McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area is 1,891 acres in Boundary and Bonner counties, in Idaho Fish and Game's Panhandle Region, inside game management unit 1, established in 1942. A shallow lake, marsh and forest at the narrowest point of the valley between the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for McArthur Lake WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 1,891 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Boundary and Bonner counties |
| Established | 1942 |
| IDFG region | Panhandle |
| Game management unit | 1 |
| Elk zone | Panhandle |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Waterfowl breeding, nesting, migration habitat; hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing |
| Habitat (IDFG) | Wetlands, riparian, conifer forest |
| Camping | IDFG lists no camping on the WMA |
What is McArthur Lake WMA?
A shallow lake, marsh and forest at the narrowest point of the valley between the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains. Bought in 1942, it is one of Idaho's oldest WMAs set aside for waterfowl, with 17 nesting species. Deer and moose live here year-round and elk come mostly in winter.
What can you hunt on McArthur Lake WMA?
Waterfowl until freeze-up, usually in November; white-tailed deer, black bear and moose are hunted often.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife watching and hiking.
How do you get onto McArthur Lake WMA, and when is it closed?
Open all year. Motorboats are allowed but the lake is shallow, so low power is best. Black and grizzly bears may be around.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units McArthur Lake WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 398 | 9% | 2,838 | 34% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for McArthur Lake WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on McArthur Lake WMA?
Waterfowl until freeze-up, usually in November; white-tailed deer, black bear and moose are hunted often. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Unit 1.
Can you camp on McArthur Lake WMA?
IDFG's page lists no camping on McArthur Lake WMA.
How do you get onto McArthur Lake WMA?
Open all year. Motorboats are allowed but the lake is shallow, so low power is best. Black and grizzly bears may be around.
Which hunting unit is McArthur Lake WMA in?
Unit 1, in the Panhandle elk zone.
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 1 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, McArthur Lake 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.