Payette River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Payette River Wildlife Management Area is 1,066 acres in Payette, Gem and Washington counties, in Idaho Fish and Game's Southwest Region, inside game management units 38 and 32, established in 1960. Scattered parcels on the Payette and Snake rivers in three segments: the Birding Islands east of Payette, the Emmett segment west of Emmett, and 21-acre Little Banks Island in the Snake.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Payette River WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 1,066 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Payette, Gem and Washington counties |
| Established | 1960 |
| IDFG region | Southwest |
| Game management units | 38, 32 |
| Elk zones | Boise River, Weiser River |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Waterfowl and upland bird production |
| Camping | IDFG lists no camping on the WMA |
What is Payette River WMA?
Scattered parcels on the Payette and Snake rivers in three segments: the Birding Islands east of Payette, the Emmett segment west of Emmett, and 21-acre Little Banks Island in the Snake. It holds some of the best riverside habitat left on the lower 30 miles of the Payette, with nesting cover planted for waterfowl and pheasants.
What can you hunt on Payette River WMA?
Pheasants (wild birds plus game-farm releases), competitive first-come waterfowl hunting, and some deer hunting under a short-range weapons rule. Turkeys in spring, controlled turkey hunts in fall, and doves.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife watching, hiking and horseback riding.
How do you get onto Payette River WMA, and when is it closed?
Closed to vehicles: park and walk. Small boats must be carried to the ponds. River islands can be reached by motorboat but not driven on; Little Banks Island is boat-only. Nesting sections close February 1 to July 31.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Payette River WMA lies in, for 2025:
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Payette River WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Payette River WMA?
Pheasants (wild birds plus game-farm releases), competitive first-come waterfowl hunting, and some deer hunting under a short-range weapons rule. Turkeys in spring, controlled turkey hunts in fall, and doves. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Units 38 and 32.
Can you camp on Payette River WMA?
IDFG's page lists no camping on Payette River WMA.
How do you get onto Payette River WMA?
Closed to vehicles: park and walk. Small boats must be carried to the ponds. River islands can be reached by motorboat but not driven on; Little Banks Island is boat-only. Nesting sections close February 1 to July 31.
Which hunting unit is Payette River WMA in?
Units 38 and 32 (Boise River elk zone, Weiser River elk zone), measured from IDFG's unit boundaries.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, access, camping and uses: IDFG, Payette 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.
All Idaho WMAs Unit 38 Unit 32 Boise River Zone Weiser River Zone