Press Releases and Articles
Restoring salmon habitat can prevent harmful floods
| idfg-jkeith
Salmon habitat restoration project on the Eagle Valley Ranch near Salmon, Idaho CAPTION: Salmon habitat restoration project on the Eagle Valley Ranch near Salmon, Idaho
Idaho Fish and Game biologists are applying techniques to restore salmon and steelhead habitat that can reduce the effects of… more
Q&A: Idaho closed its chinook fishing while Washington and Oregon extend theirs, how can that be?
| idfg-jdupont
Most people understand why we had to shut down the fishery in Clearwater basin and reduce harvest shares on the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. What people don’t understand is how Washington and Oregon were announcing they would extend their Chinook Salmon fishery just when Idaho was closing ours down. The disparity… more
Wildlife Express: Redband trout are Idaho’s native resident rainbow
| idfg-scassinelli
Redband trout are found in a variety of stream habitats in Idaho, from some of the warmest streams in the Owyhee desert, to the smallest mountain streams in remote alpine settings of central and northern Idaho.
This month’s Wildlife Express will have anglers itching to catch these native gems known for their… more
F&G begins annual grizzly bear research trapping in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest
| idfg-jnicholson
Biologists from Idaho Fish and Game will begin annual research trapping efforts for grizzly bears in the Upper Snake Region on May 31. To avoid conflicts with hunters, current operations will be confined to areas where hunting is prohibited. Larger scale operations will begin July 1st in the Caribou-Targhee National… more
2020 Campground Openers/Closures at Horsethief Reservoir
| idfg-mkoenig
The opening of campgrounds at Horsethief Reservoir has been delayed due to the current COVID-19 situation. The opening date for overnight camping at Horsethief Reservoir Campground has been set for Saturday, May 30th. Basic sanitary measures to address COVID-19 issues for campground users are being… more
Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Update 5/26/2020
| idfg-jdupont
Hi everybody, it is time for my weekly spring Chinook Salmon update (5/26/2020).
Run Size and Harvest Shares
Counts at Bonneville continue to give periods of hope only to drop back down (see graph below). At this point, the run of Idaho bound spring Chinook Salmon over Bonneville… more
F&G capture and euthanize injured mountain lion near Rexburg
| idfg-jbrower
On the evening of May 23, a young male mountain lion was tranquilized by Fish and Game staff on the outskirts of Rexburg. The young lion had an injury on his right flank and was held overnight for observation. It was later determined that the injury was severe and the lion was euthanized.
… more
Spring bear hunters reminded of baiting rules
| idfg-mdemick
With spring black bear hunting season well underway, Idaho Department of Fish and Game reminds hunters that using bait comes with easy to follow rules. Yet each spring, some run afoul with the law when their blunders could easily be avoided.
Here are a few reminders every bear baiter should follow:… more
Please Recreate Responsibly during the Memorial Day Weekend
| idfg-staff
Despite COVID-19, Memorial Day remains the start of the summer recreation season, and state and federal land managers urge the public to enjoy the outdoors – but to do so responsibly.
The Recreate Responsibly Idaho partners would like to remind Idahoans to be safe and respectful of others as they enjoy hiking… more
As you prepare for 2020 big game season, here's a look at 2019 deer and elk harvest statistics
| idfg-rphillips
Here's an overview of the 2019 deer and elk harvests, and links to more stories to let you know where we're headed for 2020.
Controlled hunt information for deer, elk and pronghorn
Apply now for Idaho's Super Hunt drawings, deadline is May 31
Winter survival for radio-collared… more
Riley Pond on the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area to be partially drained to improve waterfowl habitat
| idfg-tthompson
Located 4 miles south of Hagerman on the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Riley Pond will be drawn down following the Memorial Day weekend for a wetland management project. The drawdown is expected to last until early September.
Wetlands benefit from routine and timely drawdowns to increase wetland… more
A Look at the Role of Conservation Aquaculture in Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Recovery in the Bear River
| idfg-rhillyard
Bonneville Cutthroat Trout are one of 14 subspecies of Cutthroat Trout and unique to the southeast corner of the state. Known for their tenacity and willingness to rise for a dry fly, Cutthroat Trout are popular among anglers and a symbolic piece of western North America's natural history. The Bonneville Cutthroat… more
F&G taking applications for Access Yes! Program
| idfg-bpearson
Fish and Game is seeking to enroll new properties in its Access Yes! Program, which improves public access to private land or through private land by compensating willing landowners who provide access.
Fish and Game recently received a $900,000 federal grant through the 2020 Voluntary Public Access and Habitat… more
Lake Pend Oreille walleye lottery enters second year with even more $1,000 fish
| Anonymous (not verified)
Anglers won nearly $9,000 in monthly drawings, high-dollar reward tags still at-large
In March 2019, Fish and Game kicked off the first year of the walleye lottery program by announcing that $50,000 in reward money was swimming in Lake Pend Oreille. Nearly 200 anglers participated in the… more
Get out and enjoy some fishing in the Magic Valley Region over the Memorial Day holiday
| idfg-tthompson
Memorial Day is the traditional opening day of fishing for many Idahoans, so let’s keep the tradition going! Fish and Game hatcheries have continued to stock area waters over the last several weeks in anticipation of a busy holiday weekend. To find out whether or not a water body has been recently stocked, visit the… more
Kokanee stocked for the first time in CJ Strike Reservoir
| idfg-jcassinelli
Fishing at southern Idaho's CJ Strike Reservoir will soon get a bit more interesting thanks to the recent stocking of 90,000 hatchery kokanee fingerlings. Known for its crappie, perch, bass, and trout, a unique set of circumstances led to this first-ever addition to CJ Strike in 2020.
Each fall, Fish and Game… more
Rainbow trout are wrapping up their spawning season
| idfg-tthompson
Recent low water in the Wood River Valley due to a below average winter snowpack has made it easier to witness the annual spring spawning ritual of rainbow trout in the Big Wood River and its tributaries. By regulation, many rivers and streams across the state, including the Big Wood River and Silver Creek are closed… more
Apply now for Idaho's Super Hunt drawing
| Anonymous (not verified)
Super Hunt winners get the best of the best by being able to hunt any open hunt in Idaho for the species they draw, and keep hunting, general or controlled hunts, until they tag an animal. No license is needed to enter a Super Hunt drawing for either residents or nonresidents.
The first drawing will be for… more