Providing Safe Fish Passage at Irrigation Diversions is Critical to Salmon Recovery

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:39 | idfg-jkeith

When discussing the decline of wild salmon populations, most people tend to focus on one or two of the most controversial issues such as dams, gill-netting or predation.  However, there are other important pressures that are sometimes overlooked.  One such pressure is fish entrainment. 

Fish… more

Commission meeting Jan. 27-28 in Nampa

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 11:43 | idfg-bpearson

The Fish and Game Commission will meet in Nampa on Jan. 27-28, with the public hearing starting at 7 p.m. MST Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Southwest Region Office, 15950 N. Gate Blvd. People can address the Commission about any matters related to Fish and Game at that time.

Due to the Governor’s Stage 2 Stay… more

Additional services proposed for Horsethief Reservoir campgrounds, upgrades to take place in 2021

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 10:47 | idfg-jmessner

Horsethief Reservoir continues to be a camping and fishing destination for outdoor enthusiasts across Idaho. As visitation continues to increase, the need has arisen to provide more structured camping to protect the very environment that visitors travel to Horsethief to enjoy.

That effort began in 2018, when… more

Hitting the hard water at Henrys Lake

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 10:23 | idfg-jvincent

Anglers spent a record number of hours fishing the hard deck at Henrys Lake during the 2020 ice fishing season with over twice the total number of estimated fishing hours than the 2019 ice fishing season. Despite this amount of angling effort, anglers harvested fewer trout during the 2020 ice fishing season than the… more

Reflecting back on 2020: A year in review- Clearwater river anadromous fisheries

Tue, 01/19/2021 - 17:48 | idfg-jbruns

For only the second time in almost a 100 years (last year was the first), we were able to provide harvest opportunities for both hatchery and wild adult fall Chinook Salmon in the Snake and Clearwater rivers. This new opportunity is proving popular with anglers as around 2,000 adult fall Chinook Salmon have been… more

Citizen Shooting Range Advisory Committee meeting on Jan. 20

Tue, 01/19/2021 - 09:12 | idfg-bpearson

The Citizen Shooting Range Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 20 a 6 p.m. MST. Committee members are participating by video conference, which the Department is hosting at the Nampa Regional Office, 15950 N. Gate Blvd.

While this meeting is informational and no action will be taken, it is open to… more

Canada geese are again shot and left to waste in Minidoka County

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 10:28 | idfg-tthompson

Fish and Game officers have again found Canada geese that had been dumped and left to waste along the Snake River in Minidoka County. The latest incident was reported to Fish and Game on January 16, 2021. The geese were dumped in the same location of the nine geese left to waste in late December 2020. Officers again… more

F&G conservation officers euthanize mountain goat that was illegally shot with crossbow

Sat, 01/16/2021 - 18:44 | Anonymous (not verified)

A mature mountain goat, suffering from at least three crossbow-related wounds was euthanized by Fish and Game conservation officers earlier this week.

Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) is offering a reward for information in the case and callers can remain anonymous. Contact CAP at 1-800-632-5999 twenty four… more

F&G hatchery staff spend winter producing fish that anglers will catch in 2021 and beyond

Fri, 01/15/2021 - 14:36 | idfg-bpearson

While fish stocking around the state tapers down when the weather gets cold, Idaho Fish and Game’s hatchery crews are still hard at work producing the next generation of fish for Idaho anglers.

Winter is busy at Idaho Fish and Game’s resident fish hatcheries, which produce a variety of trout species for… more

Citizen Shooting Range Advisory Committee Meeting - January 20, 2021

Fri, 01/15/2021 - 14:05 | idfg-staff

Citizen Shooting Range Advisory Committee
Meeting and Agenda

Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 6 p.m. MST

Idaho Fish and Game Southwest Regional Office
15950 N. Gate Boulevard, Nampa, ID

Live stream via Zoom… more

Mountain lion season reopens in Game Management Unit 54

Fri, 01/15/2021 - 13:21 | idfg-tthompson

The previously announced closure of the mountain lion season in Game Management Unit 54 has been rescinded. After the closure was announced on January 12, 2021, it was determined that two female lions had been incidentally killed, which does not impact the harvest quota of nine female mountain lions in Unit 54.

Ice fishing update, Jan. 14: Lake Cascade, Payette Lake and Horsethief Reservoir ice, snow and travel conditions

Fri, 01/15/2021 - 11:00 | idfg-mthomas

On Thursday, Jan. 14, we visited two access areas on Lake Cascade to check surface and ice conditions. At Van Wyck access, we measured 5 inches of a slush/ice mix above 13 inches of clear ice. At Boulder Creek access, we measured 3 inches of snow and 7 inches of a slush/ice mix above 17 inches of clear ice (… more

Apply now for spring bear controlled hunts

Fri, 01/15/2021 - 10:07 | idfg-bpearson

Hunters wanting to participate in this spring's controlled hunts for black bear can apply through February 15.

Spring 2021 bear controlled hunt information is in the 2020 Big Game Seasons and Rules book.

Hunters who have a 2021 hunting license may apply for controlled hunts at any Fish and Game license… more

Reflecting back on 2020- A year in review: Dworshak Reservoir

Thu, 01/14/2021 - 12:27 | idfg-jbruns

This summer’s trawl and hydro-acoustic surveys in Dworshak Reservoir have found a record number of kokanee fry. These surveys estimate there are 5.8 million fry in the reservoir. The previous high was 4.0 million fry. This is both good news and not-so-good news. The reason this is not-so-good is because these high… more

Reflecting back on 2020- A year in review: Clearwater wildlife highlights

Thu, 01/14/2021 - 12:03 | idfg-jbruns

Clearwater region wildlife staff have been busy in the field this year monitoring wildlife populations. 

The Clearwater Region placed 150 unbaited remote cameras to help monitor wolf populations and distribution. These remote cameras are placed in early summer and picked up in early fall. This effort is… more

Do your part to protect wintering wildlife by leaving animals undisturbed

Thu, 01/14/2021 - 09:33 | idfg-rphillips

Winter is a challenging season for Idaho’s wildlife, especially for big game animals that migrate to lower elevations and spend winter closer to people than during other seasons. People can help animals by leaving them undisturbed so they have a better chance to survive winter. 

What do we know about… more

Reflecting back on 2020: A year in review- Lower Granite Adult Sampling and Lochsa River Monitoring

Wed, 01/13/2021 - 16:08 | idfg-jbruns

Sampling of adults at Lower Granite during 2020 was challenging, but with the hard work and collaboration of many stakeholders the trap was operational from March 2nd through March 24th, and July 2nd through November 12th. Although we missed the bulk of spring/summer Chinook sampling and the tail-end of the steelhead… more

Wildlife Express: Let’s go ice fishing!

Wed, 01/13/2021 - 14:52 | idfg-scassinelli

Ice fishing is not only a great way to cure cabin fever, but also an opportunity to have some family fun and catch lots of tasty fish.

Ready to hit the ice? This month’s Wildlife Express covers everything you need to know about ice fishing, including tips on equipment, technique, ice safety,… more