Press Releases and Articles
Kokanee are making a comeback in Payette Lake
| idfg-jmessner
By Gavin Aguilar – Fisheries TechnicianPayette Lake in McCall is a deep, cold natural lake that has supported a kokanee fishery for well over a century. In fact, kokanee and their anadromous cousins, sockeye salmon, are native to Payette Lake, and historical documents suggest that commercial fisheries on Payette Lake… more
Fish and Game sponsors a mentored youth waterfowl hunt in Hagerman
| idfg-tthompson
Each year, as bird seasons open, Idaho Fish and Game staff from the Magic Valley Region organize three mentored hunts for a small number of recent graduates of in-person hunter education classes. These hunts provide opportunities for youth to experience a day in the field hunting upland birds or waterfowl. In 2022, the… more
Bald eagle illegally shot in Bear Lake County
| idfg-jjackson
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding the illegal shooting of a bald eagle in the community of Bern in Bear Lake County.
On Nov. 6, Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White with Idaho Fish and Game received a report of a dead bald eagle in the middle of a field in the small… more
Craig Mountain WMA Mountain Lion hunting route access program-discontinued
| idfg-zswearingen
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be discontinuing the trial lion hunting route access program on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The routes were opened during the 2021-2022 season with the goal of increasing harvest of mountain lions on the WMA. No mountain lions were harvested under the access… more
A Fisheries Biologist Reflects
| idfg-tcopeland
At times it is good to look back and see what is in the water behind you. In this podcast, Scott Putnam considers his 30 years with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in an extensive interview. He describes the work he has done and offers some good advice for those who are looking for a career in fisheries. Most of… more
Idaho Master Naturalist FALL Newsletter is Available
| idfg-sfocht
The Fall edition of Idaho Naturalist News (the seasonal newsletter of the Idaho Master Naturalist Program) is available for viewing! Read about what Idaho Master Naturalists are doing all across the state.
Information sought about a mule deer buck left to waste in Lincoln County
| idfg-tthompson
On Thursday, November 10, 2022, conservation officers from the Magic Valley Region received a report of a mule deer buck that was found dead lying next to a BLM road in Lincoln County. The deer was found on the eastside of Black Butte in Unit 52 which had an open controlled muzzleloader hunt at the time of the… more
Henrys Lake Quarterly Newsletter – Fall 2022
| idfg-ntillotson
Big news Henrys Lake anglers! The new Idaho catch-and-release state record hybrid trout (Rainbow Trout X Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout) was caught out of Henrys Lake this fall, and it’s a whopper. Hailey Thomas of Rigby caught this 36-inch hybrid, which easily beats the prior catch-and-release state record by 6… more
Nov. 14 Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report
| idfg-bbeller
Cold temperatures moved into the upper Salmon River last week which made steelhead fishing difficult and reduced the amount of angler effort. Most of the observed angler effort was located downstream of Deadwater in location code 15. No anglers reported catching a steelhead within river location codes 14 and 17.… more
Trapper, wolf trapper, and hunter education classes coming up in southeast Idaho
| idfg-jjackson
Looking for a trapper, wolf trapper, or hunter education course in southeast Idaho? Not sure which classes you or your upcoming hunters/trappers need? Don’t know how to register for a class? Which classes are offered online? Any classes being offered during upcoming holiday breaks? Idaho Fish and Game has got the… more
Additional $1000 reward being offered in southeast Idaho mule deer case
| idfg-jjackson
An anonymous donor has stepped up to add $1000 to the existing Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) reward for an unsolved wildlife case in southeast Idaho.
Last month, a dead mule deer buck was discovered in a private cultivated field approximately 100 yards from Garden Creek Road just west of Arimo in Unit 70. … more
Bull elk shot and left to waste near American Falls in Unit 73A
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding a bull elk that was shot and left to waste in Power County in southeast Idaho.
On Nov. 2, Fish and Game received a call from a concerned member of the public regarding the discovery of a 5 x 5 bull elk shot and left to waste just off Moonshine… more
Grizzly sow and cubs euthanized near Tetonia after becoming habituated to populated areas
| idfg-jbrower
On Nov. 9 and 10, Idaho Fish and Game euthanized a sow grizzly and two cubs after the bears increasingly showed little fear toward humans and became habituated to areas near homes in the Tetonia area northwest of Driggs.
Euthanization is never a desired outcome. However, there were no relocation sites… more
Henrys Lake Quarterly Newsletter – Fall 2022
| idfg-ntillotson
Big news Henrys Lake anglers! The new Idaho catch-and-release state record hybrid trout (Rainbow Trout X Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout) was caught out of Henrys Lake this fall, and it’s a whopper. Hailey Thomas of Rigby caught this 36-inch hybrid, which easily beats the prior catch-… more
Southwest Region rainbow trout stocking schedule - November
| idfg-bpearson
Fish and Game staff will be stocking more than 15,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) trout at the following locations across the Southwest Region in November.
All fish stocked are rainbow trout. Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions (angler… more
Information sought on bull elk left to waste near summit of Clear Creek in Unit 39
| idfg-bpearson
Fish and Game conservation officers are seeking information about a 6x6 bull elk that was shot and left to waste on a hillside near the summit of Clear Creek in Unit 39.
Officers believe the animal was shot sometime on Nov. 5.
Anyone with any information pertaining to this case is asked to contact the… more
Fish and Game will be running check stations in November to monitor for chronic wasting disease in the Panhandle
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game staff will be collecting samples from deer at hunter check stations across the Panhandle over two weekends in November as part of a statewide surveillance program for chronic wasting disease.
Chronic wasting disease was detected for the first time in Idaho in 2021 after more than 20 years of… more
Building partnerships to benefit wild steelhead in the Potlatch River
| idfg-bknoth
Co-author: Robert Hand (Regional Fisheries Biologist)
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and partners are working to improve habitat conditions for wild steelhead in the Potlatch River in northern Idaho through stream… more