Press Releases and Articles
Hunter Education instructors needed in the Magic Valley Region
| idfg-tthompson
Are you a safe and responsible hunter or trapper?
Are you passionate about hunting ethics?
Do you like sharing your knowledge and skills with youth and adults new to Idaho’s hunting traditions?
If you answered yes to these questions you should consider becoming a volunteer hunter education… more
Magic Valley Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee Tour
| idfg-jguthrie
The purposes of the Magic Valley Winter Feeding Advisory Committee is to provide recommendations to IDFG regional staff on the implementation of emergency winter feeding for big game. The purpose of this meeting and tour is to show the Winter Feeding Advisory Committee locations where winter feeding occurred during… more
Cascade and Payette Lakes ice conditions - Jan. 25, 2022
| idfg-mthomas
On Tuesday, January 25th we checked surface and ice conditions on Cascade and Payette Lakes. On Lake Cascade, surface and ice conditions are excellent on the majority of the lake. However, poor ice conditions (white ice) exist between the Sugarloaf Island and Crown Point areas. These conditions are a… more
Idaho Fish and Game will host spring/summer Chinook fisheries public meetings, request public input in February
| idfg-jdupont
Don’t miss an opportunity to attend one of six public meetings to provide comments and opinions on how best to manage the 2022 spring/summer Chinook salmon fisheries in the Clearwater, Hells Canyon, lower Salmon, Little Salmon, and South Fork Salmon river drainages.
Free pizza and refreshments will be provided… more
Feeding backyard deer and elk does more harm than good
| idfg-cliess
Seeing a herd of deer outside your door or a head of elk may seem idyllic, and during winter they can almost seem tame. But truth is they’re wild animals that need to remain wild animals, and feeding them can quickly create a variety of problems.
Here’s how a simple well-meaning act can lead to a neighborhood-… more
Rare to Idaho, a ringtail was recently found in Twin Falls, and you can see it in a video
| idfg-tthompson
Finding a ringtail in Idaho is a very rare occurrence, and the last few sightings have happened near Twin Falls. In early December 2021 staff from the Amalgamated Sugar factory south of Twin Falls spotted a ringtail on the property. Within a few days a wildlife biologist from the Magic Valley Regional set traps with a… more
Mule deer trapping conducted by Fish and Game biologists to help assess winter survival
| idfg-tthompson
Fish and Game biologists with the Magic Valley Region are spending time this winter collaring mule deer does and fawns to assess survival over the coming winter months. Biologists need the data supplied by the GPS collars to make informed recommendations to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission who set upcoming hunting… more
Farragut Shooting Range Center will remain closed due to lingering icy conditions
| idfg-tjross
Due to continued icy and unsafe roads and conditions, the range will remain closed until further notice. Please check our website for future updates on when the range will reopen, or you can call the Panhandle Regional office at (208) 769-1414. Thank you for your continued patience.
The roads… more
Research finds fewer wild steelhead are caught by anglers and survive at high rates after being released
| idfg-rphillips
A two-year study showed Idaho’s wild steelhead are caught by anglers less often than hatchery fish, and they survive at a very high rate after being caught and released. That’s good news for anglers because wild steelhead survival is critical to continuing fishing seasons and ensuring they are protected while anglers… more
Lake Cascade ice conditions - Jan. 18, 2022
| idfg-mthomas
On Tuesday, January 18th we checked surface and ice conditions on Lake Cascade. Conditions are great in a large portion of the lake, and fishing is HEATING UP!! There are still some sketchy spots out there so anglers are encouraged to continue using early season precautions when venturing out ice fishing. In… more
Experience Idaho Department of Fish & Game
| idfg-sputnam
Are you looking for a great spring and summer job in fisheries?
After winter releases its grip on Idaho’s river and stream, Fish and Game hires hundreds of people for temporary spring and summer positions, such as fish snorkel survey crews. These are prime opportunities for people beginning their careers in… more
Five elk die in the Wood River Valley after eating toxic yew plants
| idfg-tthompson
Despite a 2016 Blaine County ordinance restricting the planting of noxious plants, including exotic yew, three elk, two cows and one calf, were found dead on Tuesday January 18, 2022 after eating the toxic plant north of Hailey near the Valley Club. Two additional elk were found the morning of Wednesday… more
Become an Idaho Master Naturalist!
| idfg-jjackson
The High Desert Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists is now recruiting new members and will hold an introductory virtual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20 with another virtual meeting following on Thursday, Jan. 27. Both meetings start at 7 p.m. Participation in the first meeting is not required in order to join… more
F&G Commission meeting Jan. 26-27 in Boise
| idfg-cliess
The Commission will hold the public hearing and business meeting at the new Fish and Game Headquarters Office located at 600 S. Walnut St. in Boise. A public hearing will begin on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. MST in the Sawtooth Room. Those wishing to speak to the Commission during the public hearing will have a three-minute… more
Wolf trapper education class offered in Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
A wolf trapper education class will be offered in Salmon February 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Idaho Fish and Game office.
Wolf trapper education classes are in high demand and are usually taught just a few times a year in our area - so if you need a class, sign up now!
Here’s what you need to know… more
Catch a tagged fish at Hyde Pond and win a prize
| idfg-mdemick
Now’s a great time for kids to try ice fishing at Hyde Pond near Salmon.
If a youth 16 years of age or younger catches a tagged trout from Hyde Pond, they can bring the tag in to the Salmon Fish and Game office and collect a prize. Prizes include fishing gear, tackle boxes, and rod and reel combinations.… more
Two cow elk shot out of season on Salmon Road near Riggins
| idfg-jbruns
On the morning of January 9th, two cow elk were shot out of season along the Big Salmon Road near Riggins. This stretch of road receives a fair amount of morning traffic from sportsmen and public alike. Much of the meat was salvaged prior to Fish… more