Hunting and Fishing Access

Have you heard of Idaho Fish and Game’s fishing and boating access program?  It's focus is to create and maintain water-based public access for fishing, hunting, and trapping at over 300 locations statewide, including over 60 sites right here in southeast Idaho!

Staff from both agencies work together to prioritize trail work in popular hunting and fishing destinations, discussing their priorities for work projects and matching those up to areas that are in the highest demand for hunter and angler access. Funding from Fish and Game and other partner agencies makes the projects possible. 

Fish and Game is seeking to enroll new properties in its Access Yes! Program, which improves public access to private land or through private land by compensating willing landowners who provide access.

The Clark Fork River and the adjacent portion of Lake Pend Oreille have become increasingly popular with anglers and hunters in recent years.  A tremendous fishery exists for a diversity of species in both the river and the lake.  In addition, the area offers excellent waterfowl hunting opportunity and wildlife viewing.  In response to the increased user demand in the area, Fish and Game staff have completed several projects aimed at improving access.

Idaho hunters and anglers can expect to see a significant increase in public access to private land as early as this fall through Fish and Game’s Access Yes! program, thanks to a $900,000 federal grant recently awarded to the department.

Idaho Fish and Game recently finalized two land deals in the Clearwater Region, preserving access to a stretch of river frontage that is a popular destination for salmon and steelhead anglers, and adding additional access to the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

Fish and Game managers recently announced the opening of the new Hammett access site, directly south of the community of Hammett. Funding for this new construction was made possible by “Price Lock” legislation that included provisions to dedicate funds to develop more hunting and fishing access sites across Idaho.