An Idaho fishing license costs $30.50 a year for resident adults and $108.00 a year for non-resident adults. Shorter-term, youth, senior, veteran, and combination options stretch the real price range from $5.75 up past $300, depending on who you are and what you plan to catch. Every annual license runs on the calendar year, so one bought in June still expires December 31.
Resident Prices
Idaho residents have several standard options.1Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Costs – Residents
- Adult annual: $30.50
- Adult three-year: $88.00
- Daily: $13.50 for the first day, plus $6.00 for each consecutive day added at purchase
- Junior (ages 14–17) annual: $16.00
- Junior three-year: $44.50
- Military furlough: $20.50
A three-day resident trip on daily licenses runs $25.50, still under the annual price. The resident adult combination hunting and fishing license is $38.75, and the three-year combination is $112.75.
To qualify for resident pricing, you must have lived in Idaho for at least six continuous months immediately before buying.2eRegulations. Idaho Fishing – Licenses, Tags and Permits
Non-Resident Prices
Non-residents pay roughly three to four times the resident rate.3Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Costs – Nonresidents
- Adult annual: $108.00
- Adult three-year: $320.50
- Daily: $22.75 for the first day, plus $7.00 for each consecutive day added at purchase
- Junior (ages 14–17) annual: $23.75
- Combination hunting and fishing: $264.00
For a short visit, the daily license usually wins. A week of fishing works out to $22.75 for day one plus $42.00 for six more days, or $64.75 total, well under the annual $108.00.
The Conservation Stamp You Also Pay
Every annual license requires a Conservation Stamp on top of the license price. It is not optional. Resident adults pay $5.00, resident juniors, seniors, disabled veterans, and military furlough holders pay $2.00, non-resident adults pay $10.00, and non-resident juniors pay $4.00.2eRegulations. Idaho Fishing – Licenses, Tags and Permits
Extra Permits That Stack on Top
Your basic license covers most species, but a few situations call for an added permit.1Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Costs – Residents
- Salmon or steelhead permit: $15.25 resident, $28.25 non-resident. Required before keeping any salmon or steelhead.
- Two-pole permit: $15.00 resident, $17.00 non-resident. Lets you run two rods instead of one.
These add up fast. A resident fishing for steelhead with two poles pays $30.50 (license) + $5.00 (stamp) + $15.25 (steelhead permit) + $15.00 (two-pole permit) = $65.75 before any processing fees.
Discounts for Seniors, Veterans, and Disabled Anglers
Several groups qualify for reduced fees, and all of them require at least six months of Idaho residency.1Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Costs – Residents
- Seniors 65 and older: $13.75 per year for a combination hunting and fishing license, or $37.75 for three years. Idaho does not offer a separate discounted senior fishing-only license, so the combination is the best deal for older anglers.
- Disabled American Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 40% or higher: $5.75 for a fishing license or a combination license. The three-year version is $13.75.
- Residents with qualifying disabilities: $5.75 for a fishing license, the same as the veteran rate.
- Active-duty military members with Idaho as their official state of residence: $20.50 for a military furlough license, available while on leave. You will need to show a Leave and Earnings Statement listing Idaho as your home of record.
Non-resident disabled veterans pay $31.75 for a special license that bundles in a three-day fishing license.4My Air Force Benefits. Idaho Military and Veteran Benefits
Price Lock: Lower Rates for Long-Time Buyers
Idaho’s Price Lock program freezes license fees at 2017 rates for residents who have bought a license every consecutive year since 2017. A Price Lock annual fishing license is $25.75 instead of $30.50, a three-year is $73.75 instead of $88.00, and the daily drops to $11.50 for the first day.1Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Costs – Residents
Two deadlines matter. After March 5, 2025, Idaho Fish and Game stopped letting new customers enter Price Lock through three-year or lifetime purchases. The program itself is set to expire in 2027.5Idaho Fish and Game. After March 5, 3-Year Licenses Will Be Ineligible for Price Lock If you already have Price Lock status, you keep it as long as you buy annually without a gap. Miss one year and you lose the discount for good.
Who Needs a License
Anyone 14 or older needs a valid fishing license to fish in Idaho. Idaho resident children under 14 can fish without one and keep their own daily bag limit. Non-resident children under 14 can also fish without a license, but anything they catch counts against the accompanying adult’s limit unless the child buys their own non-resident license.2eRegulations. Idaho Fishing – Licenses, Tags and Permits
Where to Buy
You have three ways to pay.6Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Buying Options
- Online at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, any time.
- In person at a regional Idaho Fish and Game office or an authorized license vendor.
- By phone at 1-800-554-8685, credit card only.
Online and phone purchases add a processing fee to the posted price.3Idaho Fish and Game. License, Tag, and Permit Costs – Nonresidents Bring your Idaho driver’s license or state ID if you are buying as a resident, and bring supporting paperwork, such as a VA rating letter or LES, if you are claiming a veteran, military, or disability rate. Your license is valid as soon as you pay.