Ask Fish and Game: Ice Fishing Rules

Tue, 01/04/2011 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Q. If I can have five poles for ice fishing, does a two-pole permit mean I can have 10? A. No. Ice fishing rules are slightly different than general fishing for public safety and general crowding. Fishing is allowed only through a hole up to 10 inches in diameter. This reduces the risk of someone falling through holes… more

Otter Trapping Quota Reached In Panhandle, Season Closed

Tue, 12/28/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has announced that the river otter harvest quota of 15 otters for the Panhandle Region was reached at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 28. The otter season for the entire region closes 72 hours after the harvest quota has been met. This will occur at 10 a.m. Friday, December 31.… more

New Fishing Seasons and Rules Book Available

Mon, 12/27/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Fishing seasons and rules for 2011-2012 are now available, but anglers should note the new format and a few significant changes. New fishing rules take effect January 1. Anglers will find the new brochure in an easier to read format and 16 pages shorter. All the rules are presented by region, eliminating the need… more

Moose, Sheep and Goat Changes Proposed

Mon, 12/27/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Idaho Fish and Game proposed changes to moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat rules and seasons for 2011-2012. The proposed changes will be submitted to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for considered and action during the annual meeting January 27. The proposals are available for review and comment from Fish… more

Salmon River Tributaries Important to Fish

Mon, 12/27/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

By Bob Esselman - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Even after years of working on Idaho's rivers and streams, a fisheries project can still amaze me. This past summer I got to enjoy one of those pleasant surprises. As both a fish biologist and an avid angler, I know that the cold, flowing water of a tributary… more

Spring Steelhead Season Opens Saturday

Mon, 12/27/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-lfrench

The steelhead spring harvest season opens Saturday, January 1, on parts of the Clearwater, the Salmon, the Little Salmon, the Snake and the Boise rivers. The steelhead limit is three per day, nine in possession and 20 for the season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch and release. On… more

Ask Fish and Game: Spring Turkey Hunts

Mon, 12/27/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Q. How soon can I apply for a spring turkey controlled hunt? A. The application period for spring turkey controlled hunts starts January 15 and runs through February 15. That's also the time to apply for spring black bear controlled hunts. Spring turkey and spring black bear seasons start April 15-some controlled… more

Craig Mountain Gates To Open

Thu, 12/23/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

With the recent snows, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has opened the access gates on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area south of Lewiston. The gates will close March 15, 2011, or earlier if the snow depths recede below 16 inches. Fish and Game encourages snowmobile users to use extreme caution… more

A Land All Up and Down: Cecil D. Andrus WMA

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

By Anna Owsiak - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Nestled in the breaks of Hell's Canyon and overlooking Brownlee Reservoir is the Cecil D. Andrus Wildlife Management Area, more commonly known as Andrus WMA. This 24,000-acre area is home to a number of wildlife species, plant communities and wildland recreational… more

Don't Forget to File Hunter Reports

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

All deer, elk and antelope hunters must complete and submit a report for each tag issued within 10 days of harvest or within 10 days of the close of the season for which the tag was valid. The easiest way is to submit the hunter report card online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov, and click on the logo below the photo… more

Owyhee Elk Poaching Suspects Arrested, Charged

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Two Caldwell men, father and son, face five felony charges stemming from the early November poaching of two six-point bull elk in Owyhee County. A call to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline by an eyewitness set the case in motion. Vance Nelson, 53, and his son Roy, 26, both of Caldwell were arrested on felony… more

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Looking for a last minute gift idea, or a great stocking stuffer? Go to any Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional office around the state and buy a gift certificate for a 2011 hunting and fishing license. They're always in style, never the wrong size or color, and useable every day of the year. A gift… more

Elk Baiting Poachers Fined, Lose Hunting Privileges

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Two California residents and a north Idaho man have pleaded guilty in a case of elk illegally killed over bait in Boundary County. Idaho Fish and Game officers began working the suspected elk baiting case in December 2009. Suspects were observed setting out bait to attract elk, but they didn't kill any elk. This… more

Ask Fish and Game: Youth Hunting License

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

Q. What can a person hunt with a Youth Small Game Hunting license? A. This license allows 10- and 11-year-olds to hunt upland game birds, migratory waterfowl, cottontail rabbits, and unprotected and predatory birds and animals, as well as turkeys and sandhill cranes - with the appropriate tags. They must have a hunter… more

Egin-Hamer Area Closes January 1

Fri, 12/17/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

Some people consider the number 13 to be unlucky, but as the Egin-Hamer Area closure moves into its 13th year, all parties involved agree that luck has been on their side. What started out as an idea by local county commissioners to reopen a popular farm to market road 13 years ago, continues to be a success not just… more

Fish and Game Proposes Improvements to Sportsman's Park Boat Launch

Thu, 12/16/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has proposed a major renovation to the Sportsman Park boat launch located on the north end of Hayden Lake. As proposed, the renovation will include a new 20-foot wide launch surface and an expanded turn around in front of the launch to accommodate boats up to 24 feet in length.… more

Tasty Landscaping Attracting Moose Into Town

Tue, 12/14/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-nnokkentved

By Mark Rhodes -- Idaho Department of Fish and Game Every winter, Idaho Fish and Game gets calls about moose in town. They are attracted to town by edible ornamental and native plants and shrubs that are easy food sources. Generally the moose appear on the edge of town. Sometimes, however, they will find their way… more

Hunting, Fishing Seasons Open During Holidays

Mon, 12/13/2010 - 00:00 | idfg-mcoleman

There's still time to bag that Christmas goose, or maybe a nice solstice-season steelhead. For hunters and anglers itching to get out in the field or to wet a line during the holiday season, several opportunities are available. For upland game hunters, the cottontail season is open through February 28, and snowshoe… more