Press Releases and Articles
Ask Fish and Game
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Q: Is it legal to hunt big game with a crossbow in Idaho? A: Yes, but with restrictions and only in certain hunts. You may NOT use a crossbow in an archery only hunt (unless you have a disabled archer permit). The rules do allow the use of a crossbow in an "any weapon" hunt or a short range weapon hunt. In hunts where… moreSpecial Youth Pheasant Hunt & Clinic Set For First Weekend Of October
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ROBERTS - Young people today need all the help they can get to be exposed to the wonderful world of hunting. The days of coming home from school, grabbing a shotgun and heading out the backdoor to shoot a few pheasants is long gone. Neither kids nor parents seem to have the time anymore, no matter how many labor… moreHunters and Landowners
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Guest Editorial by; Marcus Gibbs, Chairman, Idaho Fish and Game Commission Steven Huffaker, Director, Idaho Fish and Game When you take to the field this fall, you may see more "No Trespassing" signs. Every year, more landowners are exercising their right to limit public access. The reasons vary. Some are… moreUtah Hunter Wastes Elk
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In September 2005, while on a routine inspection of a local meat storage facility, Fish and Game officers discovered the cape and antlers of a 6x6 bull elk and 66 pounds of elk meat. Realizing that this was far short of the nearly 250 pounds of boned meat harvestable from such a large animal, officers attempted to… moreBanner Summit Wolf Shooter Caught, Fined
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A Boise man has paid a $2,500 fine for illegally shooting a gray wolf near Banner Summit earlier this summer. Terrance Hunter, 48, confessed to the crime after reading accounts of the incident in the newspaper. Personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S Forest Service, and Idaho Fish and Game worked… moreUpper Hog Island Boat Ramp to Be Improved
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LEWISTON - With funds from the Nez Perce County Waterways Committee, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will double the width of the Upper Hog Island boat ramp to 24-feet to make it easier for boaters to launch. Work began September 19 and is expected to be completed by September 23. The ramp may be temporarily… moreAccess Yes! program opens up 131,960 acres in Magic Valley Region to sportsmen
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JEROME - Sportsmen in the Magic Valley Region will have more country to wander this hunting season with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game enrolling 131,960 acres in the Access Yes! program. "We had a lot of interest in the program this year," said Steve Elam, Magic Valley Region Landowner/Sportsmen Coordinator. "… moreHunters need to send in report cards
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JEROME - With deer, elk, and antelope hunting seasons underway, sportsmen need to remember to send in their harvest reports. Sportsmen need to submit this report within 10 days of harvest or 10 days after the season closes. Hunters who do not report will not be able to purchase a license the following year until the… moreSage Grouse Opener a Success
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Hunters chasing sage grouse across southern Idaho during the 2005 opening weekend saw more birds and harvested more birds than last year. Using the average amount of time required to harvest a bird as the gauge, wildlife managers determined that in some places sage grouse hunting is better than it has been in a… moreCitizens Against Poaching Works Overtime
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Now that hunting season is open, Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) is paying operators to monitor the CAP hotline for extended hours including evenings and weekends. The hotline number is 1-800-632-5999. Violations can also be reported online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov "Most of our calls come in during the… moreDeer Season Looks Promising
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The question on every dedicated deer hunter's mind this time of the year is: what kind of season are we going to have? By all indications, deer hunting should be first rate. Most years, about forty-five to fifty percent of the fawns make it through the winter. This year we're looking at seventy-three percent survival… moreHunters are Crucial to Monitoring of Wolf Populations
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Fall hunting season has begun and sportsmen are reminded to please help monitor wolves by reporting suspected wolf observations. "We want to know where the animal was observed, how many were seen, the location, observer's phone number, and so forth," said Steve Nadeau, wolf program coordinator for Idaho Fish… moreHunters Asked About Possible Controlled Hunt Changes
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The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has received numerous comments from hunters who seem to have bad luck when it comes to drawing a permit for controlled hunts. Numerous changes to the drawing process have been suggested including a system of bonus points that would theoretically increase the odds of hunters who… moreSix Sockeye Salmon Make the Journey Back to Idaho
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In early September, the final two sockeye salmon returning to the Sawtooth Valley were captured, bringing the total number collected at fish weirs operated by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to six. Thirty people were involved in the seining operation conducted to collect two stubborn sockeye salmon holding in… moreEarly Hunts Give Youth First Shot at Birds
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Youth hunters between the ages of 10 to 15 wanting to get an early shot at a duck or goose can by participating in the youth waterfowl hunt on September 24 and 25. The youth pheasant season opens October 1. The rules for the youth hunt are simple. The hunters must have a valid hunting license, including the migratory… moreAsk Fish and Game
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Q: If I see a grouse while I'm deer hunting, do I have to have a shotgun to shoot it? A: No. The upland game rules offer an exception for forest grouse to address this exact situation. Unlike other birds, you can take a forest grouse with a center-fire weapon, a sling shot, or even a stick or a rock. It is still not… moreChukar Season Uncertain
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One of the most anticipated upland game bird seasons opens on September 17th this year. Hunters and their dogs alike are readying themselves for the challenge of hunting these notoriously wily game birds in the rocky, shrubby terrain they prefer. Chukar are an introduced game bird originally from the Middle East… moreATV's and Hunting: Reducing Conflicts
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For the avid hunter, the last days of summer can seem unbearable. Each day that passes becomes shorter and the morning air crisper and cooler, signifying the most anticipated time of year, hunting season! On the whole, hunters are a passionate bunch expecting their time out hunting to be a rewarding experience.… more