Press Releases and Articles
A record sockeye return crosses Lower Granite Dam—but they're not all Idaho fish
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game saw this year’s sockeye return hit a record number—which is good news—but with an asterisk. Through Aug. 19, 2,835 fish were counted at Lower Granite Dam about 30 miles downstream from Lewiston; most of those fish probably won't return to Idaho. That’s the highest sockeye return since fish counting… more
F&G seeking hunter feedback on how nonresident tags are issued
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game wants to hear from hunters regarding how nonresident deer and elk tags are issued. The purpose of the Non-Resident Tag Issuance Advisory Group is to review current processes for how Fish and Game issues general season deer and elk tags to nonresidents, and to develop recommendations to the… more
Craig Mountain firewood sale begins August 19
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game is selling firewood permits for the harvest of dead and dying timber on the Craig Mountain WMA. The sale will begin August 19th and will end October 31st. Areas open to harvest include IDFG owned land within 100ft of open roads. One gate will be opened to allow better access (see map below). … more
Bear hunters will have new rules regarding grizzly bears starting Sept. 1 and mandatory bear ID for 2025
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently approved temporary rules for black bear hunting in Idaho that include new requirements for bear baiting and a mandatory bear identification course for hunters.
Starting Sept. 1: Any person placing bait to hunt black bears, hunting at a bait site, or witnessing the… more
Instructor-led combo hunter and bowhunter education class offered in Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
An instructor-led hunter & bowhunter combination course is scheduled Aug. 26-30, from 5-9 pm each evening in Salmon. This course will certify students in both hunter and bowhunter education and is designed for youth 9 years of age or anyone new to hunting.
Details for chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt in portion of Unit 1 in the Panhandle Region
| idfg-tjross
Following news of the first confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in the Panhandle Region, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission met on Aug. 15 and approved a surveillance hunt in a portion of game management unit 1. The intent of the surveillance hunt is to determine the initial prevalence and geographic… more
Horsethief Campground closed as crews battle Snag Fire
| idfg-bpearson
At the request of fire operations personnel, Idaho Fish and Game has closed the Horsethief Reservoir campgrounds as firefighters work to protect the area from the Snag Fire. Camping and day use will remain closed until further notice.
Additionally, fire crews are asking people to avoid the area in general while… more
Winners announced for second 2024 Super Hunt drawing
| idfg-cliess
The second wave of Idaho Super Hunt drawing winners have been selected.
Of the 49,125 total entries, 13,737 were for two deer tags, 15,064 were for two elk tags, 3,540 were for two pronghorn tags, 12,208 were for one moose tag, and 4,576 entries were for one Super Hunt Combo, which includes a tag for each of the… more
F&G Commission approves new CWD surveillance hunt in portion of Unit 1
| idfg-cliess
During its Aug. 15 conference call meeting, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved a 9-day chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt starting Aug. 24 with the goal of collecting additional samples to better understand disease prevalence and distribution. An adult white-tailed doe found dead in July tested positive… more
White-tailed deer in north Idaho’s Boundary County tests positive for chronic wasting disease
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game recently received test results confirming a positive case of chronic wasting disease in an adult female white-tailed deer roughly 3 miles outside of Bonners Ferry in hunting Unit 1. The deer was reported to Fish and Game by a landowner who found the dead deer in early July.
F&G urges folks to look for white-tailed deer with symptoms of EHD in the Clearwater Region
| idfg-jbruns
Outbreaks of EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) are not uncommon to white-tailed deer in the Clearwater Region. This summer’s hot and dry weather pattern presents ideal conditions for deer to congregate at water sources where the disease-carrying biting gnat resides.
Fish and Game encourages… more
Grizzly bear trapped and relocated in Island Park area
| idfg-jbrower
After consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) relocated an adult male grizzly bear on Aug. 13, 2024.
Wildlife Services set a trap for the animal after the death of a domestic calf near Highway 20 and the Buffalo River that was… more
F&G Commission will meet via special conference call on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. MDT
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to hold a special conference call on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. MDT. People can attend in person at Fish and Game’s Headquarters Office at 600 South Walnut in Boise or visit a regional office to listen in.
The special meeting will not include a public hearing, and… more
F&G seeking members for working group to assess perspectives on ‘fair' technology in big game hunting
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking members for a new Hunting and Advanced Technology (HAT) working group that will assess public perspectives on what technology is—or is not—considered “fair chase” in the pursuit of game. The committee will develop recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission on what technology might be… more
Live in Idaho Waters (Part 2): Everybody Loves a Sucker
| idfg-bbowersox
In our first installment of “Live in Idaho Waters” we talked about the diminutive and camouflaged sculpin. The next group of Idaho native non-game fish get bigger and are easier to observe—the suckers.
These native species are often misunderstood and sometimes disliked; but their appreciation is increasing… more
F&G receives $209K federal grant to provide access for hunting, fishing and other recreation
| idfg-spalazzolo
Idaho hunters and anglers can expect to see an increase in public access to private land as early as this fall through Fish and Game’s Access Yes! program, thanks to a $209,000 federal grant recently awarded to the department.
The $209,000 grant will allow for the continued expansion of Fish and Game’s Access… more
The new Idaho wildlife license plates are in! Have a look
| idfg-cliess
Whether you buzz around town in a Tesla or an ’89 F-150, the chance to upgrade your vehicle’s license plate artwork is finally here. The 2024 Idaho wildlife license plates are now available—and they benefit a pretty great cause.
The Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation—a partner of the Idaho Department of… more
Young black bear trapped and relocated from Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
On Thursday, August 8, a black bear was trapped and relocated from within the city limits of Salmon. Bears within the city limits are becoming a fairly regular occurrence due to the high level of unnatural food sources such as bird feeders, grain left out for deer, and unsecured garbage and pet food. … more