Press Releases and Articles
2020 Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area Winter Newsletter
| idfg-jbruns
Welcome to the Craig Mt Wildlife Management Area and Joseph Plains Wildlife Habitat Area annual newsletter! We hope to use this letter as a way to inform the public of what has been done and what we plan to do each year on the WMA!
First off, let us meet the local IDFG faces of the mountain: Andrew… more
Spring steelhead fishing is another chance to catch big fish
| idfg-rphillips
Steelhead have spent most of the winter holed up in deep water waiting to make their final push upstream, and late winter and spring is when it happens. Anglers looking to cure cabin fever can get an early start on their fishing season, as well as a chance to catch big fish.
Steelhead… more
Annual waterfowl count conducted at the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area
| idfg-tthompson
On a recent cold and wintery January morning, staff and volunteers with Fish and Game, Magic Valley Region, spent the morning estimating the number of waterfowl using the many ponds at the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area. This annual one-day count has been used for several decades to show population trends of… more
Hunters can pursue white-fronted, light geese in parts of southern Idaho
| idfg-bpearson
For hunters looking to continue waterfowl hunting, seasons for white-fronted and light geese are available in portions of southern Idaho during February and March.
In Area 3, which encompasses southwest and south central Idaho including Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem,… more
Elk hit by train near Dingle in Bear Lake County
| idfg-jjackson
In the early morning hours of Sunday, February 9, a train collided with a small group of elk near Dingle in Bear Lake County Idaho.
Conservation officers from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game arrived at the scene and determined approximately 11 elk had been killed. Two injured elk were dispatched by… more
Second group of elk ushered across highway near Sugar City
| idfg-jbrower
A group of 150 elk moved out of Teton Canyon earlier this week and headed west towards Highway 20 near Sugar City, again causing concern for passing motorists. They were preceded by a similar group of elk which moved out of the canyon in late-January and crossed Highway 20 with the assistance of Fish and Game,… more
Hunter and trapper education instructors needed – orientation classes offered in February
| idfg-tatwood
Interested in teaching Hunter, Bowhunter or Trapper Education? Idaho Fish and Game will be offering a series of free New Instructor Orientation classes throughout the southeast region in February from 5:30-7:30 PM at the following locations:
February 24 Oneida County Road… more
Lake Cascade and Payette Lake Ice Conditions Update (2/7/20)
| idfg-jmessner
Lake Cascade Update - February 7th, 2020
Ice conditions have improved dramatically over the past week. As of yesterday (February 6th), the 1+ foot of slush that was sitting on top of the ice was firmed up nicely. The new snow we received overnight last night (February 7th) was wet, and has… more
Not all hatchery steelhead are adipose-clipped
| idfg-bbowersox
“Do Idaho hatcheries clip the adipose fin on every steelhead they release?”
As with many things in our salmon and steelhead world, clipping or not clipping hatchery fish can get a little complicated. Some hatchery steelhead smolts are released with their adipose fin still intact on… more
River Restoration Series: Monitoring Fish Populations
| idfg-mkoenig
In our third habitat restoration film Restoring Rivers, Restoring Fish, we show how biologists study fish to understand whether habitat projects are working, and how to improve restoration in the future.
Many of Idaho's rivers have been altered by a long history of land uses. Activities like mining, timber… more
Mule Deer shot and left off Lindsey Creek Road over 2 months after season closed
| idfg-jbruns
Fish and Game is asking the public for information regarding the poaching of a mule deer buck off of Lindsey Creek Road on January 30-31 in Lewiston.
Citizens Against Poaching is offering a reward for information in the case and callers can remain anonymous. Contact CAP at 1-800-632-5999 twenty four hours a… more
Broodstock Collection on the South Fork 2020
| idfg-jbruns
By Jaime Robertson, Regional Fisheries Technician
Since 2010, Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has been recruiting volunteer anglers to catch adult steelhead from the South Fork Clearwater River. We rely on anglers from around the region, other states, and even other countries to collect steelhead… more
Become an Idaho Master Naturalist! Open house and introductory meeting coming up in Pocatello on February 13
| idfg-jjackson
You may have heard of Master Gardeners, Master Instructors, Master’s Degrees, masterpieces, or have a MasterCard in your wallet. But do you know what a Master Naturalist is?
An Idaho Master Naturalist is a person who enjoys nature, outdoor recreation, supporting conservation, and is interested in continually… more
To protect wildlife and public safety, give moose in town space
| idfg-ksiitari
During the winter, it is not surprising to see moose within city limits in the Idaho Panhandle and in other parts of the state. Moose move to lower elevations to avoid deep snowpack and take advantage of milder weather conditions. As the largest member of the deer family, moose sightings… more
Volunteers wanted for Magic Valley wildlife habitat improvement projects
| idfg-tthompson
Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for volunteers to assist in planting sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings this spring in two locations in the Magic Valley. These native shrub communities provide food and shelter to a variety of wildlife including mule deer, elk, sage grouse and other upland birds, as… more
Auction tag brings $165,000 for bighorn conservation and managment
| idfg-bpearson
The Idaho Special Bighorn Sheep Auction Tag for 2020 brought $165,000 at the recent Wild Sheep Foundation Convention and Sporting Expo, better known as “The Sheep Show,” which took place in Reno in January.
The winning bid was the highest for a year in which the auction tag cannot be used in Hunt Area 11 in… more
Deadline to apply for spring bear controlled hunts is approaching
| idfg-bpearson
Hunters have through Feb. 15 to apply for this spring's controlled black bear hunts.
Spring 2020 bear controlled hunt information is in the 2019-20 Big Game Seasons and Rules book available at all license vendors and online at https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/rules/big-game.
To apply for a controlled hunt,… more
2020-21 Upland Game, Furbearer and Turkey Seasons and Rules available online
| idfg-bpearson
See the new 2020-21 Upland Game, Furbearer and Turkey Seasons and Rules.
The new rule booklets includes several changes for hunting turkey and trapping. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the changes in mid-January.
The seasons and rules brochure includes an updated list of spring controlled… more