Press Releases and Articles
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
Banding data crucial to studying returning waterfowl
| idfg-bpearson
Waterfowl bands have a special place in waterfowl hunting, and they are part of a long-running program where wildlife managers trap waterfowl, usually during late summer, and place small metal bands on the legs of ducks and geese to track migrations and populations.
As those banded birds migrate, they are… more
Do your part to protect wintering wildlife by leaving animals undisturbed
| idfg-rphillips
Winter is a challenging season for Idaho’s wildlife, especially for big game animals that migrate to lower elevations and spend winter closer to people than during other seasons. People can help animals by leaving them undisturbed so they have a better chance to survive winter.
What do we know about… more
Watch for wildlife on the roads during your holiday travels
| idfg-jjackson
As winter weather brings on a winter wonderland, it also increases the movement of big game, namely mule deer, elk, and moose. Animals will migrate to lower elevations where there is usually less snow, warmer temperatures, and available vegetation for browsing and thermal cover. To get to their winter ranges, animals… more
Cow and calf moose relocated from Kendrick city limits
| idfg-jbruns
During the winter months, it’s not uncommon for moose to roam through towns as they move to lower elevations to avoid deep winter snow, take advantage of milder weather and gorge on tasty snacks in the form of expensive landscaping, fruit trees or agricultural feed.
Idaho Fish and Game received reports of a… more
F&G Commission approves agreement with Wyoming and Montana to manage grizzly bears
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Dec. 16 approved an updated “Memorandum of Agreement” between Idaho, Wyoming and Montana regarding state grizzly bear management commitments in support of delisting the bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Wyoming and Montana’s commission have also approved the MOA.
… more
Hunters and anglers using boats urged to use caution this winter
| idfg-cliess
Temperatures (and snow) are falling across much of the state. With the onset of cold air and water temperatures, anglers and waterfowl hunters are encouraged to take precautions and practice boating safety this winter.
Nearly every year, there is a boating accident in Idaho involving… more
Twin Bridges boat ramp construction begins Dec 16
| idfg-jbruns
Access to Twin Bridges boat ramp along the Salmon River will be closed due to construction. If all goes smoothly, ramps should be reopened by the end of January, 2022. The purpose of the construction is to extend and reinforce the boat ramp for a safer launch of boats. Contact the Lewiston regional office for more… more
F&G partners with landowners in the Teton Canyon area to protect wintering big game
| idfg-jlocke
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has partnered with multiple private landowners in the Hog Hollow area on the north side of Teton Canyon to limit winter disturbance to wildlife by reducing unauthorized snowmobile traffic on private lands. Approximately 17,000 acres of private land will be signed closed to… more
Pheasant stocking is nearly done in the Panhandle and elsewhere in the state as Christmas approaches
| idfg-tjross
It’s not too late to try your hand at pheasant hunting this year!
In the Panhandle Region, pheasant will be stocked at the Boundary-Smith Creek WMA and the Lane Marsh parcel on the CDA River WMA through the week of Dec. 19; the season ends on… more
The 'biggest fish' stories of 2021
| idfg-cliess
You might be thinking, “It’s pretty hard to top 2020’s string of record-setting fish,” but then in walks 2021 like the ’27 New York Yankees. This year, anglers from all across the country flocked to Idaho’s numerous fisheries and amounted some incredible new state records, from carp to cutthroat trout.
In… more