Idaho's 2026 legislative session adjourned sine die on April 2. Budget constraints colored most decisions. Gov. Brad Little’s “Enduring Idaho” budget plan held agency expenditures tight, and the legislature enacted broad cuts to state services. For sportsmen and wildlife, the session produced several notable outcomes, including an historic designation for hunting, a significant restructuring of the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) governance, clarification of hunting technology restrictions with predator carve-outs and the defeat of several sportsmen-backed bills. Some key bills we tracked are below. 

  Passed/Signed into Law 

• HB 652 — Hunting as Idaho's State Sport. Signed into law on March 19. Idaho is the first state in the nation to designate hunting as its official state sport – a clear, symbolic affirmation of hunting's cultural and economic importance to the state. 

• HB 939 — Hunting and Advanced Technology. Signed April 2. Establishes restrictions on thermal/night vision optics, transmitting trail cameras and drones for big game hunting from August 30 through December 31, consistent with IDFG’s own Hunting and Advanced Technology working group recommendations. The bill also creates exemptions for pursuing wolves, mountain lions and other predators; livestock protection; trap monitoring; and retrieving wounded game.  

• HB 678 — Wolf Trap Check Requirements. Signed March 31. Establishes requirements for the frequency of checking wolf traps while also allowing trappers to inspect their traps remotely with the use of transmitting cameras.  

• H 737 — Agency Consolidation: Species Conservation and Energy & Mineral Resources. Signed March 19 (Ch. 66, effective July 1). Merges the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Part of the legislature's broader agency streamlining push to reduce redundancy. It remains to be seen if this affects the state's capacity to manage wolf conflict and species recovery programs. 

• SB 1300 — Fish & Game Director Appointment. Passed and sent to the secretary of state. Shifts appointments of the IDFG director, as well as directors of Idaho Parks & Recreation and the Transportation Department, from independent boards to governor-appointed and Senate-confirmed positions. We have seen in Colorado, Washington and other states what happens when wildlife commission appointments become politically driven.  

• HB 855 — Lifetime License Residency Requirement. Passed. Increases the residency requirement for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses from 6 months to 5 years.  

• SCR 124 — Wildlife Crossings. The Senate concurrent resolution stating legislative support for wildlife crossings passed and was delivered to the secretary of state. The House companion (HCR 26) was returned to committee. Non-binding, but meaningful, wildlife crossings are among the most cost-effective tools for reducing vehicle collisions and maintaining habitat connectivity for elk, mule deer and other species. 

• SJM 111 / HJM 9 — Public Lands Retention and FLPMA. Both resolutions to Congress passed. SJM 111 urges retention of public lands in federal ownership and passed on a voice vote; HJM 9 requests federal adherence to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Non-binding but demonstrates Idaho's continued engagement on federal land management that has direct implications for elk habitat and access. 

  Failed or Did Not Advance 

• HB 630 — Aerial Shooting of Coyotes, Wolves and Red Foxes. Failed. Would have authorized shooting wolves, coyotes and red foxes from aircraft. Passed the Senate committee but was returned from the full Senate and failed. Predator management is a legitimate tool, but aerial lethality programs raise fair-chase and public perception concerns that can harm hunting broadly. 

• SB 1348 — Shotgun Sporting Complex at Farragut State Park. Did not advance. Would have established provisions for opening a shotgun sporting complex within Farragut State Park and provide an opportunity to grow shooting sports participation in northern Idaho. We expect this issue to return. 

• HB 677 — Blind Location Restrictions Near Water Sources. Died in committee. Would have prohibited constructing a blind, pit, platform or tree stand within 300 feet of a water trough or stock pond on public land. While this bill attempted to alleviate livestock conflict concerns, broad restrictions on public land limits hunter access and opportunity. 

• HB 653 — Wildlife Relocation Notice Requirements. Died in committee. Would have required IDFG to provide advance notice and an objection opportunity before planned wildlife relocations, with an exemption for emergency responsive movement. A transparency measure that the Idaho Farm Bureau supported. We expect it to be reintroduced. 

• SJR 103 / HJR 8 / HJR 10 — Constitutional Amendments on State Land Management. All three did not advance. These competing proposals would have amended the Idaho Constitution to establish provisions for managing lands granted or acquired from the federal government. The broader public lands ownership debate remains active and will return. 

About Hunt 2 Conserve 

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.