Press Releases and Articles
Youth turkey hunt begins April 8
| idfg-mdemick
Youth turkey hunters get an early shot as Idaho's general season youth turkey hunt runs Saturday, April 8 through Friday, April 14.
Licensed youth who are 10 to 17 years old on April 8 may participate in the general season youth hunt. Resident hunters under 12 and nonresident… more
Coeur d'Alene Lake Cutthroat Trout Conservation Project Resumes
| idfg-adux
Biologists with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and Coeur d’Alene Tribe are resuming efforts to give cutthroat trout a better chance of survival in Coeur d’Alene Lake.
The goal is to remove northern pike from Windy Bay while cutthroat trout are migrating to reduce the occurrence… more
Commission Decisions on Weiser and Sawtooth Elk Hunts
| idfg-rberkley
On March 16, the IDFG commission set the 2017 & 2018 big game hunting seasons. Many hunters have called to ask about changes to the Weiser and Sawtooth elk zones. Those are summarized here:
Weiser Zone
Commission voted to adopt changes that included removing several controlled cow… more
Big snowpack should pay dividends for anglers
| idfg-rphillips
Fish need water, and Idaho's mountains are full of water in the form of a giant snowpack. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, mountain ranges throughout the state in early March had snowpacks ranging from a 90 percent of average in the Couer d'Alene and Priest… more
Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake" public meeting is March 30
| idfg-adux
Kameron Roslak with a 13lb Rainbow Trout caught in Lake Pend Oreille.
CAPTION: Kameron Roslak with a 13lb Rainbow Trout caught in Lake Pend Oreille.
The Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake" public meeting is held annually and will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at Ponderay… more
Know How to Deal with High Water in the Spring? Fish a Reservoir
| idfg-dparrish
Where do you fish when the creeks too high? Try your local reservoir. Those wanting out of the Treasure Valley can venture to a place like Cascade or Horsethief reservoirs. There's just enough open-water to bank fish using spinners or bait. … more
Please avoid big game herds to let them recover from winter
| idfg-rphillips
Despite warm, spring weather, the Boise River Wildlife Management Area remains closed to all public use to protect wildlife. The area is a refuge for deer, elk and other wildlife that are recuperating from a severe winter, and it will reopen when herds migrate off the WMA.
“We want to give… more
Work Begins on American Falls Boat Ramp
| idfg-mkoenig
The Bureau of Reclamation started reconstruction work to the boat ramp on the west side of American Falls Reservoir, so the ramp will be closed to boater and angler traffic beginning until Memorial Day weekend.
Read the full Bureau of Reclamation news release here
For more details… more
State record alert: Hayden Lake angler catches and releases longest northern pike
| idfg-rryan
Scott Kerns with his catch-and-release record Northern Pike, 44 inches long and approximately 33 pounds!
CAPTION: Scott Kerns with his catch-and-release record Northern Pike, 44 inches long and approximately 33 pounds!Kerns
North Idaho angler Scott Kerns now holds the the Idaho… more
A Lifetime License to Hunt and Fish
| idfg-snass
I could not resist checking out a newborn at Fish and Game’s front desk as I was passing the lobby in the Boise office. It turns out that one-month-old Teddy Romero just became the owner of an Idaho Fish and Game lifetime license!
Proud father, Joe Romero, buys lifetime license for his… more
F&G finds safe new home for orphaned mountain lion kittens
| idfg-devansmack
Two orphaned mountain lion kittens took refuge behind hay bales in a barn in Meadows near McCall, much to the surprise of the property owners and their horses. Too small to make it on their own, and after several weeks of becoming habituated to and fed by humans, Fish and Game decided that a captive facility… more
Wilson Lake suffers major winter kill
| idfg-dmegargle
Idaho Department of Fish and Game responded to public calls regarding thousands of dead carp at Wilson Lake (aka Wilson Lake Reservoir). Fish and Game officials investigated and determined the dead fish (including Bullhead, Common carp, Largescale Suckers, Yellow Perch and Utah Chub) were… more
Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (3/20/17)
| idfg-vosborn
Steelhead angler effort on the upper Salmon River increased again compared to the previous week, but poor river conditions continued to impact the fishery. High temperatures during the week and then rain over the weekend resulted in increased river flows and poor visibility in all areas downstream of the East Fork.… more
Spring chinook seasons set
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho Fish and Game commissioners approved the spring chinook seasons and rules for the Snake, Clearwater, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers during its regular meeting Thursday, March 16 in Boise.
Fishing will open April 22, with a four-day-a-week season on the Clearwater River, and daily fishing on… more
F&G will offer more elk hunting opportunities for 2017, but fewer mule deer tags
| idfg-rphillips
Hunters will see fewer hunting opportunities for mule deer does in the fall, but more controlled hunts for elk, particularly cow elk.
Idaho Fish and Game commissioners on Thursday, March 17 set the hunting seasons for deer, elk, bear, pronghorn, mountain lion and wolf. The… more
Annual fur auction set for April 22 in Lewiston
| idfg-mdemick
You don’t have to be a taxidermist to find a treasure at Idaho Fish and Game’s annual fur auction.
This year’s auction of furs, hides, antlers, and other items is set for Saturday, April 22 at the Idaho Fish and Game office located at 3316 16th Street in Lewiston. Items may be viewed beginning at 8… more
Sawtooth Zone elk tags will be sold to resident hunters July 12
| idfg-rphillips
Resident elk hunters wanting a coveted Sawtooth Zone elk tag will have to wait until July 12 to get one. Due to the dramatic increase in demand for these tags over the past few years, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission decided to set special times for hunters to buy those tags.
Traditionally,… more
Henrys Lake Update
| idfg-dkeen
Henrys Lake Update
Warmer than normal overnight temperatures is melting the ice quickly. The ice is darkening and that means we should start preparing for ice off and our annual gillnetting program to evaluate the fish population. Although we’re still at least a few… more