Idaho Names Hunting the Official State Sport

Hunting has officially been named Idaho’s state sport, thanks to the determination of a 9-year-old homeschooler from Twin Falls. On April 7, 2026, Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 652, formally recognizing hunting as the sport that best reflects Idaho’s heritage and outdoor culture.

The idea came from fourth-grader Betty Grandy, who not only proposed the concept but personally navigated the Idaho Legislature to see it through. After an encouraging meeting with Governor Little, Betty took her case to the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 4, where Senator Treg Bernt introduced her as the “star of the show.” She had to stand on boxes to reach the microphone, but delivered a confident message: Idaho has many state symbols, yet no state sport, and hunting has long shaped the state’s identity and remains vital today.

Backed in the House by Representative Don Hall, House Bill 652 passed the Legislature with unanimous support before landing on the Governor’s desk. The new law designating hunting as Idaho’s official state sport will take effect on July 1, 2026. It’s a powerful example of how youth advocacy, outdoor tradition, and state policy can intersect—and how even a fourth-grader’s passion for the outdoors can help shape Idaho law.

Attribution: This post is based on reporting by Seth Ratliff for KMVT / Local News 8 in the article “Hunting named Idaho’s state sport thanks to Twin Falls 4th grader”, published April 7, 2026.