Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area is 11,468 acres in Jefferson County, in Idaho Fish and Game's Upper Snake Region, inside game management unit 63. Marsh, meadow and sagebrush around Mud Lake, a 4,500-acre lake only about 5 feet deep.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Mud Lake WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 11,468 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| IDFG region | Upper Snake |
| Game management unit | 63 |
| Elk zone | Snake River |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Habitat for waterfowl and waterbird production and migration. Opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, recreation, wildlife viewing, and photography. |
| Habitat (IDFG) | Seasonal flooded wet meadows, shallow wetlands, permanent wetlands, and sagebrush steppe |
| Camping | Only at the two boat-ramp camping areas, each with restrooms, a shelter and fire rings; 10-day limit. |
What is Mud Lake WMA?
Marsh, meadow and sagebrush around Mud Lake, a 4,500-acre lake only about 5 feet deep. It was set up to protect waterfowl nesting habitat where Camas Creek once spread out and sank into the aquifer, and 28 waterfowl and 49 waterbird species now use it. Mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, elk and pronghorn use all of it year-round.
What can you hunt on Mud Lake WMA?
Hunting season starts with an early elk hunt in August, then deer, upland birds and waterfowl. Waterfowl is the main draw, with boat access on the north and south sides; pheasants are stocked weekly. The WMA is in Unit 63 and is short-range weapons only. Two wildlife security and viewing areas are closed to hunting.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife watching, boating, camping, hiking and horseback riding.
How do you get onto Mud Lake WMA, and when is it closed?
Vehicles on open roads only (about 28 miles kept usable). The western nesting area is closed to all boats April 1 to July 15. Dogs must be leashed all year unless actively hunting.
Can you camp on Mud Lake WMA?
Only at the two boat-ramp camping areas, each with restrooms, a shelter and fire rings; 10-day limit.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Mud Lake WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 1 | 6% | 53 | 17% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Mud Lake WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Mud Lake WMA?
Hunting season starts with an early elk hunt in August, then deer, upland birds and waterfowl. Waterfowl is the main draw, with boat access on the north and south sides; pheasants are stocked weekly. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Unit 63.
Can you camp on Mud Lake WMA?
Only at the two boat-ramp camping areas, each with restrooms, a shelter and fire rings; 10-day limit.
How do you get onto Mud Lake WMA?
Vehicles on open roads only (about 28 miles kept usable). The western nesting area is closed to all boats April 1 to July 15. Dogs must be leashed all year unless actively hunting.
Which hunting unit is Mud Lake WMA in?
Unit 63, in the Snake River 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 63 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, Mud 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.