Idaho is one of nine states in the U.S. that allows black bear hunting using bear bait. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, here’s what you need to know before setting your bait and starting your hunt:
“Bait for hunting is any substance placed to attract game animals.”
IDFG Definition of Baiting
Bait may be used to hunt black bears but only under the following conditions:
- No parts of animals or fish that are currently classified as game animals or game fish in Idaho may be used as bait. This includes game animals and fish that come from the wild and commercial domestic sources (i.e., pen-raised game birds/animals or hatchery-raised game fish).
- The skin must be removed from any mammal parts or carcasses used as bait.
- No person shall use salt in any form (liquid or solid) for bait.
Timeframe for Baiting:
No bait or bait containers may be placed for the purpose of attracting or taking black bears before the opening of black bear take season, except in Units 10, 12, 16A, 17, 19, 20, 20A, 26, and 27, where bait may be placed up to 7 days before the take season.
- All bait containers and materials must be removed, and all excavations refilled, no later than 7 days after the close of spring, fall, or dog training season.
Locations for Bear Bait Placement:
No bait site may be located within 200 feet of any water (lake, pond, reservoir, or year-round free-flowing stream or spring).
In all regions except the Panhandle and Clearwater regions, no bait site may be located within 200 yards from any maintained trail or any established roadway that is open to the general public for motorized traffic and capable of being traveled by full-sized automobiles. In the Panhandle and Clearwater regions, no bait site may be located within 200 feet from any maintained trail or any established roadway that is open to the general public for motorized traffic and capable of being traveled by full-sized automobiles.
An established roadway is defined as any road that is established, built, maintained, approved or designated by any government entity or private landowner for the purpose of travel by full-sized automobiles. An established roadway shows evidence of repeated use by full-sized automobiles, and may include a traveled way of natural earth with depressed wheel tracks and little or no vegetation in the tracks.
- No bait site may be located within one-half mile of any designated campground or picnic area, administrative site, or dwelling.
Using Containers for Your Bait:
No bait may be contained within paper, plastic, glass, metal, wood, or other nonbiodegradable materials, except that a single metal container with a maximum size of 55 gallons may be used if securely attached at the bait site.
- No bait may be contained in any excavated hole greater than 4 feet in diameter.
Structures at Bait Sites:
Any structures constructed at bait sites and all materials must be removed by the permit holder within 7 days after the close of the spring and fall black bear seasons.
- All bait sites must be visibly marked at the nearest tree or on the bait container using a site tag issued by Fish and Game.
Obtaining a Mandatory Baiting Permit:
All persons placing bait must possess a baiting permit issued by Fish and Game. Baiting permits are issued by mail or in person at Fish and Game offices beginning March 1 of each year.
- Baiting permits will be valid in the calendar year for which they are issued.
- A hunter may possess only one Fish and Game baiting permit each year and may maintain up to three bait sites. The number of bait sites maintained by licensed outfitters may be specified by the land management agency in the outfitter’s operating plan.
- Bait site tags are valid for spring and fall seasons in the calendar year for which they are issued.
- No person may hunt over an unlawful bait site.
- Guides and clients of outfitters are not required to obtain a baiting permit, but they must have a copy of the outfitter’s permit in their possession while hunting over a bait site.
- Possession of a Fish and Game baiting permit does not exempt the permit holder from any restrictions placed on users of federal, state or private lands.
“Successful bear hunters are required to present both the skull and hide to a Fish and Game regional office, conservation officer or official checkpoint for removal of a premolar and have the pelt tagged within 10 days of the date of harvest.”
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Be Safe and Good Luck!