Boise River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Boise River Wildlife Management Area is 41,500 acres in Ada, Boise, and Elmore counties, in Idaho Fish and Game's Southwest Region, inside game management unit 39, established in 1943. Foothills along Lucky Peak and Arrowrock reservoirs above Boise, assembled since IDFG's first purchase near the mouth of Mores Creek in 1943.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Boise River WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 41,500 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Ada, Boise, and Elmore counties |
| Established | 1943 |
| IDFG region | Southwest |
| Game management unit | 39 |
| Elk zone | Boise River |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Provide winter habitat for mule deer and elk, and year-round habitat for other wildlife species |
| Habitat (IDFG) | Shrub steppe, riparian |
| Camping | IDFG lists no camping on the WMA |
What is Boise River WMA?
Foothills along Lucky Peak and Arrowrock reservoirs above Boise, assembled since IDFG's first purchase near the mouth of Mores Creek in 1943. It is the main winter range for deer and elk in Unit 39: IDFG estimates 5,000 to 8,000 mule deer and about 1,800 elk winter here, the largest wintering mule deer herd in Idaho. The newest piece, the Cornell Segment near Mayfield, added 5,533 acres in 2024.
What can you hunt on Boise River WMA?
Big game and upland bird hunting are the main uses; the WMA is in Unit 39, so the unit's seasons apply. There is a free 20-target 3-D archery range on the WMA.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, wildlife watching, trapping, hiking and biking.
How do you get onto Boise River WMA, and when is it closed?
Vehicles only on designated routes from designated entry points: about 10 miles of road on the Boise Front segment from May 1 to November 15, and about 7 miles on the Charcoal segment from September 1 to December 31. No motorized access on the Cornell Segment except county roads, and part of it north of Mayfield Road is closed to people February 1 to April 14. Dogs must be leashed November 16 to April 30, except hunting dogs working in an open season.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Boise River WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 537 | 13% | 2,145 | 20% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Boise River WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Boise River WMA?
Big game and upland bird hunting are the main uses; the WMA is in Unit 39, so the unit's seasons apply. There is a free 20-target 3-D archery range on the WMA. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Unit 39.
Can you camp on Boise River WMA?
IDFG's page lists no camping on Boise River WMA.
How do you get onto Boise River WMA?
Vehicles only on designated routes from designated entry points: about 10 miles of road on the Boise Front segment from May 1 to November 15, and about 7 miles on the Charcoal segment from September 1 to December 31. No motorized access on the Cornell Segment except county roads, and part of it north of Mayfield Road is closed to people February 1 to April 14. Dogs must be leashed November 16 to April 30, except hunting dogs working in an open season.
Which hunting unit is Boise River WMA in?
Unit 39, in the Boise River elk zone.
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FilledTag plans Idaho's general elk and deer seasons: a specific, legal place to park, camp and sit for your tag and your dates, with the walks between them, checked against land records. The first 50 Idaho plans are free, one per hunter, for hunters who hold or will hold an Idaho general elk or deer tag. Every Idaho plan is looked over by a person before it is sent.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, access, camping and uses: IDFG, Boise River WMA, written up by FilledTag in its own words.
- Outline: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), land managed by Idaho Fish and Game. Units: IDFG's unit boundaries.
- Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics.
FilledTag is not part of Idaho Fish and Game. WMA rules change: check IDFG's page and its posted rules before you go.