Press Releases and Articles
Draft Sage Grouse Plan Released
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The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has released a draft of a new state-wide sage grouse conservation plan for public review and comment. The plan is available at: http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/grouse/conserve_plan/. Comments on the draft plan will be accepted until April 21. The "2006 Conservation… moreChinook Headed For Limited Idaho Season
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So far none have crossed the Bonneville Dam on the lower Columbia River, but spring Chinook salmon are heading for Idaho, Idaho Fish and Game fishery managers say. The numbers still are uncertain but it appears that a limited salmon season, similar to last year, will be likely, Fishery Program Coordinator Bill Horton… moreAsk Fish and Game
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Q. I've never hunted using a bow and want to start this year. A friend told me that I have to take a class to qualify, but I'm 35 years old. Do I still have to take a class? A. Everyone who wants to start hunting during an archery only season has to take a bowhunter education class. If you can't attend a regular… moreSportsmen Determine Effectiveness of Department
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By Mike Demick - Idaho Fish and Game It's no secret. In order to preserve, perpetuate and distribute Idaho's consumptable wildlife resource equally, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) needs support from the hunters and anglers of the State. It's also no secret that the vast majority of these… moreAsk the Conservation Officer (CO)
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by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I heard the conservation officers have really been issuing a lot of citations this year for hunting jackrabbits without a hunting license. Why do you need a hunting license to hunt an unprotected species like jackrabbits?" Answer: Jackrabbits, both white-… moreBLM Closes Areas to Protect Wintering Mule Deer
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Federal officials have closed the areas of Stinking Springs and Wolf Flat, two popular areas near the South Fork of the Snake River, to protect fragile wintering mule deer populations. The Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake Field Office's emergency closure to human entry starts immediately and runs through April 15… moreTurkey, Bear Draw Results Online
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Hunters who applied for spring turkey and black bear controlled hunts can find results on the Idaho Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/. Successful applicants have also been notified by mail. Details for obtaining or exchanging tags are explained on the site. Hunters who need to exchange a… moreFighting Brucellosis in Elk
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Since 1998, Fish and Game has been trapping, testing and culling elk that test positive for brucellosis, and despite a set-back, the efforts appears to be working. The disease became an issue when Idaho lost its brucellosis-free status for livestock earlier this year. Brucellosis can be transmitted between domestic… moreCommission to Consider Motor Vehicle Change
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The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will consider a proposal to apply motor vehicle rules to more units in the Southwest Region. The change is among several changes under consideration for the 2006 hunting season. The rule governing all motor vehicle use in hunting, including ATVs, has not changed for several years.… moreDelisting Notice Available
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's notice of plans to develop a proposal to remove gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains from the federal list of threatened and endangered species is available in the Federal Register. The Fish and Wildlife Service would establish a distinct population segment of gray wolves in… moreBurrowing Owls, Pest Control Alternative
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If you give a hoot about owls, Colleen Moulton, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist, will speak about the diet of Idaho's burrowing owls at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at the Morrison Knudson Nature Center on South Walnut in Boise. In her presentation, "Idaho's Burrowing Owl: A Natural, Native and Free Pest… moreAsk Fish and Game
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Q. When can I get my hands on the 2006 big game rules book? A. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will set final rules and seasons for 2006 big game hunting in its March 2-4 meeting in Boise. The final copy for the new brochure must be completed and shipped to the printer with copies available to the public in late… moreGrow Your Own Birds
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By Tiege Ulschmid - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Whether it is a rooster pheasant perched atop a weathered fence post or covey of quail chasing insects, many Idahoans have discovered the pleasure of observing upland game birds, even from their own windows. Through proper planning and a little work,… moreAsk the Conservation Officer (CO)
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by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I recently noticed ground squirrels and rock chucks out and about. What are the rules about shooting ground squirrels?" Answer: The sage brush flats north of Mountain Home are a popular shooting destination for hunters in search of ground squirrels.… moreTake a Kid Fishing
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By Lance Hebdon, Fisheries Biologist, Southwest Region Taken as a whole, last year wasn't the best fishing year of my fishing career spanning some 30 years. I managed to catch a chinook salmon on the South Fork of the Salmon River and a couple steelhead in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains, and my first smallmouth… moreBackcountry Officers
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By Jon Hunter, Conservation Officer, Southwest Region Since 1899 when Idaho's state legislature appointed Charles Arbuckle as the first State Game Warden, the guardians of Idaho's wildlife have spent at least part of their time on horseback. Even today, horses remain a mainstay for the backcountry Conservation Officer… moreBig Game Trophy Measuring Day Set
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Many hunters have reported great success this past hunting season with numerous reports of big trophies being harvested. Hunters who took trophy animals last season or any past season have a golden opportunity to have them measured by certified measurers. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has scheduled a trophy… moreCommissioners to Set Big Game Rules
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Idaho Fish and Game commissioners will meet in Boise March 1-3 to tackle big game seasons and limits, hear updates on wolf management, the 2008 budget and the prospects for a spring Chinook salmon season. The special meeting will kick off with a public hearing at 7 p.m. March 1 in the Trophy Room at Fish and Game… more