Press Releases and Articles
Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officer awarded Idaho Medal of Honor
| idfg-skiefer
The Idaho Medal of Honor Commission announced on Feb. 10 that Idaho Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Randy Martinez is among six Idaho law enforcement officers awarded the Idaho Medal Of Honor.
The medal is the state’s highest honor for bravery and exceptional courage. It is awarded to first… more
Wolf trapper and trapper education courses scheduled in Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
Fish and Game will host a wolf trapper and a trapper education course in Salmon on Sunday, Feb. 28.
The wolf trapper course will be held from 8 a.m. to noon. Topics include wolf behavior and management, trapping and snaring techniques, harvest reporting requirements and proper hide care. Effective equipment,… more
Volunteers collect native seed on their own to make future planting projects possible in 2021
| idfg-kpappani
What did the volunteer-based program do during COVID to collect essential, locally adapted seed for fire restoration projects when large, collective group gatherings were no longer permissible? Volunteers struck out on their own to collect seed one bag at a time. There were also a few individuals collecting seed with… more
Fish and Game to offer wolf trapper education class in Jerome
| idfg-tthompson
The Magic Valley Region will be offering a wolf trapper education class on March 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their new Hunter Education facility at the Jerome regional office. Class size is limited to 12 students. Registration for the class is online only by visiting www.idfg.idaho.gov under the education tab. No walk-… more
Fish and Game biologists treat sick cow moose for a second time in Hailey
| idfg-tthompson
In early December 2020, Fish and Game was notified by residents of Hailey of a cow moose that appeared to have a severe case of conjunctivitis in both eyes. Local Fish and Game officers darted the moose and applied antibiotics in an attempt to clear up the eye infection. A GPS collar was also placed on the moose… more
Panhandle can still have ice fishing opportunities in a mild winter
| idfg-rryan
Few winters in the Panhandle of Idaho are the same. Some are cold and snowy, while others are warm and wet. Mild and relatively dry seems to be the pattern for the winter of 2020-21. Current conditions are somewhat discouraging for those hardy anglers who look forward to the winter months and the unique fishing… more
Female mountain lion harvest season closed in Unit 36B near Challis
| idfg-mdemick
Mountain lion hunters should note that the harvest season for female mountain lion has closed in game management unit 36B near Challis, as the harvest quota of two females was reached on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.
Hunters will be allowed to keep female mountain lions taken prior to this closure, but must… more
Elk causing concern for motorists in the Sugar City area
| idfg-jbrower
For the third year in a row, a large group of elk have moved from their historic wintering area in Teton Canyon and have followed the river down towards Sugar City and Rexburg. The elk have been sighted near the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 33 and are a cause for concern to passing motorists.… more
Fish and Game Seeks Input on Upcoming Big Game Hunting Seasons
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game wants to hear from big game hunters about proposed changes for the 2021 and 2022 seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain lion, black bear and wolf.
Fish and Game will not hold regular open house meetings, but the easiest way for hunters to review the proposals and provide their… more
Surplus trout will be stocked Feb. 10-17 in the Southwest Region
| idfg-eoneale
The COVID pandemic and the subsequent slowing of the economy have produced at least one silver lining for southern Idaho anglers: more trout to catch.
Riverence Trout Farm, located in Filer, Idaho has watched the demand for their restaurant-grade trout dramatically dwindle during the pandemic. The fish can’t… more
Nearly 650 acres of sporting access added to Market Lake WMA
| idfg-jbrower
The Idaho Fish and Game recently finalized a land acquisition of 649 acres that will now be incorporated into the Market Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and accessible to the public. The new property is located approximately 20 miles north of Idaho Falls near the town of Roberts on the west side of… more
Idaho wolf populations remains stable between 2019 and 2020 despite higher mortality
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game’s second annual wolf population estimate documented the population was stable from 2019 to 2020, indicating that a similar number of wolves were added to the population and removed from the population between the two estimates. The 2020 estimate was 1,556 wolves, 10 fewer than the 2019 estimate of… more
Anglers needed to collect steelhead broodstock on the South Fork Clearwater River
| idfg-jbruns
By Jaime Robertson and Allison Lebeda, Regional Fisheries Technicians
Since 2010, Idaho Department of Fish and Game has been recruiting volunteer anglers to catch adult steelhead from the South Fork Clearwater River. Hatcheries rely on anglers from around the region, other states, and even other countries… more
More fish coming to southern Idaho thanks to donations from commercial trout farms
| idfg-bpearson
In February, anglers in the Magic and Treasure valleys will continue to reap the benefits of the relationships between commercial trout growers in southern Idaho and Idaho Fish and Game.
The most recent donation comes from Riverence Provisions and Riverence Farms, which are donating nearly 70,000 rainbow trout… more
F&G seeks Horsethief Reservoir volunteer campground host for spring, summer and fall
| idfg-jmessner
Fish and Game is looking for a person, or people, to help manage camping at Horsethief Reservoir Access Area for late spring, summer, and early fall in 2021. The selected applicant(s) will work with staff and volunteers of the YMCA and Fish and Game to ensure that visitors have a positive experience. Applicant(s) must… more
Mountain lion calls increase after recent heavy snow storms
| idfg-tthompson
Mountain lion calls in the Wood River Valley and near the mountain communities of Pine and Featherville took an immediate uptick after recent snow storms brought feet of snow to area communities. Numerous reports of lion sighting and encounters have been reported to Fish and Game since late January, with most reports… more
F&G Commission modifies outfitter allocation in some newly limited, over-the-counter elk hunts
| idfg-bpearson
During its meeting in Nampa on Jan. 28, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission modified the number of elk tags available to outfitted nonresident hunters in newly limited, over-the-counter elk hunts by increasing the allocation of outfitter tags in some elk zones in order to match documented outfitter use.
The… more
Mule deer poached and left to waste in Bingham County
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding the poaching and waste of a mule deer buck in Bingham County. The buck’s carcass was recently discovered on private property on the edge of Hell’s Half Acre in Game Management Unit 63 just west of Shelley.
Fish and Game estimates that the buck… more