Two large wildfires have burned through some of Southwest Idaho's most popular hunting units this summer, and with some early seasons opening Saturday, Aug. 15, hunters have questions. Here's what the Big Grass and Tartar fires currently mean for hunting seasons, access, and wildlife in the region, how IDFG is responding, and how you can help.

If you're a hunter simply looking for the Cliff's Notes, here they are: No hunting seasons have changed to date. Fires rarely close entire hunting units, and fire restrictions rarely last through a whole season. But access closures are in effect for both the Big Grass Fire and Tartar Fire as of Aug. 14, conditions on the ground are rough, and the situation is still fluid. If there's one tip we can provide before seasons kick off, it's that hunters should check official sources for access closures and current fire information before every trip, especially in early-season hunts.

Big Grass Fire (Owyhee County)

The Big Grass Fire has burned more than a half-million acres in Owyhee County and eastern Oregon. The fire remains active.

Closure status: BLM's Owyhee Field Office has temporarily closed the area south of Trout Creek and Silver City roads, from the Oregon border east to Highways 78 and 51. BLM currently anticipates the closure will remain in effect through Aug. 20, but that can change. Check the BLM Idaho closures page and the Big Grass Fire InciWeb page for current status.

What it affects: Portions of Game Management Units 40, 41, and 42 fall within the closure area and the fire perimeter. Hunts opening while the closure and fire activity continue include archery pronghorn in Hunt Area 40-1 and archery deer controlled hunts in hunt areas 40 and 41-1 (Units 41 and 42), all opening Aug. 15. Shortly after, general archery deer seasons open on Aug. 30 and sage-grouse season opens Sept. 15. Until the BLM closure is lifted, some huntable country in these units lies outside the current fire perimeter and closure area.

Tartar Fire (Washington County)

The Tartar Fire started by lightning in late July and burned roughly 158,000 acres north of Weiser, in the Mann Creek, Hitt and Sturgill mountain, and Brownlee country.

Closure status: A temporary closure covering all BLM-managed lands, roads and trails remains in place for the Tartar Fire and is expected to remain in effect through Aug. 24, depending on conditions. In addition, there is a U.S. Forest Service fire area closure on a portion of Payette National Forest land that hunters need to be aware of. Check the BLM Idaho closures page , Payette National Forest alerts page , and Tartar Fire InciWeb page before you go.

What it affects: The fire burned in Game Management Unit 31 and the Brownlee Elk Zone. The antlerless elk season on and within 1 mile of agricultural lands in Unit 31 opens Aug. 15, with archery deer and Brownlee A archery elk opening Aug. 30 and additional hunts running into late fall.

A word about landowners: Much of the hunting in this country happens on or next to private ground, and many of the landowners who make that possible spent the last several weeks fighting fire, moving livestock, and losing fence and feed. Ask permission every time. Ask what has changed on their place and offer to help where you can. Close gates, watch for damaged fence and downed lines, and be patient. Courtesy right now goes a long way.

Your tag and your options

Under rules that took effect this year, the deadline to exchange general season deer and elk tags was July 31, and no exchanges are processed after that date. Refunds for deer, elk, and pronghorn tags are limited to specific circumstances such as death, serious illness or injury, pregnancy or military deployment. Fire impacts to a hunt area are not a qualifying reason. Rainchecks are now only possible due to military deployment.

Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat tag holders have a separate refund provision for widespread environmental impacts; contact IDFG with questions about a specific tag.

What you can do: many hunting seasons in these units run weeks past the anticipated dates for area closures, and conditions in late September and October will look very different than they do today. Know your hunt area's boundaries, check closure status before every trip, and plan around the country that is open.

What fire means for wildlife

Wildfires often burn through valuable wildlife habitat in Idaho's canyons, deserts, foothills, and mountains, and what happens next is often a question on people's minds, especially in relation to big game animals that hunters and other Idahoans cherish. The answer is often "it depends" because fires and their effects can be different depending on many factors.

For more information about overall fire effects on wildlife, check out this article from 2025.

What Fish and Game is doing

Fish and Game's focus will be on recovery and habitat rehabilitation. Biologists are monitoring fires' effects on wildlife and are already engaged with federal and state land management agencies and private property owners regarding post-fire rehabilitation planning.

How you can help

Volunteer for recovery work. Fish and Game will announce specific volunteer projects as post-fire rehabilitation planning takes shape. Sign up now and we will follow up as projects come together.

Respect closures and private land. Suppression and recovery work are still underway on both fires.

Get your information from official sources. Fire status, closures, and evacuations come from the incident teams and land management agencies, not rumor: