Press Releases and Articles
Returned 2023 nonresident deer/elk tags go on sale April 20 at 10 a.m. MDT
| idfg-rphillips
Nonresidents can buy a limited number of 2023 deer and elk tags that have become available through returns on April 20 at 10 a.m. MDT. A list of available tags and future return tag sale dates is listed on the Nonresident License and Tag webpage.
Nonresident hunters who hold a tag may also exchange their… more
Fish and Game seeks volunteers to help plant sagebrush in the Magic Valley
| idfg-tthompson
The Magic Valley Region, Idaho Fish and Game, in partnership with the Twin Falls District, BLM are seeking volunteers to help plant sagebrush to rehabilitate big game winter range in the area burned by the Badger Fire in 2020, in the South Hills.
The planting will be held on Saturday April 22, 2023, from 9:00 a.… more
April 18: Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report
| idfg-mdemick
The majority of anglers were interviewed either near the Pahsimeroi River confluence in location code 17 or upstream of the East Fork in location code 19. Angler effort downstream of Salmon, in location codes 15 and 16 was minimal. Anglers interviewed downstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 17… more
F&G begins rainbow trout suppression on South Fork Snake River to benefit native Yellowstone cutthroat trout
| idfg-jbrower
As part of an ongoing effort to protect the genetic integrity of the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the South Fork Snake River and reduce their hybridization with non-native rainbow trout, fisheries biologists from Idaho Fish and Game will be manually removing rainbow and hybrid trout over the next few weeks.… more
Fish and Game offers instructor-led hunter education class in Jerome
| idfg-tthompson
Do you or someone you know need to take a hunter education course?
The Magic Valley Region will be offering an instructor-led hunter education class at the Magic Valley Regional Office, Hunter Education building, on April 26 – 29, 2023. The three week-day classes will run from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. On Saturday,… more
Winter feeding update for the Southeast Region (04/14/2023)
| idfg-jjackson
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game with input from the Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) initiated the feeding of deer and elk at multiple locations in the Southeast Region beginning in early February.
In the last week, warmer temperatures have caused some rapid changes in winter… more
Prescribed burn operations scheduled on Red River WMA starting mid April
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game in coordination with the Idaho Department of Lands and US Forest Service will be initiating prescribed burn operations on the Red River WMA in mid-April to May, as weather permits. The prescribed burn area is a 314-acre meadow located along Red River Road (County Road 222) accessed from State… more
F&G proactively eliminates antlerless hunts and takes other measures to help eastern Idaho big game
| idfg-cliess
While most people probably didn’t predict the severity of this winter, Fish and Game has been mindful of extreme snow depths in eastern Idaho and proactively eliminated most antlerless hunts initially proposed for the 2023-2024 season setting process.
“Before this winter hit, we’d been seeing steady growth in… more
Two men sentenced to poaching mule deer buck in Custer County
| idfg-mdemick
On Saturday October 29, 2022, a mule deer buck was taken illegally in Unit 36 near Rankin Creek, a tributary of the Yankee Fork Salmon River near Stanley. The general deer season closed five days earlier on October 24.
The case began when a witness called Idaho’s Citizens Against Poaching… more
F&G online fur auction now live, ends April 24
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho Fish and Game's annual online fur auction is now live.
This year’s online auction of furs, hides, antlers, and other items ends April 24 at 3 p.m., MDT. Potential buyers can now bid and view photos of the 125 items available by visiting Wears Auctioneering West website at www.wearswest.com.… more
Idaho Fish and Game re-opens two WMAs in eastern and southeastern Idaho
| idfg-jjackson
With improving winter conditions in some parts of the Upper Snake and Southeast Regions, Idaho Fish and Game will open Market Lake and Portneuf Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) to public entry effective immediately.
Hunters and other outdoor recreationists are reminded that springtime is still hard on big game.… more
Learn skills early western frontier people needed to survive at second annual "Living History Rendezvous"
| idfg-bpearson
Curious how the trappers, explorers and mountain men of Idaho lived in the early 1800s? For the second straight year, Idaho Fish and Game, in partnership with Idaho Free Trappers, is hosting a “Living History Rendezvous” to teach people many of the skills that these early western frontier people and their families… more
Fish and Game will host meetings on administrative rules for fishing on April 17-26
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game will host a series of public meetings in April about administrative rule changes. These proposed changes are likely to have insignificant or no effects on the average angler, but in accordance with state law and for transparency, the department will provide several meetings for public comment from… more
Winter conditions extending into spring can be extremely stressful to wildlife
| idfg-tthompson
As the daytime temperatures start to warm in April, Idahoans are anxiously looking forward to spending time in the sunshine, often walking their dogs while exploring the opportunities that warmer spring weather brings.
However, when lingering winter weather extends into spring and an abundance of snow is yet to… more
Yellow 'banana trout' stocked at Mann Lake early April
| idfg-jbruns
Fish and Game staff is using an unusual looking trout to provide a unique fishing opportunity at Mann Lake near Lewiston. Approximately 5,400 of these bright yellow beauties were stocked into this popular fishing destination early April.
Like albinos, the fish, known as "yellow" or "banana" trout are rainbow… more
Instructor-led hunter education courses coming up in Southwest Idaho
| idfg-bpearson
Southwest Idaho currently has nine instructor-led courses with open seats that are slated to start in the next few months, with more to come. Among the upcoming offerings in the Southwest Region are Hunter Education Certification (including hybrid and 2-day options), Hunter/Bowhunter Combo Education Certification,… more
April 11: Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report
| idfg-staff
Steelhead angler effort started to shift upstream during the past week on the upper Salmon River. Angler effort was highest in location code 17, between the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers, and the largest increase in angler effort was observed upstream of Challis. Angler effort downstream of North Fork in location code 15… more
Dust off the fishing rod and plan your next family fishing outing this spring
| idfg-cliess
Old man winter is finally hitting the bricks, and as the temperatures creep up, fish get a little more active and Idaho Fish and Game stocking trucks start delivering more fish across the state.
Maybe ol’ Saint Nick delivered a new fishing pole to a kid during Christmas, or your trusty old fishing rod has… more