Coeur d'Alene River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Coeur d'Alene River Wildlife Management Area is 8,638 acres in Kootenai and Benewah counties, in Idaho Fish and Game's Panhandle Region, inside game management units 3, 4, 5 and 6, established in 1964. A string of wetland and small-lake parcels along the Coeur d'Alene River between Harrison and Cataldo, with more around the lake and along the St. Joe and St. Maries rivers.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Coeur d'Alene River WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 8,638 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Kootenai and Benewah counties |
| Established | 1964 |
| IDFG region | Panhandle |
| Game management units | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Elk zone | Panhandle |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Waterfowl production and habitat, hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing |
| Camping | IDFG lists no camping on the WMA |
What is Coeur d'Alene River WMA?
A string of wetland and small-lake parcels along the Coeur d'Alene River between Harrison and Cataldo, with more around the lake and along the St. Joe and St. Maries rivers. It was built to protect and grow waterfowl habitat, and tundra swans and thousands of other birds rest here in migration. The largest upland parcel, at Thompson Lake, is forest and pasture with food plots.
What can you hunt on Coeur d'Alene River WMA?
IDFG says waterfowl, upland bird and big game hunters all find opportunities on and next to the WMA.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing and trapping.
How do you get onto Coeur d'Alene River WMA, and when is it closed?
County roads border the parcels. Boat launches are at Anderson, Thompson and Rose lakes and on the river, and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes runs through the WMA.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Coeur d'Alene River WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 275 | 9% | 1,258 | 31% |
| 4 | 508 | 10% | 743 | 19% |
| 5 | 369 | 17% | 1,055 | 37% |
| 6 | 589 | 16% | 1,559 | 39% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Coeur d'Alene River WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Coeur d'Alene River WMA?
IDFG says waterfowl, upland bird and big game hunters all find opportunities on and next to the WMA. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Units 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Can you camp on Coeur d'Alene River WMA?
IDFG's page lists no camping on Coeur d'Alene River WMA.
How do you get onto Coeur d'Alene River WMA?
County roads border the parcels. Boat launches are at Anderson, Thompson and Rose lakes and on the river, and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes runs through the WMA.
Which hunting unit is Coeur d'Alene River WMA in?
Units 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Panhandle elk zone), measured from IDFG's unit boundaries.
Get your free Idaho plan
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.
Get your free Idaho plan for unit 3 See a real plan
Not ready to order yet? Leave your email and you get one email when paid Idaho plans open, if the free ones have gone by then.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, access, camping and uses: IDFG, Coeur d'Alene 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.