Press Releases and Articles
Hunters Heading Out Should Leave the Weeds Behind
| idfg-mcoleman
As Idaho's hunting seasons open, thousands of individuals will be traveling Idaho's back country and potentially spreading noxious weed seeds. The Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign encourages hunters to be aware of the potential to spread noxious weeds as they travel through the backcountry. Noxious weeds can become… moreAsk Fish and Game: Life Jackets
| idfg-mcoleman
Q. Are waterfowl hunters required to wear life jackets in a boat? A. Idaho law requires a life jacket on board for every passenger, and a throw-able personal floatation device is required in boats more than 16 feet long. Occupants 14 and under in a boat less than 20 feet long, are required to wear a life jacket if the… moreWhat is an observation?
| idfg-bthomas
We define any identification of a taxa element at a point and place, be it a trailcam picture, animal mark recapture, waterbird survey or an incidental sighting as an observation. Some are very complex including hundreds of attributes. For some it may be as simple as an historical observation of Bison in Cassia… more
Botulism Outbreak May Dampen Early Season Waterfowl Hunting
| idfg-nnokkentved
An outbreak of avian botulism at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area, near Parma, has killed a mix of more than 600 mallards and other waterfowl species in the past few weeks. Fish and Game staff members have been busy collecting and disposing of the waterfowl carcasses in an effort to halt the outbreak. Fort Boise… moreRobotic Deer Too Tempting a Target for Oregon Poachers
| idfg-nnokkentved
An early start to the mule deer hunting season in the wrong state could prove costly to several Oregonians too impatient to wait for opening day or to learn some basic geography. Five individuals now face court appearances and potentially heavy fines for their respective roles in two unrelated poaching incidents.… moreLimits Reduced on Fall Steelhead in the Clearwater
| idfg-nnokkentved
Idaho Fish and Game has reduced bag and possession limits on steelhead harvested in part of the Clearwater River drainage during the fall and spring seasons. The change takes effect when the fall steelhead harvest season opens Tuesday October 15 in the Clearwater River drainage. The limits for the fall season and… morePheasant Season Opens Saturday in North Idaho
| idfg-nnokkentved
The regular 2013 pheasant season opens October 12 in northern Idaho, Area 1, and runs through December 31. In the rest of the state, the season opens October 19. It runs through November 30 in Area 2 and through December 31 in Area 3. Shooting hours start one-half hour before sunrise in all three areas, except on Fort… moreWaterfowl Seasons Open Saturday
| idfg-nnokkentved
The waterfowl season in most of the state opens October 12; the season opened in the area around American Falls Reservoir on October 5. Duck and Canada goose continue through January 24, with scaup seasons from November 2 to January 24. Waterfowl seasons in the area around the American Falls Reservoir opened… moreAsk Fish and Game: Waterfowl Shooting Hours
| idfg-nnokkentved
Q. I picked up the waterfowl regs, but I can't find the shooting hours chart. A. Shooting hours were not included in the waterfowl rules brochure this year. Legal shooting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Waterfowl hunters can find sunrise and sunset hours for the area they will be hunting online… moreOctober Offers Great Local Fishing Opportunity
| idfg-lfrench
By Phil Cooper - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Many people in northern Idaho have shifted their focus toward hunting now that summer is over. However, some of the best fishing of the year remains available in area waters for outdoor recreationists who don't hunt, and for those who were already successful at… moreCommission Changes Hunt in Response to Fire Closures
| idfg-nnokkentved
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, October 3, approved a change in a controlled elk hunt in the Wood River Valley in response to wildfire closures. Commissioners changed controlled hunt No. 2107 to include the parts of game management units 43 and 44 west of the Pine-Featherville Road (Forest Service Road 61… moreFall Mushrooms
| idfg-mlucid
One of the things I love most about hunting is slowing down and focusing completely on my immediate surroundings. My senses are totally focused on the task at hand and the forest around me...which sets me up perfectly to find great mushrooms to cook up back at camp!
On a recent elk hunting trip my… more
Federal Government Shutdown Effects on Outdoor Recreation
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho Department of Fish and Game advises Idaho hunters, anglers, trappers, and wildlife watchers of the following information about federal land closures related to the federal government shutdown. Idaho Fish and Game is not authorized to enforce these federal closures. Idaho Fish and Game does not have information… moreDeer Season Opens in October in Most of Idaho
| idfg-mcoleman
The regular deer season opens October 10 in most regions of Idaho. In some areas, a regular deer tag allows hunters to take either mule deer or white-tailed deer. A white-tailed deer tag allows a hunter to take only a white-tail. Many areas across the state also offer antlerless youth hunt opportunities, but check… moreSharp-tailed Grouse Season Opens This Week
| idfg-mcoleman
The sharp-tailed grouse season opens Tuesday, October 1, and runs through October 31, with a daily bag limit of two birds and a possession limit of six. The season is open only in eastern Idaho in these areas: Bingham and Clark counties east of Interstate 15, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson County east of Interstate 15… moreSome Waterfowl Seasons Open Saturday
| idfg-mcoleman
The waterfowl season opens Saturday, October 5, in the area around the American Falls Reservoir. It opens in the rest of the state on October 12. The daily bag limit will be seven ducks - but no more than two female mallards, two redheads, three scaup, two pintails and two canvasbacks - and four Canada geese, six… moreF&G Commission to Discuss Elk Hunt Area Change
| idfg-mcoleman
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet via telephone conference call at 9 a.m. Thursday, October 3. Commissioners will discuss a boundary expansion of elk controlled Hunt Area 48-3 in response to this summer's wildfire in the Wood River Valley. The call is an open public meeting and will originate from Fish… morePublic Vehicle, Equipment Auction Set
| idfg-mcoleman
A public auction of vehicles and other equipment used by Idaho Fish and Game is set for Wednesday, October 23, at Dealers Auto Auction, 3323 Port Street in Nampa. The auction will start at 1 p.m. This year's sale includes vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles and more. To contact Dealers Auto Auction call 208-… more