Successful hunting must be persistent and well organized. Random or recreational shooting is not intense enough to control porcupines. Porcupines are edible and, many claim, delicious. To hunt porcupine in Idaho you need a valid hunting license. Coyotes, weasels, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, and fishers are chief predators, with the fisher being the most important.
Predation is an inconsistent control because of many fluctuating natural factors.
Manipulating porcupine habitat. Eliminating winter dens located in rock cervices, hollows under logs or live trees, or in spaces under buildings can reduce porcupine populations. Silvicultural treatments vary as to the effectiveness of limiting porcupine populations, as porcupines are widely adaptable. Do not forget to consider doing nothing. Many land owners enjoy having a unique creature like the porcupine around.