Press Releases and Articles
Southern Idaho waters closed to fishing by regulation on April 1 to protect spawning rainbow trout
| idfg-tthompson
Sections of three Southern Idaho rivers will be closed to fishing from April 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. None of the closures are due to Covid-19 concerns. Rather, they are regular annual closures that are put into place to protect spawning rainbow trout.
Fishing will reopen on Saturday… more
Spring turkey hunting outlook good to very good for 2020
| idfg-bpearson
Based on regional reports from Fish and Game biologists, growing turkey populations and expanded hunting opportunities should make for a good to very good spring turkey season in 2020.
Youth turkey season opens April 8, and the general turkey season and many controlled hunts open April 15. Hunters can see… more
Boise National Forest Closes Access to Areas for Public Health and Safety
| Anonymous (not verified)
This news release was received from Boise National Forest Staff. It is shared here as a courtesy to all outdoor enthusiasts. Should you have questions, please contact Venetia Gempler at the Boise National Forest Office in Boise - 208-373-4105.Boise, Idaho, March 26, 2020--A number of campgrounds, snow mobile parking… more
Payette National Forest Closes Forest Restroom Facilities and Delays Recreation Site Opening Dates
| Anonymous (not verified)
This news release was received from Payette National Forest Staff. It is shared here as a courtesy to all outdoor enthusiasts. Should you have questions, please contact Ronda Bishop or Erin Vonderheit at the Payette National Forest office in McCall - 208-634-0700.
McCall, Idaho, March 28, 2020 -- To protect… more
Flocking to McArthur Lake: spring waterfowl counts up after reservoir drawdown
| idfg-edehamer
It’s that time of year when the snow starts to melt, the sun starts to shine and migratory birds start to fly in earnest. This means that it’s time for annual waterfowl migration surveys at McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area.
Although there was still ice over much of McArthur… more
Bull trout coloring contest
| Anonymous (not verified)
With education events cancelled, Senior Conservation Officer and bull trout educator Dustin Masin put together a coloring contest for students in grades 1 through 3.
Bull trout are one of the most misidentified fish in the Panhandle Region. These amazing native fish can migrate many miles between spawning… more
Attention anglers: Delays expected in "Tag, You're It" reward processsing, but please continue to report tags
| idfg-bpearson
Due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, anglers who report reward tags as part of Fish and Game’s “Tag, You’re It” program should expect some delays in receiving their rewards.
Jeff Dillon, fisheries research manager at Idaho Fish and Game said, “Under the current conditions, we are not going to… more
Hayspur Hatchery and campground in Blaine County closed to the public
| idfg-tthompson
Officials with Idaho Fish and Game have announced that effective immediately, the campground area at the Hayspur Fish Hatchery in Blaine County is closed to the public until further notice. This closure extends the previously announced closure of all Fish and Game hatcheries to the public to now include the Hayspur… more
F&G temporarily closes Farragut and Blacks Creek shooting ranges
| idfg-rphillips
The Farragut Public Shooting Range and Blacks Creek Range will be closed until further ntoice. The closure is in accordance with Governor Brad Little's statewide orders to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Fish and Game's Garden Valley shooting range, which is not staffed, will remain open, and all… more
Farragut shooting range will close starting March 27
| Anonymous (not verified)
UPDATE (4-17-20): The Farragut Range will remain closed until further notice
The Farragut Public Shooting range will be closed March 27 through April 15, unless extended by Governor's order. The closure is in accordance with Governor Little's statewide stay-at-home order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19… more
F&G offices closed except by appointment
| idfg-rphillips
Consistent with the Governor’s statewide, stay-at-home order to aid in reducing the spread of Covid-19 in our community, Fish and Game public offices will close starting March 27 through May 15 (unless extended). Some services will remain available by appointment by calling the office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to… more
Pend Oreille State of the Lake meeting cancelled
| Anonymous (not verified)
The Lake Pend Oreille State of the Lake meeting previously scheduled for April 9 in Ponderay has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
State of the Lake is an annual public meeting hosted by Panhandle fisheries staff to share updates on Pend Oreille research, monitoring, angler incentive program and more.
In… more
F&G offices will only take debit cards and checks starting March 30
| idfg-rphillips
As part of an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in our community while also continuing license, tag and permit sales, Fish and Game offices will no longer accept cash payments starting March 30.
Only debit cards and checks will be accepted at Fish and Game offices. As a reminder, F… more
F&G will not give away spawned steelhead at hatcheries during spring
| idfg-rphillips
Fish and Game will be spawning adult steelhead during spring at the Pahsimeroi and Sawtooth hatcheries, but those fish will not be given away at the hatcheries. Instead, the Pahsimeroi and Sawtooth hatcheries will contact local food banks to help distribute steelhead carcasses for public consumption.
All… more
Three orphaned mountain lion kittens from the Magic Valley Region transferred to out-of-state zoos
| idfg-tthompson
Fish and Game officials recently captured three mountain lion kittens in two separate incidents, one in Twin Falls County near Murtaugh, the other in the Wood River Valley near Hailey. All three kittens were monitored prior to capture to ensure there was not a female lion in the area. After capture by Fish and Game… more
Henrys Lake Quarterly Newsletter, March 2020
| idfg-jvincent
Each year the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) spawn Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) at the Henrys Lake Fisheries Management Station. More than 10,000 trout entered our spawn shed during the month of February, while thousands more were still staging in the lake getting ready to move upstream. Over… more
March 23: Upper Salmon steelhead fishing report
| idfg-bbeller
Angler effort on the upper Salmon River increased this past week, especially in location code 17 near Ellis. Catch rates remained good downstream of North Fork in location code 15, and continued to improve upstream of Challis, in location codes 18 and 19 although angler effort in these areas remained low.
… more
Fish and Game thanks volunteers who gave of their time to rehabilitate wildlife habitat in the Magic Valley
| idfg-tthompson
In 2011, the Blair Fire north of King Hill consumed approximately 39,600 acres of prime winter range for mule deer. Before the fire, this area typically supported about 5,000 wintering mule deer who relied on sagebrush and bitterbrush for winter nutrition. Almost immediately after the fire, Fish and Game, BLM, along… more