Press Releases and Articles
St. Maries man sentenced to months in jail, thousands in fines and decade-long hunting ban for poaching convictions
| idfg-doverman
Paul D. Coward, of St. Maries was sentenced in December in the First District Court in Shoshone County for various wildlife-related crimes to months in jail, thousands in fines and a 10-year hunting revocation.
Early in 2021, Coward was charged with numerous misdemeanor and felony violations stemming from… more
Idaho Fish and Game attempted to rescue two bull elk from Treasureton Reservoir
| idfg-jjackson
Late afternoon on Sunday, December 26, Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers from the Southeast Region responded to a report of two bull elk that had broken through the ice on Treasureton Reservoir north of Preston.
Officers attempted to use a Fish and Game airboat to reach the elk with a plan to cut a… more
River otter trapping is closed for the season in the Southwest Region
| idfg-cliess
The 2021-22 river otter trapping season in the Southwest Region closed Dec. 27 after river otter harvest quota for Idaho’s Southwest Region was met. The Southwest Region consists of Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties.
Trappers can… more
Anglers are reminded that 2022-24 fishing seasons and rules take effect Jan. 1
| idfg-cliess
In November, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the 2022-24 Fishing Seasons and Rules, and anglers will see about 23 changes that take effect on Jan. 1.
Steelhead bag limits have been modified for spring 2022 seasons, which are not reflected in the printed version of the… more
The birds and the seeds: Let’s talk about winter bird feeding
| idfg-cliess
We all know that neighbor that takes bird feeding to Olympic games-level extremes. With tree limbs sagging under the weight of countless feeders and a back lawn that looks like it was ripped straight from Augusta Country Club, they stand out on their back porch with arms outstretched as a myriad of birds swoop in to… more
Deer and elk netting and aerial surveys are brief disturbances for wintering animals
| idfg-rphillips
Every winter, helicopters take to the sky to help Fish and Game biologists count and radio collar deer and elk. It provides valuable data that helps the big game managers monitor how animals are doing during winter and also count herds to learn if they are growing, shrinking or remaining steady over time. And… more
Rainbow trout stocking schedule for January 2022 in the Magic Valley Region
| idfg-tthompson
Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 1,900 10-12” catchable-sized rainbow trout in January. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate and may change without notice due to water or weather conditions.
Body… more
Hells Canyon sturgeon are so big that anglers don't need to lie about how big they are
| idfg-jdupont
Being a fisheries biologist certainly can have its perks. We may not make the most money, but sometimes we get paid to do things that others would pay a lot of money to do. Jet boating Hells Canyon and fishing for sturgeon is one of those things.
Although it may look like we are just having fun when… more
Can We Get Juvenile White Sturgeon To Grow Faster?
| idfg-jdupont
Can We Get Juvenile White Sturgeon To Grow Faster?
By Nolan Smith and Joe DuPont
Fisheries personnel for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and… more
Helicopter surveys of big game to begin soon near Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
Beginning in early January, Idaho Fish and Game staff will take to the air to get a closer look at sheep and elk numbers, including several low-level helicopter surveys planned throughout the state.
"People may see and hear low-flying helicopters in Idaho’s outdoors throughout the winter,” said Fish… more
Fish and Game begins to feed elk at the Bullwacker feed site west of Ketchum
| idfg-tthompson
Staff from Fish and Game, Magic Valley Region began feeding elk at the Bullwacker feed site on December 23, 2021 as deep winter snows began to accumulate throughout the Wood River Valley. The site typically feeds over 125 elk each year.
Located west of Ketchum, the Bullwacker feed site is the only Fish and… more
Lake Cascade and Horsethief Reservoir ice conditions - Dec. 22, 2021
| idfg-mthomas
Update by Justin Furby, Fisheries Technician
On Wednesday, December 22nd we checked surface and ice conditions on Lake Cascade and Horsethief Reservoir. In general, Cascade is not yet safe for fishing, but Horsethief is in play. Although air temperatures will be dropping over the weekend,… more
Attention steelhead anglers: Spring 2022 steelhead bag limits have been reduced
| idfg-cliess
Steelhead anglers are reminded that steelhead bag limits have been reduced for the 2022 spring season, but the reductions are not reflected in the new, 2022-24 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules booklet.
Fish and Game commissioners set the default steelhead seasons and bag limits for… more
Low water levels and a late start to winter make for hard times on hard water
| idfg-tthompson
With December nearly wrapped up, temperatures are finally consistently cold enough to start thinking about ice fishing in the Magic Valley. Typically boasting much of Southern Idaho’s ice fishing opportunity, the Magic Valley Region has numerous reservoirs, lakes and ponds that can provide fishing opportunity all… more
Hunt and fish 2022 worry-free by renewing your hunting and fishing license today
| idfg-cliess
Don’t be caught flatfooted this January when that next fishing trip or late-winter hunting opportunity presents itself. Renewing your annual Idaho hunting and/or fishing license is quick and easy, and can be done right from your computer or cellphone. So pull the trigger on that 2022 Idaho hunting and fishing license… more
River Otter trapping closes for the season in the Upper Snake Region
| idfg-jbrower
The river otter harvest quota for Idaho’s Upper Snake Region was reached at 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 21. The otter trapping season for the entire region closes 72 hours after the harvest quota has been met. As a result, the otter season for the Upper Snake closes at 5 p.m. Friday, December 24.
Any otter… more
Nothin’ but net: F&G biologists prepare for winter mule deer capture efforts
| idfg-cliess
Stifled by winter snowfall, the hustle and bustle of mountain rush hour creeps to a halt as wintering wildlife burrow in or migrate down. As the high-mountain snow piles up and pushes mule deer down to their wintering grounds, Fish and Game biologists don their thickest outer layers and take to the field.
… more
Fish and Game conducts big game surveys across the Magic Valley
| idfg-tthompson
Over the next several weeks wildlife biologists from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be flying surveys for mule deer and elk across many of the region’s game management units. The purpose of these surveys is gather abundance and herd composition information that help game managers understand population… more