Press Releases and Articles
Second big game controlled hunt drawing and swan results now available
| idfg-rphillips
Results of the second big game and swan controlled hunt drawing have been posted through Fish and Game’s licensing system. Hunters who already have an account can check to see if they drew controlled hunt tags and, if they drew, purchase them at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, or through the Fish and Game app.
… more
Now is a great time to freshen up on your bear awareness and identification skills
| idfg-tjross
Fall is fast approaching, and it's a time when people are not the only ones trying to fill their bellies with delicious berries. Bears are also trying to fatten up for winter hibernation.
Homeowners, campers and hunters can help keep bears wild and avoid costly property damage by taking… more
Fish and Game is seeking information regarding illegal harvest of bull trout in N. Idaho
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game has information regarding illegal harvest of bull trout on the Pack River in the Lake Pend Oreille basin this summer. Fish and Game conservation officers are seeking any information the public may have that might lead to identification of the people involved.
Bull trout were listed as “… more
Big game hunters should have good hunting for 2021, but there are some disease concerns
| idfg-rphillips
If you want the quick version of what the 2021 big game season is likely to look like, here it is: similar to last year for elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer. There’s been no dramatic changes to the statewide populations for those animals up or down, and the statewide harvests for 2021 should also be similar to… more
Doorbell cameras capture footage of mountain lion in Eagle
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game staff in the Southwest Region received reports of a mountain lion in an Eagle neighborhood near Dry Creek on Aug. 20. Two doorbell security cameras, approximately a quarter-mile apart, captured footage of a mountain lion in the early hours of the morning.
There have been no reports of… more
Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocatello puts grant dollars and community donations to work
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Fish and Game’s Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocatello has benefited from community contributions since its creation in 1993. From paving trails to maintaining gardens and landscaping, from building the fishing pier and bridges to construction of an urban fishery and sporting dog pond, from wildlife habitat… more
Public health advisory issued for algae bloom in Boyer Slough in Lake Pend Oreille
| idfg-tjross
Anglers planning to fish in or near Boyer Slough in Lake Pend Oreille should be aware of the public health advisory recently issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Panhandle Health District.
Sagle Slough and Comeback Bay in Lake Pend Oreille have been under… more
Roads on Craig Mountain reopened to the public on Aug. 23
| idfg-jbruns
Starting Monday, August 23rd, Zaza road (Southwest of the Deer Creek intersection) and Eagle Creek road will be reopened to the public. We encourage recreationists to be cautious of unstable trees and other hazards caused by the fire.
Due to fire activity, road work on Wapshilla Ridge road was temporary… more
Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officer awarded Idaho Medal of Honor
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Randy Martinez was among ten Idaho first responders awarded the Idaho Medal Of Honor during a ceremony on Aug. 18 in Boise.
The medal is the state’s highest honor for bravery and exceptional courage. It is awarded to first responders, including law… more
Do salmon rely on moon phases while migrating to the ocean?
| idfg-kwauhkonen
Idaho Fish and Game runs 15 screw traps throughout the state to study out-migration of juvenile salmonids (read about the journey of one particular tagged Chinook salmon here). To understand fish migration patterns, we must be cognizant of several things: the season, water fluctuations, weather, and even moon… more
Fishery staff in the Southeast Region wants angler input on proposed changes to fishing regulations here and elsewhere in the state
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Fish and Game is currently seeking public comments on proposed fishing regulation changes for the 2022-2024 seasons. Comments will be taken until 11 p.m. MDT on Sunday, Aug. 29.
Anglers can find a complete list of the proposals and their explanations on the "Public Comment" webpage of Fish and Game’s… more
High-elevation adventures: Alpine lakes offer long-lasting family memories
| idfg-scassinelli
When you look back on some of your fondest memories throughout your childhood, what activities and experiences stand out? Did they involve being outdoors or going to a special place?
We are fortunate to live in a state that provides many outdoor experiences, creating those lifelong family memories and… more
Test results confirm that as many as 300 white-tailed deer have died from hemorrhagic disease in the Kamiah area
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game is continuing to receive reports of dead deer in the Kamiah area. Approximately 250-300 whitetails have died near the Kamiah area. Idaho Fish and Game wildlife staff has confirmed that the disease is a type of hemorrhagic disease (HD).
Additional tests are currently being conducted to… more
People can now see live sockeye at the MK Nature Center in Boise
| idfg-rphillips
The MK Nature Center in Boise received 15 live adult sockeye salmon on Aug. 17 that are on display in the outdoor Alpine Lake aquarium. The fish were trapped in July at Lower Granite Dam while Fish and Game biologists were trapping and hauling sockeye to the Eagle Hatchery.
After genetic testing, it was… more
Summer Newsletter Ready to Read
| idfg-sfocht
The summer edition of Idaho Naturalist News is available at this link. Find out about what Master Naturalists are doing and the great places they are visiting across the state. After reading the newsletter, consider making a contribution to the fall newsletter! We are always looking for short stories, photos, book… more
Fall opening for the Godde / Kroetch Access Program has been postponed due to extreme fire conditions in N. Idaho
| idfg-tjross
Due to the continued extreme fire danger and restrictions, the fall opening date of Aug. 30 for the Godde Family / Kroetch Land and Timber Company Access Program has been postponed indefinitely.
It is unknown when current 2021 permit-holders will be able to access the property, but… more
F&G biologists create “strategic mess” to increase native trout numbers on N. Idaho’s Trestle Creek
| idfg-tjross
Trestle Creek is one of the most important spawning tributaries for bull trout in Lake Pend Oreille, but the number of bull trout returning to spawn has declined in recent years. Fish and Game biologists took notice and developed plans to improve the creek’s habitat to increase native trout numbers while… more
Fall Chinook fishing season opens Aug. 18 for most rivers, and coho opens Sept. 1
| idfg-rphillips
Salmon anglers will get another crack at Chinook and coho fishing and the forecast is for good runs of each after lackluster spring/summer Chinook returns earlier this year. The preseason forecast for fall Chinook salmon of 24,710 adults is similar to last year’s return of 27,322, and the coho forecast of 14,000 is… more