Press Releases and Articles
F&G provides millions of acres of access for hunting
| idfg-rphillips
Hunting season is here, and a question commonly asked is “where can I go hunting?” There’s a lot of good answers to that question in Idaho, starting with nearly two-thirds of the state is public land, and most of it is open for hunting.
Idaho Fish and Game also provides more access for sportsmen and… more
Youth and Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Weekend is Sept. 26-27
| idfg-bpearson
Duck and goose hunting is among the coolest ways to introduce a youngster to the excitement of hunting. There's usually plenty of birds in the sky and the opportunity for a novice to experience the blinds, the decoys, and the dogs, all under the supervision and guidance of an adult. For the first time this year,… more
People can comment about proposed fee rules that require legislative approval
| idfg-staff
Idaho Fish and Game is taking public comment on a variety of proposed fee rules that would affect fees for refunds, hunter education, and more. Deadline to comment is Oct. 7, and people can comment via email to rules@idfg.idaho.gov or mail to Paul Kline, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID, 83707.
All of these rules must… more
ATV Users: Know Where You Can Travel Before You Go
| idfg-eoneale
A common complaint heard every hunting season by Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) officers and biologists involves the violation of motorized vehicle restrictions. Few things are more frustrating for hunters than to rise well before sunup, hike to a favorite hunting spot – in a motorized restricted area – and just as the… more
Wildlife Express: Magnificent elk
| idfg-scassinelli
A new issue of Wildlife Express is out, and we're expanding beyond the school year so that you can enjoy monthly wildlife features and activities all year long.
This month covers one of Idaho's big game species. Found in diverse habitats around the state, elk live in sagebrush-covered deserts… more
Fish and Game Commission approves Clearwater Coho season and shooting hours for Upland Game Bird Permit areas
| idfg-staff
Meeting September 15 via conference call, the Commission approved a Coho season for the Clearwater River. Fishing for Coho on the mainstem Clearwater River downstream from Memorial Bridge begins immediately with fishing allowed 7 days a week.
Beginning September 17, Coho fishing is allowed on the Mainstem… more
Fish and Game wildlife research manager talks mule deer in podcast
| idfg-scassinelli
For over 20 years, Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Research Manager Mark Hurley has studied mule deer survival and ecology.
He recently sat down with Beaver State Podcast host Tim Akimoff from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss mule deer nutrition, predation, and climate.… more
Coho Salmon are coming and run forecast looks better than expected
| idfg-jdupont
The Coho Salmon Are Coming
The Coho Salmon are just starting to get to Idaho, so it may take a couple weeks before you chances of catching one become reasonable. For details on the Coho Salmon seasons and rules, please refer to the Coho Salmon Seasons and Rules.
For… more
Portions of Andrus WMA Now Closed due to Wildfire
| idfg-eoneale
NOTICE: This original closure has been rescinded.
Learn more
Effective immediately, that portion of Andrus Wildlife Management Area (WMA) north and east of Highway 71 is closed to all public entry due to wildfire and public safety concerns… more
Elk depredation actions in the Magic Valley Region continue to show positive outcomes to landowners
| idfg-tthompson
Over the last several years biologists with Fish and Game have been applying consistent deterrents to local big game herds in an effort to keep them from damaging crops on private property. In some locations across the Magic Valley Region these deterrents, which include non-lethal and lethal actions, are resulting in… more
Porphyry Fire Could Impact Middle Fork Zone Elk Hunters
| idfg-eoneale
It’s hard to pronounce and could prove to be a headache for Middle Fork Zone elk hunters. The Porphyry wildfire, burning north of Yellow Pine in portions of Game Management Units 20A and 26, has led to closures on portions of the Payette National Forest.
While the road from Yellow Pine to Big Creek and beyond… more
Tag Exchanges Available for Brownlee Zone Elk Hunters
| idfg-eoneale
With fires burning in Game Management Unit 31 – the Brownlee Elk Zone – hunter access has become extremely limited to a large portion of the unit. Elk hunters holding Brownlee Zone A-tags now have the option of exchanging those tags for another zone in which tags are available.
Brownlee Zone A-tags can be… more
The Maiden Hunt Series, Part 2 – Kori
| idfg-bpearson
Mentoring is woven in the fabric of hunting. For millennia the tradition has been passed down through generations and shared with friends. For the tradition to continue, the each generation of hunters are tasked with passing the torch to the next.
Fish and Game's Maiden Hunt Series explores how rewarding it… more
2020-21 Upland Forecast: Here's what hunting looks like across the state
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho is a big state with a diverse mix of habitats, elevations and climates, and the state contains a variety of upland game birds. Upland bird populations can vary tremendously on an annual basis, and their health and numbers typically depend on favorable weather conditions, which are often very… more
Fire affecting your hunting area? Here's what you need to know
| idfg-bpearson
Hunters and anyone else heading into the backcountry are advised to check with Forest Service ranger district offices or county sheriffs’ offices in their hunt area before heading out. Fire updates can be found online at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/?state=16.
Additional fire information is available on Fish… more
Bird hunters encouraged to donate their wings
| idfg-bpearson
With many upland game bird seasons open or opening soon, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game is asking hunters to donate a fully feathered wing for each bird they harvest.
Because juvenile and adult birds molt their wing feathers differently, biologists can use this information to estimate chick production… more
F&G Commission will meet via conference call at 8:30 a.m. MDT on Sept. 15
| idfg-bpearson
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet via conference call at 8:30 a.m. MDT on Tuesday, Sept. 15 to decide season setting for a Clearwater River coho salmon fishing season, and vote on setting shooting hours for pheasant stocking areas where an Upland Game Bird Permit is required. Fisheries staff will also give… more
White-tailed deer found shot in Bear Lake County
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding the illegal shooting of a white-tailed deer doe near Dingle Pond approximately 4 miles east of the town of Dingle, Idaho, in Bear Lake County.
The deer was illegally shot with a rifle during the current general archery season, though the exact… more