Press Releases and Articles
F&G Commission approves 2022-23 migratory game bird seasons
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the 2022-23 migratory game bird seasons during their April 14 conference call. Waterfowl hunters can expect to see later duck seasons across most of the state, and similar season dates for Canada geese. Bag limits for ducks will remain the same as last year, but will… more
Watch Idaho Fish and Game and National Wild Turkey Federation's turkey hunting primer
| idfg-rphillips
General turkey hunting seasons open April 15, and to help new and experience hunters enjoy this fun and exciting spring hunting activity, Idaho Fish and Game and the National Wild Turkey Federation recently partnered to provide a webinar on Idaho turkey hunting.
For more information, see the Idaho Upland Game… more
Taking a look at the Salmon River's Twin Bridges smolt trap
| idfg-sputnam
Story and Video by Devan Reid, Sr. Fisheries Technician
Located at Twin Bridges, near White Bird, Idaho, is the Smolt Monitoring Project’s Salmon River fish trap. The incline plane scoop trap is designed to catch smolting salmon and steelhead trout on their way to the Pacific Ocean. The fish are directed into… more
2022 Rainbow Trout Suppression Plans on the South Fork Snake
| idfg-pkennedy
The South Fork Snake River (SFSR) supports the strongest remaining fluvial population of native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Ocorhynchus clarkii bouvieri (YCT) within their historical range in Idaho. The SFSR is one of only a handful of large rivers in the species’ range that supports a robust population of YCT. The… more
Fish and Game dispatches five wild elk that entered a domestic elk farm
| idfg-rphillips
On Tuesday, April 12, Idaho Fish and Game staff dispatched five wild elk at a domestic elk farm in the Garden Valley area after the wild elk had entered the facility through an open gate in early March.
The elk were held in the captive facility after the owner notified the Idaho State Department of Agriculture… more
Meet Idaho’s smallest miner, the pocket gopher
| idfg-cliess
For many of Idaho’s hibernating creatures, living below ground while Old Man Winter pays his annual visit is just a temporary lifestyle fix, like folks going to Arizona for warm January days on the golf course. But for the pocket gopher, subterranean living is a full-time job with no PTO.
The pocket gopher is… more
What is a salmon or steelhead smolt?
| idfg-tcopeland
Fisheries biologists use funny words sometimes when describing a fish’s life. Biologists who work with salmon and steelhead often talk about smolts. So, what exactly is a smolt?
Smolt, not smeltThe word ‘smolt’ comes from Old English (smeolt). It had several meanings like calm, gentle, smooth but also bright… more
April 11 Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report
| idfg-bbeller
Steelhead angler effort continued to increase upstream of the East Fork during the past week, while angler effort downstream of the East Fork continued to decline.
Anglers interviewed downstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 17 averaged 17 hours per steelhead caught, and anglers interviewed… more
Kids Creek pond in Salmon stocked with steelhead
| idfg-mdemick
Personnel from Fish and Game's Pahsimeroi Hatchery released 110 steelhead in Kids Creek Pond Monday, April 11.
Kids Creek Pond is a small fishing pond in downtown Salmon, also known for good trout fishing. The pond will receive 550 catchable-size (10-12 inch) rainbow trout before May 1.
The trout… more
Spring Newsletter Available
| idfg-sfocht
The MK Nature Center is "springing to life" in more ways that one! Of course, spring is arriving and that brings colorful blooms and more wildlife sightings. Spring also brings more visitors and events. Catch up on what is happening at your local nature center by taking a look at our latest newsletter. You will enjoy… more
MK Nature Center building closed for construction through May 2
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game’s MK Nature Center building will be closed April 11 through May 2 while it undergoes construction. The center located along the Boise River Greenbelt will reopen to the public on May 3.
The public, however, can still stroll through the nature center’s outdoor pathways and glimpse a plethora… more
Annual F&G fur auction is now live online through April 25
| idfg-bpearson
For the second straight year, Idaho Fish and Game's annual fur auction will be held entirely online in 2022.
This year’s auction of furs, hides, antlers, and other items will be run through Prime Time Auctions (www.primetimeauctions.com). The online auction kicks off on April 18, and ends on April 25. While… more
Grizzly bear confirmed to have killed additional livestock near Naples in North Idaho on April 8
| idfg-tjross
Events of April 5
A grizzly bear was suspected to have killed a llama and a sheep on the evening of April 5 near the town of Naples in North Idaho.
Some information was circulating that the incident occurred near Athol, which is incorrect. The incident occurred southwest of the town of Naples in… more
Top 10 tips for Idaho spring black bear hunting
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho provides hunters the opportunity to hunt black bears during the spring so you don’t have to wait until fall to start big game hunting. All you need is a 2022 hunting license and bear tag. People typically hunt bears by pursuing them with hounds, baiting them or spotting and stalking.
If you have hounds,… more
South Fork Clearwater River Hatchery Steelhead Program: Video Series- Volunteer Anglers
| idfg-jbruns
Steelhead anglers volunteer to catch steelhead for the South Fork Clearwater River steelhead hatcheries. This spring, Idaho Fish and Game reached the goal of capturing over 500 adults to use as broodstock to produce 1.4 million juveniles to be released back into the South Fork Clearwater River. Since 2010, Idaho Fish… more
A recording of the 2022 Lake Pend Oreille 'State of the Lake' virtual meeting is now available online
| idfg-tjross
If you missed the 2022 virtual Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake" meeting on April 5, you can watch it now on the Lake Pend Oreille Fisheries website, or by clicking the video below.
Fishery staff spent the evening answering questions about the diverse fisheries and management practices occurring… more
Grizzly bear suspected to have killed livestock in North Idaho on April 5
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game received information on April 6 about a llama and a sheep that had been killed overnight by a suspected grizzly bear. The incident occurred on private land near the town of Naples in Boundary County. The landowner reported seeing a reddish-brown bear the evening of the incident, but he was unable… more
Over 40,000 rainbow trout will be stocked in the Panhandle Region in April
| idfg-tjross
The sun is shining and the birds are chirping! It's time to grab your fishing gear and enjoy the nice weather! Over 40,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) rainbow trout are headed to the Panhandle Region in April.
Stocking of all waters is tentative… more