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Idaho Fish and Game

Press Releases and Articles

Fish and Game continues to make positive strides with chronic big game depredations

| idfg-tthompson

Consistent efforts by Fish and Game staff from the Magic Valley Region are showing successes in parts of the region to reduce chronic big game depredation on agricultural crops. While consistent prevention tactics have been shown to change wildlife behavior, there continues to be new and ongoing incidents of big game… more

Fire closures and big game hunting in the Panhandle: Helpful resources and information

| idfg-tjross

Fire season is in full-swing here in the Panhandle, and fire-related closures are likely to present challenges for hunters wishing to access their hunting spots.

All of the Idaho Panhandle is currently under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions; for more on what that entails, visit the Idaho Department of Lands' Fire… more

2023 Deer & Elk Hunting Outlook

| idfg-cliess

Overview

Deer and elk hunting in Idaho will be similar to last year, but hunters in eastern Idaho will likely see firsthand the effects of a brutal winter that hit mule deer hard. Elk herds remain stable to increasing in most of the state. White-tailed deer in the Clearwater area could see a modest bump as herds start… more

Large Tracts Program land closures announced due to excessive fire danger

| idfg-tjross

North Idaho Timber Group, a partner in the Large Tracts Program, just announced a closure of their lands in response to extreme fire danger. The closure is effective Aug. 23, 2023.

The press release below is from North Idaho Timber Group. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

more

Youth marksmanship skills workshop to be hosted in the Panhandle Region on Sept. 16

| idfg-tjross

Idaho Fish and Game staff and volunteers in the Panhandle Region will be hosting a Youth Marksmanship Skills Workshop on Sept. 16 at the Farragut Shooting Range Center in Athol.

F&G seeks public comment on proposed Draft Snake River White Sturgeon Management Plan 2023-2032

| idfg-cliess

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on its Draft Snake River White Sturgeon Management Plan 2023-2032. This revised plan will guide white sturgeon management and conservation priorities throughout the Snake River during the next 10 years.

People are encouraged to review the draft plan at https://idfg.idaho.… more

Collaborative effort to restore Bear Lake cutthroat trout receives national award

| idfg-mkoenig

The national American Fisheries Society recently awarded top honors to Idaho for conservation efforts in the Bear Lake watershed to help restore the wild Bonneville cutthroat trout fishery there. 

The award recognized community and stakeholder engagement, and partnerships devoted to improving the habitat of… more

Ahsahka Access Site near Orofino is now day-use only

| idfg-jbruns

Idaho Fish and Game's Ahsahka access site status now changed from a 10-day camping limit to day use only. The Ahsahka site is positioned between Clearwater Power's yards and the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery along Highway 7. 

This decision was made with public safety in mind as there has been misuse of… more

Fall salmon and steelhead fishing outlook

| idfg-csullivan

With summer winding down, it’s time to start looking ahead to the fall season fisheries for salmon and steelhead. This is an exciting time of year as we watch fish counts at Bonneville Dam, and anticipate the fisheries that will be ramping up in Idaho over the next few months. Below is a description of upcoming… more

Bear activity is picking up, taking precautions at camp and home can help avoid problems

| idfg-mdemick

While it is exciting to see a bear in the wild, it isn’t so wonderful to have one in your campsite or trashing your cabin barbeque at midnight. 

Most conflicts with bears occur from July through September and are linked to careless handling of food and garbage.  With thousands of campers, anglers,… more

F&G biologists studying how environmental conditions and C.J. Strike sturgeon fishery interact

| idfg-bpearson

After a concerning number of dead sturgeon washed up in a stretch of C.J. Strike Reservoir in late summer 2022 amid abnormally low oxygen levels and high water temperatures, Fish and Game issued a temporary conservation closure for sturgeon fishing. By themselves, the environmental conditions in 2022 approached – and… more

Fish salvage order issued for Mormon Reservoir

| idfg-tthompson

The Magic Valley Regional Office of Fish and Game has been monitoring the water level and temperatures at different locations within the region and have found water conditions in Mormon Reservoir are no longer suitable for fish survival. In response, a fish salvage order is now in place for Mormon Reservoir. … more

Prescribed fires near Challis and Mackay may affect hunters

| idfg-mdemick

Hunters planning to hunt in Wino Basin near Challis and the Cedar and Cabin Creek areas near Mackay should beware of prescribed fires planned for this fall.    

According to Salmon-Challis Forest Service officials, the purpose is to improve forest health and wildlife habitat and to reduce risk of large… more

Looking for fish particles? A different tool for finding rare native fishes in Idaho.

| idfg-bbowersox

If you look over IDFG news releases and blogs you can get a pretty good idea of the tools we use to survey Idaho’s fish populations. We often use traps, nets, electrofishing, and anglers to collect information used to make management decisions. But this field season, we’ve partnered with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky… more

Smallmouth Bassin’ in Ririe Reservoir

| idfg-jheckel

When some anglers think of Ririe Reservoir they may picture limits of silvery kokanee or Yellow Perch fish fries, but there’s another fishy critter that can provide hours of entertainment at the end of your line, Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu. Not only are Smallmouth Bass abundant and fun to catch in Ririe… more

Range grant application period is open; deadline is Nov. 1

| idfg-rphillips

Idaho Fish and Game enhances recreational shooting ranges through its Shooting Range Development Grant program to assist organizations or agencies to establish, upgrade, expand or otherwise improve public firearms and archery ranges in Idaho. The department expects to award more than $550,… more

Hunters beware: prescribed fires in the Salmon-Challis National Forest could affect hunts

| idfg-jbrower

Challis and Mackay, Idaho- August 15, 2023- The South Zone of the Salmon-Challis National Forest may implement prescribed burning projects on the Challis-Yankee Fork and Lost River Ranger Districts. Prescribed fire activity is highly weather dependent.  As areas come into favorable prescribed fire… more

An alarming discovery on the banks of the Salmon River?

| idfg-jdupont

First smallmouth bass, then walleye, and now SALMON SHARKS!  When are our salmon and steelhead going to catch a break? That’s right, you read correctly, salmon sharks!  Calls and e-mail came pouring in yesterday claiming they found a shark washed up on the shores of the Salmon River near Riggins.  With… more