Tag Lottery Raises Wildlife Lab Dollars

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Idaho's raffle drawing for one bighorn sheep hunt produced two winners this week. The Wildlife Health Laboratory receives money for research into bighorn sheep diseases and one lucky sportsman has the opportunity to hunt for a bighorn sheep this fall. "The lucky sportsman," said Joe Curry, board member of the Idaho… more

Fish and Game Commission Adopts Fall Chinook Season

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, July 28, adopted fall Chinook salmon seasons in the Snake River from the Washington-Idaho border upstream to Hells Canyon Dam and in the Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the Memorial Bridge. The season opens September 1and runs until October 31 or further notice… more

Steelhead Harvest to Open on Lower Clearwater River

Mon, 07/25/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-lfrench

The fall steelhead harvest season in Idaho opens Monday, August 1, on a two-mile stretch of the lower Clearwater River from its mouth to the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge near Lewiston. The catch-and-release steelhead season has been open on the lower Clearwater River since the beginning of July. On Monday,… more

Ask Fish and Game: Hunter Education Classes

Mon, 07/25/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-lfrench

Q. How can I get my kid into a hunter ed class in time for hunting seasons this fall? A. Idaho hunter education and bowhunter education are offered in all parts of the state, but availability varies by region. To find out when classes are offered, check the Idaho Fish and Game Website, click on "Hunter/Bowhunter… more

Salmon Fishing to End in Parts of the Lower Salmon River

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Chinook salmon fishing will close at the end of fishing on Sunday, July 24, in the sections of the lower Salmon River from the mouth of Shorts Creek upstream to the uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek, and from the Rice Creek Bridge upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Time Zone Bridge. The two sections are being closed… more

Construction Forced Move of July 30 Free Fishing Event

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

The free fishing event planned for Saturday, July 30, at the Ryder Park Pond just south of Idaho Falls, is being moved to the Gem Lake Boat Ramp because of construction delays at the newly developed Ryder Park Pond. While the new pond has been filled, landscaping work needs to be done along the shore before fish can… more

Construction Closes Wilson Ponds Area

Thu, 07/21/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Wilson Ponds, the popular fishing and recreation area south of Nampa, will be closed to all public entry beginning Friday, July 22, through Friday, July 29. The closure comes as a result of pathway reconstruction and surfacing by a local contractor. "Closing the area to public entry, though a short-term… more

Deadline to Buy Controlled Hunt Tags

Wed, 07/20/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Big game hunters who names were drawn in controlled hunt drawings have to buy their tags by August 1. Any tags not purchased by that date will be forfeit. After a second drawing, any leftover tags are sold over the counter. Results of deer, elk, antelope and fall black bear controlled hunt drawings are available on… more

Open House Set on 2011 Panhandle Wolf Seasons

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

The public is invited to an open house from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Idaho Fish and Game Panhandle Region office at 2885 W. Kathleen Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. Regional staff members will be on hand to answer questions and to solicit comments on Fish and Game's 2011 wolf season proposals. Wolves were… more

South Fork Salmon River to Close Wednesday

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Part of the South Fork Salmon River Chinook fishery will close Wednesday, July 20. The lower South Fork Salmon River will close to salmon fishing effective the end of fishing Wednesday. Anglers harvested about 700 adult salmon from the nontribal adult harvest share of 1,100 fish destined for the South Fork Salmon… more

Early Elk Seasons Open Next Month

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Some early elk hunts open August 1, most of them antlerless "green-field" hunts. The early "green-field" hunts in seven elk management zones - Palouse, Weiser, Lemhi, Beaverhead, Pioneer, Snake River and Owyhee-South Hills zones - are meant to help landowners reduce crop damage. Early archery hunts also start… more

Ask Fish and Game: Take the Kids Fishing

Mon, 07/18/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Q. Where's a good place to take my grandkids fishing? A. Family Fishing Waters are great places to take the grandchildren and the rest of the family fishing. They are easy to get to, the rules are simple and they have plenty of fish to catch. To find good places to take a youngster fishing, directions on how to get… more

Salmon River Chinook Fishing Update

Thu, 07/14/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Even as stream flows are dropping on the South Fork Salmon River, angler anticipation for the river's highly popular Chinook salmon season is rising. This season, the hatchery Chinook sport harvest could approach the South Fork quota of 1,100 fish quickly. Like most of Idaho's Chinook seasons, the South Fork… more

Southwest Idaho Chinook Fishing Update - As of July 12

Wed, 07/13/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Chinook salmon fishing for Rapid River Hatchery fish is very good in the Lower Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers. This past weekend saw record numbers of anglers and more than 100 fish harvested per day in and around Riggins, as river levels have dropped to ideal fishing flows on the Little Salmon River. Salmon are also… more

Ask the Conservation Officer (CO): Bow Fishing

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Question: "I recently saw an outdoor program about bow fishing for carp? What are the rules for shooting fish with a bow and arrow?" Answer: Bow fishing is a great summer-time diversion from target shooting and 3D shoots. It also… more

Fish and Game Proposes Wolf Hunting, Trapping Seasons

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Idaho Fish and Game managers have released proposed wolf seasons that would use hunting and trapping to reduce the population to a level that is sustainable, meets federal recovery goals and reduces conflict levels statewide. The proposal is available on the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.… more

F&G Proposes Changes to Sandhill Season

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking public comments on proposed changes in the upland game seasons. For the 2011 season, Fish and Game proposes to increase the daily bag limit for sandhill cranes from two to three in the Southeast and Upper Snake regions. The sandhill crane harvest allocation for Idaho… more

Grizzly Bear Trapping to Begin in the Caribou-Targhee

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Biologists are set to begin grizzly bear trapping for research in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest south of Yellowstone National Park. As part of ongoing efforts under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the distribution of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, Idaho Fish and Game is working to inform the… more