Idaho Big Game Damage Prevention and Compensation Program

Idaho Fish and Game helps farmers and ranchers prevent big game damage by providing fencing, gates and panels, hazing help, depredation hunts, and crop agreements that pay landowners to let wildlife use their crops. When prevention fails, eligible landowners can be compensated for crops and rangeland forage damaged by deer, elk, pronghorn or moose, livestock killed by black bears, mountain lions or delisted grizzlies, bee/berry losses, and damaged seedbeds or irrigation equipment.

• Notify Fish and Game within 72 hours of discovering damage; written notice within 20 days

• Have allowed reasonable access for hunters

• Loss of at least $750

• Must take reasonable steps to prevent damage first

• Compensation cannot be in addition to commodity insurance for the same loss

Disputed amounts go to a 3-member arbitration panel. Payments may be prorated if the depredation account is short.

Published amounts: Compensated for the amount of damages minus a deductible ($750 for crops and $750 for livestock), waived for repeat similar claims in the same location; up to half paid within 45 days of approval, remainder after June 30 if funds are available. Must have suffered loss of at least $750.

Contact your local Fish and Game regional office and ask for the Landowner/Sportsman Coordinator or local Conservation Officer; the coordinator provides the claim form. A W-9 is required.

Deadline text on the page: Notify Fish and Game within 72 hours of discovering damage is occurring; provide written notification within 20 days; claim filed in the fiscal year (July 1–June 30) the damage occurs, with a 60-day allowance after year-end.