Hagerman Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Hagerman Wildlife Management Area is 882 acres in Gooding County, in Idaho Fish and Game's Magic Valley Region, inside game management unit 53, established in 1940. Ponds, wetlands and cottonwood bottoms, home of the Hagerman Fish Hatchery and among the first WMAs established in Idaho (1940).
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Hagerman WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 882 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Gooding County |
| Established | 1940 |
| IDFG region | Magic Valley |
| Game management unit | 53 |
| Elk zone | Big Desert |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Waterfowl winter habitat; wildlife and fish populations and habitat; recreational use |
| Habitat (IDFG) | Open-water ponds, wetlands, cottonwood-willow riparian, sagebrush steppe |
| Camping | IDFG lists no camping on the WMA |
What is Hagerman WMA?
Ponds, wetlands and cottonwood bottoms, home of the Hagerman Fish Hatchery and among the first WMAs established in Idaho (1940). More than 40,000 ducks and geese winter on its waters, and pheasants, quail and resident mule deer use the uplands.
What can you hunt on Hagerman WMA?
Big game and upland bird hunting are allowed. Youth waterfowl hunts are often held in November.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, hiking and trapping.
How do you get onto Hagerman WMA, and when is it closed?
Open all year: park and walk the trails and closed roads. All ponds are closed to fishing November 1 through February for wintering waterfowl, and some sections close in spring for nesting.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Hagerman WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 34 | 11% | 115 | 27% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Hagerman WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Hagerman WMA?
Big game and upland bird hunting are allowed. Youth waterfowl hunts are often held in November. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Unit 53.
Can you camp on Hagerman WMA?
IDFG's page lists no camping on Hagerman WMA.
How do you get onto Hagerman WMA?
Open all year: park and walk the trails and closed roads. All ponds are closed to fishing November 1 through February for wintering waterfowl, and some sections close in spring for nesting.
Which hunting unit is Hagerman WMA in?
Unit 53, in the Big Desert elk zone.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, access, camping and uses: IDFG, Hagerman 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.