Press Releases and Articles
Fires force closures at Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area
| idfg-rphillips
Due to two fires, Fish and Game has closed the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area 30 miles south of Lewiston.
Lightning ignited the fires on Friday, July 14, and the WMA will be closed to the public until further notice past the Deer Creek Road and past Hoover Point to allow… more
Mosaic art installed at MK Nature Center in Boise
| idfg-snass
Sculpin, dragonflies, trout and mink are all creatures that live in or near rivers, including the stream that runs through Boise’s MK Nature Center. Now, these animals will are also displayed on a new piece of public art at the nature center.
The mosaic wall was created by Boise artist Anna Webb. She began by… more
Salvage Order Issued For Lower Big Lost River
| idfg-glosinski
Fish and Game has issued a salvage order for the lower Big Lost River below the Moore Diversion.
The salvage, which suspends fish bag, possession, and size limits only on the river stretch downstream of the Moore Diversion through August 31, 2017.
High water this spring likely caused an unknown number… more
Hunting depredating elk at night – with a dart gun
| idfg-jpowell
John Guthrie is all smiles as he enters the blind, where they spent most of the night trying to dart unwelcome elk in a crop field. CAPTION: John Guthrie is all smiles as he enters the blind, where they spent most of the night trying to dart unwelcome elk in a crop field.
I told Landowner/… more
Fish and Game Commission to consider proposed rules at July meeting
| idfg-mdemick
When the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meets July 26… more
Trout stocking resumes on the South Fork of the Payette River
| idfg-rphillips
After a long hiatus, hatchery rainbow trout are headed back to the South Fork of the Payette River near Lowman starting July 18 to provide a few more fish for anglers to catch.
A few more? More like 3,000 per month more during summer.
The fish will be stocked around four locations… more
Leftover turkey controlled hunt permits available July 17
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho turkey hunters have one last shot at 124 leftover fall turkey controlled hunt permits that will be available first-come, first served starting at 10 am MDT, July 17 at all Fish and Game license vendors, online at https://idfg.idaho.gov, or by calling 800-554-8685.
Available permits by hunt number are:… more
Resident Sawtooth Zone Elk A & B Tags sold out
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho Sawtooth Zone Elk A and B tags for residents in game management hunt units 33, 34, 35 and 36 are sold out for 2017.
Due to high demand, half of the Sawtooth Zone elk tags were sold only at Fish and Game offices and license vendors beginning at 10 a.m. Mountain Time, with the remaining half sold only… more
Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area: Food plots coming on nicely
| idfg-dmegargle
The food plots have been planted and are now popping out of the ground at Niagara Springs WMA. Food plots of sorghum, millet, sunflowers, and soybeans were all planted this year to provide forage and cover for both game and nongame wildlife.
Some roads remain closed after heavy winter snows
| idfg-khatch
Sportsmen need to be aware that some roads will remain closed through hunting season because of heavy spring runoff. The South Fork of the Boise from Bounds Creek Campground near Big Smoky for about eight miles is projected to be closed for the next three years or longer because of severe road damage. Check with your… more
Did You Draw a Panhandle Antlerless Elk Controlled Hunt Tag?
| idfg-lwolf
Some lucky people recently found out that they drew an antlerless elk controlled hunt in the Panhandle Region. Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5 and 6 have long controlled hunts for antlerless elk than run from August 1 through December 31. These hunts were put in place to target the growing number of elk… more
Chinook fishing update: Lochsa River to close July 13
| idfg-rphillips
Fisheries managers have concluded that by the end of fishing hours on Thursday, July 13 the sport-harvest share will be caught so Chinook fishing on the Lochsa River will end at that time.
Chinook fishing remains open until further notice on Little Salmon River, Upper Salmon River and Hells Canyon. Fish and… more
Fishing at Priest Lake is at a crossroads
| idfg-rphillips
Fishing at Priest Lake isn’t what it used to be, which is fine for some anglers, but others would like to see it change. Fish and Game wants to know if the current management is still working, or if change is needed.
“We want the anglers to tell us what kind of fishing opportunity they want, which… more
Gearing up for 2017 fire season
| idfg-staff
We are gearing up for 2017's fire seasons.
There already are several small active fires in the lower elevations around the state as of this note. We have not begun mapping them at this time.
Stay tuned to https://idfg.idaho.gov/fire for information for anglers and hunters regarding fire information as… more
Priest Lake - Lake Trout Fishing
| idfg-adux
Lake trout were one of many non-native fish species sprinkled throughout the American west in the 1920’s by the US Fish Commission. Shipped from the Great Lakes Region by railroad, the intent was to provide fishing opportunity and food for growing rural communities. In the Idaho Panhandle, Priest Lake was one of the… more
Sportsmen and women benefit from Super Hunt drawings
| idfg-vosborn
Idaho Super Hunt drawings create two kinds of winners - the hunter who actually draws a Super Hunt tag and the rest of us who gain hunting and fishing access to and through private land.
How does this work? Every entry purchased for a Super Hunt drawing supports Idaho’s Access Yes! program, which is designed… more
Enter the 2nd Super Hunt Drawing!
| idfg-vosborn
In 2015, Dawn Paynter won a Super Hunt elk tag. This tag meant she was able to hunt elk in any open hunt in the state.
“When I got the phone call, I couldn’t speak, and I had tears in my eyes,” Paynter said. “I knew I had endless opportunities to fill my tag and never doubted that I… more
Black Bear Responsible For Entering Home Near Tetonia Euthanized
| idfg-glosinski
Black Bear Responsible For Entering Home Near Tetonia Euthanized
TETONIA-Personnel with the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) trapped and euthanized a five-year-old male black bear that had become overly accustomed to humans to the point that it had entered a home outside of Tetonia,… more