Press Releases and Articles
Clearwater Access Yes! program application period is open
| idfg-jbruns
Attention landowners: Idaho Fish and Game is calling for applications for landowners to participate in the Access Yes! program within the Clearwater Region. This program is designed to promote public access for sportsmen to hunt, fish, and trap on private lands.
The benefits of enrolling in the program includes… more
Not playing by the rules catches up to trespassers near Challis
| idfg-mdemick
It’s no secret that access to hunting and fishing is important to Idaho sportsmen.
To provide public access to the Salmon River north of Challis, Idaho Fish and Game has partnered with a landowner in the Pennal Gulch area to allow public access through his private property to the river. This provides the only… more
F&G Commission meeting January 25-26 in Boise
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will hold the public hearing and business meeting at the headquarters building at 600 S. Walnut Street in Boise. A public hearing will begin on Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. MST at the same location. Those wishing to speak to the Commission during the public hearing will have a three-minute time… more
January’s ‘Wildlife Express’ pounces on the world of the cunning red fox
| idfg-cliess
He’s quick. He’s cunning. He’s red. And he’s racked up over a billion views on YouTube. Who is he? Take a peek at January’s Wildlife Express newsletter and learn almost everything about one of nature’s most clever critters, the red fox.
The cat-like canine of the woods is more than just the subject of an… more
Big game aerial surveys continue near Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
With the snow piling up and deer and elk moving to the lower elevations, conditions are ideal for Idaho Fish and Game to continue aerial surveys of big game herds to determine trends in populations.
Earlier this winter, Fish and Game conducted surveys for deer in the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi River valleys. In the… more
Castle Rocks State Park Fishing Pond to close to remove illegally introduced goldfish
| idfg-tucker.brauer
Castle Rocks State Park Fishing Pond will be closed to public access beginning January 20, 2023. It’s anticipated to reopen to the public in early May 2023. The closure will allow fisheries biologists from the Magic Valley Region to apply a substance that will kill all fish in the pond.
Illegally… more
Hyde Pond kid’s ice fishing derby set for Feb. 4
| idfg-mdemick
Bundle up the kids, grab the fishing gear and head to Hyde Pond Saturday, Feb. 4 for some ice fishing fun.
The 30th Annual Kids’ Ice Fishing Derby will be held at Hyde Pond from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The free event is for youth ages 16 years and under. There will be big fish prizes for four age categories and… more
Applications for spring black bear controlled hunts open Jan. 15
| idfg-cliess
Hunters looking to apply for 2023 spring's controlled hunts for black bear can apply from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Information on the spring 2023 controlled black bear hunt can be found in the 2022 Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules book.
Hunters must have a 2023 hunting license in order to apply for controlled hunts… more
Southeast Idaho Winter Feeding Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 10
| idfg-jjackson
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023- 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Address: Idaho Fish and Game Southeast Region Office, 1345 Barton Road, Pocatello, ID
Call-in Number: 208-236-1281
Members of the Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee will meet to assist Idaho Fish and Game with the… more
Leash your pets: F&G will increase patrols on Boise River WMA this winter
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game enforcement staff will be conducting increased patrols in the Boise River Wildlife Management Area this winter to ensure compliance with leashed dog requirements and access restrictions, as well as to address littering issues on trails.
“We have a number of issues that continue to come up on… more
Become an Idaho Master Naturalist! Introductory meeting scheduled in Pocatello.
| idfg-jjackson
The High Desert Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists is now recruiting new members to be a part of a unique volunteering experience here in southeast Idaho! Those who love the outdoors and learning more about southeast Idaho’s wildlife, habitats, and other natural resources will discover a wide variety of fun and… more
Instructor-led hunter education courses coming up in Southwest Idaho for January through March
| idfg-bpearson
Southwest Idaho currently has 15 instructor-led courses slated to start between January and March, with more to come. Among the upcoming offerings in the Southwest Region are Hunter Education Certification, Hunter… more
Why you should buy your 2023 hunting/fishing license now, not later
| idfg-cliess
A lot of hunters and anglers see the cold, bitter months of January and February as the so-called “off-season.” It’s easy to see why — you step foot outside and instantly need a defroster for your lungs.
But with a little bit of mental preparation, the right gear and (most importantly) an up-to-date hunting and… more
Smallmouth bass state record falls once more
| idfg-mkoenig
It was a typical cold, December day in central Idaho with rain down low and snow in the mountains. While many anglers might have been thinking about ice-fishing, winter steelhead or even putting a fresh coat of wax on their skis and hitting the slopes, Joey Walton had other plans: big smallmouth bass. Knowing he had to… more
Dec. 30 Lake Cascade Ice Fishing Conditions
| idfg-mthomas
On Friday, Dec. 30 I checked surface and ice conditions on Lake Cascade. Warm temperatures and rain over the last week created a lot of slush on the surface of the lake, which has started to refreeze as cold temperatures have returned. Conditions may continue to improve with forecasted cold and clear… more
Dec. 30 Clearwater Region Ice Fishing Update
| idfg-jthiessen
Below you will find conditions, fishing outlooks and general information about the Clearwater Region's ice fisheries. Ice conditions can be extremely variable. Many environmental factors can affect ice quality and strength. It is your responsibility to check ice thickness and conditions when you venture out onto… more
Rainbow trout stocking schedule for January 2023 in the Magic Valley Region
| idfg-tthompson
Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 900 10-12” catchable-sized rainbow trout in January. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 fishing license!
Stocking rainbow trout during the winter months… more
Biologists use electronic tags to study Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Willow Creek and Ririe Reservoir
| idfg-jheckel
Fish and Game fisheries biologists are on a constant search for better ways to understand and manage fish populations. As part of this quest for knowledge, biologists used electronic PIT tags to study the life history of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Willow Creek and Ririe Reservoir.
In the Upper Snake… more