fishing for warmwaters species; outstanding trout fishing on the Boise River

• Big game hunting for elk, mule deer, turkeys

**[Bitterroot National Forest](<https://www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot/>)**

• 1.6 million acres

• Houses the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, largest continuous wilderness area in the lower 48

• Excellent river and stream trout fishing; abundant big game hunting opportunities

**[Couer 'd Alene National Forest](<https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ipnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5084079/>)**

• 736,000 acres

• One of three national forests in the Idaho panhandle system

• Excellent whitetail hunting; trout fishing in streams and high country lakes

**[Access Yes!](<https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/accessyesguide.aspx/>)**

• Access Yes! is a program that opens private lands to public hunting and allows access via private lands to other public lands

• 303,564 private acres enrolledand 256,805

• Additional access to 256,805 public land acres

Find more public land access opportunities with the [Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunt Planner](<https://www.rmef.org/TheHunt/HuntPlanner.aspx/>).

Photo: Coeur d' Alene National Forest

Photo credit: [flickr](<https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacklharding/7871265950/>)

## Author
Tony Hansen is a contributing writer to Outdoor Life. A Michigan native, he lives in the southern Michigan community where he grew up chasing deer, turkeys, and football-sized smallmouths with the most meaningful catch of his life, his wife, Nichole.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/t.hansen_im2nd?utm_medium=copy_link>)