Press Releases and Articles
Shooting skills clinic planned in Blackfoot
| idfg-tatwood
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, in collaboration with Cedar Hills Gun Club, will be offering a range day for anyone who has graduated from a Hunter’s Education Course in Idaho or another state. Those who choose to register for the range day will be offered basic firearm handling and shooting instruction from… more
Crawling through Idaho’s rivers and streams, snorkelers provide valuable fisheries data
| idfg-scassinelli
When most people think of snorkeling, they picture a tropical setting where the water is a comfortable 80 degrees and the weather is always sunny. You’re wearing a swimsuit, goggles with a breathing tube, and swim fins as you flutter kick through comfortable water observing fish at the bottom of the sea.
For… more
Upper Salmon River Chinook Update: 7/20/2022
| idfg-gschoby
Hi all, it's been a busy week in the upper Salmon. I've been out in the field and came home to a new wildfire near Salmon. I hope all are safe and well. Below is the weekly upper Salmon River Chinook update courtesy of Brent Beller:
Angler effort upstream of the East Fork almost doubled compared to the… more
F&G biologists look into the effect of Utah chub on Yellowstone cutthroat in Henrys Lake
| idfg-dmccarrick
Henrys Lake is a renowned trophy trout fishery that is managed for rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout hybrids, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and brook trout. Yellowstone cutthroat trout is a popular sport fish and is native to Henrys Lake and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Unfortunately, Yellowstone… more
Weekly Salmon Fishing Update – July 20, 2022
| idfg-csullivan
Welcome to our weekly Chinook Salmon Fishing Update. During these updates we will provide information on changes to seasons and rules and share data from creel surveys and hatchery returns to help anglers plan their salmon fishing trips.
Chinook fishing is still ongoing in many areas of the state, however the… more
Video: How Idaho's alpine lakes got their fish
| idfg-mkoenig
High alpine lakes across Idaho’s backcountry provide some fantastic fishing opportunities in some beautiful scenery. Alpine lakes can offer a wide variety of trout fish, including cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, grayling, brook trout and even the occasional golden trout. This… more
Gov. Little announces appointments to Fish and Game Commission
| idfg-cliess
(Note: The following press release was issued by Gov. Brad Little's office on July 19, 2022)
Governor Brad Little announced today the reappointment of Timothy Murphy and the appointment of Jordan Cheirrett to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.
Murphy is the current Fish and Game Region 3 commissioner… more
Aug. 1 deadline to buy controlled hunt tags is fast approaching
| idfg-cliess
The deadline to purchase controlled hunt tags is Aug. 1 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.
It is the applicant's responsibility to see if they drew a controlled hunt tag and to buy it by this deadline. All controlled hunt tags (except unlimited and January hunts) that are not purchased by the Aug. 1 deadline will be forfeited… more
F&G euthanizes sow black bear in Ketchum after second incident of an aggressive bear raiding garbage
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game personnel and local law enforcement responded to an aggressive bear in a Ketchum neighborhood, which resulted in a sow being euthanized and two cubs captured. The cubs will be taken to Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary in McCall for rehabilitation.
Early morning on July 18, Fish and Game staff… more
Chinook fishing season will end on the South Fork of the Salmon River on July 21
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game will close Chinook salmon fishing on the South Fork of the Salmon River at the end of fishing hours on Thursday, July 21. The sport fishing share of the harvest will have been reached by that time. Anglers can see what areas remain open for fishing by checking the Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules… more
Video: F&G Southwest Region staff rescue tangled-up heron at Wilson Springs Ponds
| idfg-bpearson
On Thursday, July 14, Idaho Fish and Game received a report of a heron that was tangled up in fishing line at Wilson Springs Ponds in Nampa. Regional Wildlife Manager Ryan Walrath and Conservation Officer Matt O'Connell responded and were able to free the bird and release it safely nearby.
River and Sky: A fish biologist’s perspective of counting salmon from the air
| idfg-cbaum
On a chilly morning, I’m awake and alert as I can be. I’m strapped into a helicopter seat, flight helmet on, doors off, safety checks done, GPS in one hand, radio in the other and a data sheet secured to my thigh. The excitement grows as the rotor blades pick up momentum and start humming loudly. We lift off… more
Food-conditioned black bear euthanized at Stoddard Creek Campground
| idfg-jbrower
On July 14, Fish and Game captured and euthanized a young male black bear at Stoddard Creek Campground after it had received multiple food rewards from garbage left out by careless campers. The food-conditioned bear showed no fear of humans and repeatedly ripped open coolers and pushed on tents in search of food,… more
Wolf trapper education class offered in Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
A wolf trapper education class will be offered in Salmon on Saturday August 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Idaho Fish and Game office.
Wolf trapper education classes are in high demand in our area and are usually taught just a few times a year - so if you need a class, sign up now!
Here’s what you… more
Hunters: Take note of these new hunting boundaries, rules and law changes and plan your hunt accordingly
| idfg-cliess
As hunters start to scope out their favorite hunting spots, Fish and Game is urging hunters to check out all of the new hunting unit boundary changes and new changes to rules and laws.
Changes to Big Game Hunting UnitsMinor changes have been made to several hunting units to simplify boundaries, which affects… more
Trash can lids make awkward necklaces for deer
| idfg-rberkley
Late last week, Fish and Game's McCall office received a flurry of calls about a mule deer doe with a trash can lid stuck on her neck. Sure enough, when staff went to check things out, she was wearing a large, metal lid.
The lid did not appear to be on tightly, and was not affecting her ability to move or… more
Homedale angler hoists up a new catch-and-release record, just an inch longer than his previous record
| idfg-cliess
Congratulations to Jared Holt of Homedale for catching a new state catch-and-release record for flathead catfish from the Snake River in Owyhee County. Holt hauled up the behemoth catfish on July 9 on the Snake River. The fish measured 43 inches long, just an inch longer than the previous record-holding fish caught by… more
July 11, 2022 - South Fork Salmon River Chinook Fishery Update
| idfg-jmessner
Hey Everyone. Fishing is GREAT on the South Fork Salmon right now. We still have enough harvest share on the table to run through Sunday night (7/17) at the very least. Get out there and fish this week and through the weekend!
FisheryFishing effort and catch really picked up on the South Fork over the past… more