Press Releases and Articles
Check out these F&G resources for a refresher on field dressing big game, upland birds
| idfg-bpearson
No matter what kind of game you’re hunting, the hunt doesn’t end after the harvest. Properly field dressing your quarry is the crucial next step in getting delicious wild game meat from the field to your table.
Field dressing can sometimes seem like the most challenging part of the hunt, especially among those… more
Preparation important for waterfowl hunting with a boat
| idfg-mdemick
Hunters using a boat to get to their island blind, and hunters shooting from their duck boats are going not only on a hunting trip. They are also going on a boating trip.
It is critically important that they have all of the safety equipment that a boating outing requires. In addition having safety gear, it is… more
Portions of Andrus WMA Reopen to Visitors
| idfg-eoneale
NOTICE: This original closure has been rescinded.
Learn more
Even while the Woodhead Fire continues to burn in the Hells Canyon area, portions of Andrus Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are reopening after weeks of fire-related closure. The extreme… more
Wildlife Express: Meet the Grouse
| idfg-scassinelli
Have you ever had a quiet hike interrupted by an exploding bird? If so, you encountered a member of the grouse family. These birds don’t really explode, but their sudden getaway right at your feet will seem like a feathered explosion.
Take a closer look at Idaho’s forest grouse in the October edition of… more
Make sure you know the difference between white-tailed deer and mule deer
| idfg-kcampbell
In the Panhandle region, white-tailed deer and mule deer ranges often overlap and there is no harvest of antlerless mule deer allowed. Hunters need to be extra vigilant about species identification before a shot is taken.
Since the rifle deer season opener on October 10th, Panhandle Conservation Officers have… more
Fish and Game taking uncommon action to trap and translocate elk responsible for costly and repeated crop damage
| idfg-tthompson
In mid-October, Fish and Game will conduct a trapping and translocation project on private property to remove elk responsible for ongoing depredation issues in the Little Camas region of southern Idaho. Elk in this area have a long history of expensive damage to crops on private property at night, and then retreating… more
One of Idaho's newest game species, red squirrel is a great gateway for new hunters
| idfg-bpearson
With a Hunting Passport in his pocket, a .410 shotgun in the crook of his arm (a recent Christmas gift), and mom and dad by his side, Wyatt Creson, then 8 years old, stalked through the woods and scoured tree branches in search of one of Idaho’s more diminutive game animals: the American red squirrel.
… more
Mule deer buck left to waste near American Falls
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding the waste of a 4-point mule deer buck in Power County. On October 12, Senior Conservation Officer Morgan Scott received a call from Citizens Against Poaching about a mule deer buck left to waste in a ditch along Ferry Hollow Road approximately 5 miles… more
A Scale Tale
| idfg-midavison
Steelhead trout returning to Idaho waters to spawn are long lived relative to other anadromous salmonids. Every year, Idaho Fish and Game collects scale samples from steelhead and salmon passing Lower Granite Dam to determine their ages. Scales can tell us more than just how old a fish is, however… more
Here's a back-to-basics approach to duck hunting that any hunter can use
| idfg-bpearson
Waterfowl hunting has a reputation for being expensive, but hunters don’t need to shell out tons of money on a boat or a truckload of waterfowl gear to be successful. That’s especially true in a state with as much public land as Idaho.
Jump shooting is a low-cost option for public land hunts,… more
Idaho's first swan season opens October 19th in portions of the Panhandle Region
| idfg-kcampbell
October 19 not only marks the date of the waterfowl opener in the Panhandle Region, but also the opener of Idaho's first ever swan season.
In August, 50 tags were issued first-come, first-serve for this hunt; it will be evaluated as an experimental hunt for at least three years.… more
October 12: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report
| idfg-bbeller
Steelhead angler effort increased this week on the upper Salmon River, and anglers were catching steelhead. The majority of angler effort was located downstream of North Fork in location code 15, and anglers interviewed in this area averaged 55 hours per steelhead caught. Anglers interviewed downstream of the Middle… more
Video: Carrying what you need gives you the confidence to go deeper to find game
| idfg-vosborn
Hunting Idaho's backcountry in the fall and winter can be a mental challenge as well as a physical one. Going miles from a road or trail and downing a large animal and then getting it processed and ready to take out is a big challenge.
An Idaho hunter shares how taking a fully loaded pack into the backcountry… more
Meridian fire prompts small area closure in Unit 50
| idfg-jbrower
Salmon-Challis National Forest has implemented an emergency area closure to protect Forest visitors from the current fire safety hazards associated with the Meridian Fire. This closure will remain in effect until October 20, 2020 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.
AREA CLOSURE: Hunter Creek… more
Waterfowl season opens Oct. 19 for most of Idaho
| idfg-bpearson
The waterfowl season opens Monday, Oct. 19 in much of Idaho, and has been open since Oct. 3 in Eastern Idaho and Valley County (Area 2).
The season opener for duck hunting in Area 1, which includes most of the state, was shifted later this year, so that the 107-day season ends as late as allowed within the… more
The right clothes can make you a more effective hunter
| idfg-rphillips
Fall hunting takes place in all weather conditions and temperatures, so don’t overlook your hunting clothing because it may play a role in your comfort and success. It takes a little preparation and investment in the right clothing for the weather, but it will pay dividends when you're more comfortable and able… more
F&G seeking information about elk calf shot and left to waste in Unit 51
| idfg-jbrower
An elk calf was shot and left to waste Sept. 24 at the mouth of Deep Creek in Unit 51. Fish and Game Conservation Officers are looking for any information the public may have to help solve this case.
At the time of the incident only archery seasons were open in the area. "The calf was shot with a small… more
Share your Idaho Master Naturalist STORY!
| idfg-sfocht
Idaho Master Naturalists! We want to hear your Idaho Master Naturalist Story! Please help us learn more about you, what you do as an IMNP and what the program means to you! Fill out this short form to contribute and THANKS!