Press Releases and Articles
Why you should buy your 2023 hunting/fishing license now, not later
| idfg-cliess
A lot of hunters and anglers see the cold, bitter months of January and February as the so-called “off-season.” It’s easy to see why — you step foot outside and instantly need a defroster for your lungs.
But with a little bit of mental preparation, the right gear and (most importantly) an up-to-date hunting and… more
Smallmouth bass state record falls once more
| idfg-mkoenig
It was a typical cold, December day in central Idaho with rain down low and snow in the mountains. While many anglers might have been thinking about ice-fishing, winter steelhead or even putting a fresh coat of wax on their skis and hitting the slopes, Joey Walton had other plans: big smallmouth bass. Knowing he had to… more
Dec. 30 Lake Cascade Ice Fishing Conditions
| idfg-mthomas
On Friday, Dec. 30 I checked surface and ice conditions on Lake Cascade. Warm temperatures and rain over the last week created a lot of slush on the surface of the lake, which has started to refreeze as cold temperatures have returned. Conditions may continue to improve with forecasted cold and clear… more
Dec. 30 Clearwater Region Ice Fishing Update
| idfg-jthiessen
Below you will find conditions, fishing outlooks and general information about the Clearwater Region's ice fisheries. Ice conditions can be extremely variable. Many environmental factors can affect ice quality and strength. It is your responsibility to check ice thickness and conditions when you venture out onto… more
Rainbow trout stocking schedule for January 2023 in the Magic Valley Region
| idfg-tthompson
Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 900 10-12” catchable-sized rainbow trout in January. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 fishing license!
Stocking rainbow trout during the winter months… more
Biologists use electronic tags to study Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Willow Creek and Ririe Reservoir
| idfg-jheckel
Fish and Game fisheries biologists are on a constant search for better ways to understand and manage fish populations. As part of this quest for knowledge, biologists used electronic PIT tags to study the life history of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Willow Creek and Ririe Reservoir.
In the Upper Snake… more
Protect wintering wildlife by leaving them alone during the winter
| idfg-cliess
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. Just because wildlife aren’t as visible as they were in the shoulder seasons doesn’t mean they’re “living easy” on their wintering grounds. And if you are seeing wintering wildlife, you may be too close for comfort, which bring us to our next point: Protect wintering wildlife by… more
F&G completes bighorn sheep capture in Southwest Idaho
| idfg-bpearson
From Thursday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 18, Fish and Game biologists conducted a bighorn sheep capture in Units 40 and 41 in collaboration with the Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation and national Wild Sheep Foundation. Staff and volunteers captured and collared a total of 38 sheep between the two units. Each animal… more
The ‘big fish’ stories of 2022
| idfg-cliess
From a catch-and-release record cutbow in Henrys Lake to a dramatic state-record catfish saga that could have been written by John Grisham, the past year’s record-setting fishing stories was one for the ages. Anglers from both within and outside of Idaho’s borders hoisted up some incredible benchmarks during 2022 and… more
Watch out for wildlife on the move
| idfg-kchristiansen
Old Man Winter seems to have woken up a little early this season, changing some wildlife movement patterns across the region. In the Preston area, elk have been observed traveling throughout the valley with large herds crossing our local highways. This is a potentially dangerous situation, especially for motorists… more
Kootenai River Angler Science Program: A win for burbot and anglers
| idfg-tjross
For some, winter is a time to hibernate in the comfort of a warm home, enjoying a hot drink by a crackling fire. For others, winter offers a unique opportunity to try their hand at landing the native and once rare burbot in the Kootenai River.
Referred to by some as the Kootenai leopard or ling cod,… more
More Harm Than Good: Why You Shouldn't Feed Backyard Deer
| idfg-mdemick
The hardship of winter motivates some well-meaning people to set out food for deer. The truth is, they’re wild animals adapted to winter, and feeding them can quickly create a variety of problems significantly affecting their health and survival.
Despite good intentions, supplemental feeding of deer often harms… more
Young mountain lions captured and euthanized in Kendrick
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game officers investigated a report of three mountain lions found under a deck at a residence in Kendrick on Sat., Dec. 17. To protect public safety, officers trapped and euthanized the three young mountain lions. “We made the decision to euthanize because lions habituated in an urban setting pose a… more
Helicopters, GPS collars and big game animals – another day on the job
| idfg-tjross
To most folks, the notion of riding in a helicopter to locate, capture and place a GPS collar on a deer, elk or moose seems like something only seen in movies or nature documentaries. For many of our staff, it’s another day on the job, and it’s all done with the goal of understanding and managing big game populations… more
Juvenile mountain lions sighted in Kendrick
| idfg-jbruns
Fish and Game staff from the Clearwater region, received a report of juvenile mountain lions under the porch of a residence in the community Kendrick.
To keep both residents and pets safe, Fish and Game is urging everyone to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, especially during early morning and… more
Aerial seeding on Craig Mountain WMA
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game recently conducted aerial seeding of 250 acres on the Craig Mountain WMA. Aerial seeding operations were conducted to improve soil stability and reestablish native grasses to areas that were burned in the Snake River Complex Fire in 2021.
Fish and Game has conducted several fire… more
Ornamental Yew: Toxic to wintering wildlife
| idfg-jbruns
Japanese yew is an evergreen suitable for much of Idaho’s climate, which makes it attractive for landscaping. Unfortunately, it’s also deadly.
Idaho Fish and Game officials are asking homeowners, landscapers, developers and nurseries to choose alternatives to Japanese yew, or other types of yew (… more
Mule deer buck left to waste near Lucile
| idfg-jbruns
A 4x4 mule deer buck was shot and left to waste near Lucile between the evening of Dec. 13 and morning of Dec. 14. This is one of many deer that are shot and wasted every year. This deer was shot close to a popular recreation spot above the boat ramp, giving hope that a motorist or boater may have witnessed the… more