New Bill Proposes 30-Day Public Comment Period for Idaho Hunting Seasons

The legislation would require the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to solicit public feedback before setting hunting and fishing seasons.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:15am

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The Idaho Legislature has introduced a new bill that would mandate a 30-day public comment period before the Idaho Fish and Game Commission can set or amend hunting and fishing seasons in the state. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Dan Foreman, says the longer comment period would give sportsmen and hunting organizations more time to review and respond to the commission's proposals.

Why it matters

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission's big game season-setting process for deer and elk is a major event for many hunters in the state. This new legislation aims to make the season-setting more transparent and responsive to public input, which supporters say is currently lacking in the existing process.

The details

The new bill would require the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to offer a 30-day public comment period any time it adopts, repeals or amends notices of proposed proclamations on season-setting proposals. Current Idaho law only requires that notice of proposed proclamations be provided in the same manner as public, open meetings, without a specific minimum comment period.

  • The new bill was introduced in the Idaho Legislature on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
  • The bill will likely be read across the desk on the floor of the Idaho Senate on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

The players

Sen. Dan Foreman

The Republican state senator from Moscow, Idaho who is sponsoring the new legislation.

Idaho Fish and Game Commission

The state agency responsible for setting hunting and fishing seasons in Idaho.

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What they’re saying

“'Sportsmen and hunting organizations need a reasonable amount of time to absorb, analyze and respond to season setting proposals. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission big game season setting for deer and elk is sort of the main event for most Idaho hunters, and many of my constituents feel that the current season setting process could benefit from an increased public comment period.'”

— Sen. Dan Foreman, Bill Sponsor

What’s next

The new bill will be assigned a bill number and publicly posted to the Idaho Legislature's website after it has been read across the desk on the floor of the Idaho Senate, which will likely happen on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The bill will then return to the Senate Resources and Environment Committee for a full public hearing.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation aims to make the Idaho Fish and Game Commission's process for setting hunting and fishing seasons more transparent and responsive to public input from sportsmen, hunting organizations, and other stakeholders in the state.