Press Releases and Articles
Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)
| idfg-staff
by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I saw a segment on the news about volunteers helping trap deer and do other fish and wildlife projects for the Fish and Game department. It looked like a lot of fun. How do I get involved in that program?" Answer: You probably saw one of the deer trapping… moreSeats Still Available in Upcoming Hunter Education Courses
| idfg-staff
LEWISTON - First time hunters interested in pursuing wild turkeys in Idaho this spring still have a few chances of getting into a mandatory hunter education course before the season begins. "There are a few seats still available in courses offered this March and April in the Lewiston-area," said BJ Lillibridge,… moreBald Eagle Survey Shows Decline in Local Wintering Population
| idfg-staff
LEWISTON - This year's mid-winter bald eagle survey completed January 12, revealed 6 adults along the Snake River in northcentral Idaho, a decrease over last year, according to Joel Sauder, non-game biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). "We counted 6 adults, compared to a total of 19 last year… moreTwo Cambridge residents receive lifetime hunting license revocations
| idfg-staff
By Evin Oneale, Regional Conservation Educator Idaho Department of Fish and Game - Southwest Region Cambridge, Idaho - Two Cambridge men found guilty of multiple poaching and other wildlife-related crimes have received lifetime hunting license revocations and been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines and… moreUpdate on Chronic Wasting Disease
| idfg-staff
By Bruce Haak, Nongame Biologist Idaho Department of Fish and Game - Southwest Region Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a rare disorder of the central nervous system found in mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk. While related to BSE (mad cow) disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep, there is no evidence that CWD is… moreLandowners Key to Potlatch River Steelhead Study
| idfg-staff
By Nathan Brindza - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Spring is right around the corner and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) will once again be studying steelhead of the Potlatch River drainage. IDFG will install two adult steelhead weirs, one on Little Bear Creek and one on Big Bear Creek, to count… moreIdaho Seeks Permit to Manage Wolves North of I-90
| idfg-staff
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to issue a 10(a)(1)(A) Recovery Permit to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to manage wolves in the Idaho Panhandle north of Interstate-90, where wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act as endangered. Idaho officials have requested the permit to "… morePublic Meetings Planned for Wolf Removal Proposal
| idfg-staff
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game plans two public meetings next month on a proposal to remove 75 percent of the wolves in the Lolo elk management zone in the Clearwater Region. The meetings will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on February 2 at the Double Tree Riverside Motel (Juniper Room) in Garden City, and on February 7… moreIdaho's First Depredation Action Takes Two Wolves
| idfg-staff
USDA Wildlife Services reports killing two wolves of the Buffalo Ridge pack last week as authorized by Idaho Fish and Game officials in response to a confirmed livestock depredation by wolves. Wolves killed one calf along the East Fork of the Salmon River in Custer County. Wildlife Services tried unsuccessfully to… moreHunters Back Mule Deer Initiative
| idfg-staff
Most mule deer hunters in recent comments ranked habitat protection and restoration as the most important component of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Mule Deer Initiative. "They realize that without habitat and without habitat enhancement in winter range, we're not going to have many mule deer," Toby Boudreau… moreCommission Ups Outfitter Allocation of Tags
| idfg-staff
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved an increase in the number of controlled hunt permits set aside for outfitters. The commissioners at their January meeting in Boise bumped up the outfitter allocation of controlled hunt permits to six percent as part of changes to make the process more flexible. Outfitter… moreHabitat-Niche Featured at the Flicks
| idfg-staff
Habitat Niche: Places to Go, Things to Do, a wildlife film produced by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game with Wide Eye Productions, will be one of the featured films in this week's International Wildlife Film Festival visit to Boise. The film festival comes to town as part of Boise's annual Bald Eagle Days,… moreAsk Fish and Game
| idfg-staff
Q. When can I apply for a spring bear hunt? Where can I get information on the hunts that are available? A. The application period for spring bear controlled hunts is January 15 through February 15. You'll find hunt descriptions and hunt numbers in the 2005 Big Game Rules Book in the Bear Season section… moreCommission Adopts Bonus Point System
| idfg-staff
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has decided to offer a bonus point system in controlled hunt drawings. Commissioners voted 6-1 when they met in Boise January 11-13 to adopt a bonus point system that would increase the odds of drawing a controlled hunt permit for unsuccessful applicants. Southwest Region… moreWolf Removal Proposed in Clearwater Region
| idfg-staff
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission, in a unanimous vote, has approved a department proposal to remove up to 75 percent of the wolves in a portion of the Clearwater Region. The Commission met in Boise January 11-13, voting on the wolf issue on the last day of the meeting. Elk numbers in the Lolo elk management zone… moreForest Service Defers Decision on Helicopter Landings in Wilderness Area
| idfg-staff
The U.S. Forest Service has put off a decision on whether to allow Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologists to land helicopters in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Fish and Game Director Steve Huffaker said he was "very disappointed in the decision" and "if they wait very long, our opportunity to… moreMarch Commission Meeting Moved Up
| idfg-staff
The March Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting dates have been moved to March 2-3. The March meeting, where seasons are set for big game hunts, had been scheduled March 8-10. A scheduling conflict caused the date change but shifting to an earlier date should allow the hunting rules booklet to be in hunters' hands… moreApply Now for Spring Bear and Turkey Hunts
| idfg-staff
Hunters who aim to participate in controlled hunts for black bear and turkey this spring have less than 30 days left to apply for permits. The application period for both turkey and black bear is from January 15 through February 15. Once again, the competition for the limited number of permits is expected to be… more