Press Releases and Articles
Bull elk tangles in backyard swing near Ketchum
| idfg-tthompson
Wood River Valley residents notified Fish and Game on Monday, January 11, 2021 that a bull elk had his antlers caught in a backyard swing while still attached to the tree at a home in Gimlet, south of Ketchum, Idaho. Before officers arrived, the elk had broken free of the tree, but the remaining wooden seat of the… more
Reflecting back on 2020: A year in review- Fish hatchery highlights
| idfg-jbruns
Despite a year dominated by Covid-19, hatchery staff and fish marking crews worked fairly undisrupted in 2020. Hatchery staff stayed busy releasing Chinook salmon and steelhead smolts at locations along the Clearwater river and tributaries. Chinook salmon smolts released spring 2020 were spawned out at Clearwater… more
Catch a tagged fish at Hyde Pond and win a prize
| idfg-mdemick
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Kid’s Ice Fishing Derby at Hyde Pond has been cancelled. But that doesn’t mean kids shouldn’t try their luck – they may win a prize.
If a youth angler 16 years of age or younger catches a tagged rainbow trout from Hyde Pond, they can bring the tag in to the Salmon Fish and… more
Modern Sporting Rifle Fundamentals Class at BCR
| idfg-eoneale
Learn the basics of the Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) such as the AR-15, how it works, how to disassemble/reassemble, proper cleaning and clearing common malfunctions.
If desired, bring your own MSR to learn the ins and outs of your specific firearm for hunting or recreational shooting.
Class will be… more
Help protect wild birds from Salmonellosis by cleaning and removing bird feeders temporarily
| idfg-kcampbell
The Panhandle Region has received reports of sick or dead wild birds over the last several weeks. The current die-offs are thought to be from Salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is caused by the salmonella bacteria and is a common and generally fatal bird disease. Biologists recommend the… more
Reflecting back on 2020: A year in review- Clearwater hatchery highlights
| idfg-jbruns
In March and April of 2020, Clearwater hatchery staff hauled over 3.5 million Chinook smolts to Red River, Powell, Selway, North Fork Clearwater and Clear Creek release sites. Nearly 650,000 steelhead smolts were released at Meadow Creek, Red House & Newsome Creek. Smolts were released at these locations… more
Reflecting back on 2020: A year in review- Access YES & Pheasant release program
| idfg-jbruns
Clearwater region Access YES program, provided a total of 11,529 acres of public-private hunting access in 2020. The new access acreage added for 2020 was close to 1,200 acres in the Genesee and Cottonwood Creek areas.
The pheasant release program began in the Clearwater region in 2019 and… more
Deer, elk and pronghorn hunters: Submit your mandatory harvest report by Jan. 31
| idfg-bpearson
Big game hunters have until January 31 to submit mandatory harvest reports and fulfill a crucial role in the management of Idaho’s big game herds. Hunters can submit their mandatory hunter report online at license.gooutdoorsidaho.com, or by calling 1-877-268-9365.
If you purchased a tag to hunt big game this… more
Two bull elk killed illegally and left to waste in Gooding County
| idfg-tthompson
In late November, while a cow elk hunt was underway in the Smoky-Bennett Zone, two bull elk were illegally killed in separate incidents in Game Management Unit 45, north of Bliss, ID. Both elk were left to waste.
There were no antlered elk hunts in Unit 45 at the time of these poaching incidents.… more
Jump shooting: a low-cost gateway to waterfowl hunting
| idfg-imalepeai
Jump shooting ducks is an exciting way for anyone to hunt ducks and geese. It does not require expensive equipment, a dog (although handy), or having to wake up early in the morning.
All you need is:
A “plugged” shotgun, or one capable of holding no more three shells total Idaho hunting license… more
UPDATE on the cow elk found shot and left to waste off the Reubens-Gifford Rd.
| idfg-jbruns
A third elk was found on Monday morning, January 4 near mile marker 7 on the Reubens-Gifford highway in Nez Perce County.
Two cow elk were initially located in the field, shot and left to waste approximately 350 yards from the roadway.
The third cow elk was found shot and left to waste, just like… more
Survival of young crappie appears to be the key to good fishing at Brownlee Reservoir
| idfg-kmeyer
A long-term study from Brownlee Reservoir, conducted by Idaho Fish and Game and Idaho Power biologists, has shed some light on what makes crappie fishing good or bad at this popular Southwest Idaho reservoir. Survival of young fish appears to drive the population more than angler harvest, or other factors that… more
GPS collars allow biologists to monitor big game animals 24/7 and better understand what drives larger populations
| idfg-rphillips
Most of Idaho’s big game animals have moved out of the high country and onto lower-elevation winter range as part of their semi-annual migration. Deer, elk and other big game animals descend by the dozens, hundreds or even thousands, and while this migration has been repeated for eons, it’s more complex and varied… more
Reflecting back on 2020: A year in review- close to 3 miles of fish habitat restored in upper Potlatch
| idfg-jbruns
This summer, a large wood restoration project to improve steelhead habitat was completed on private land along one mile of the East Fork Potlatch River. With the addition of this project, we have restored close to three miles of stream, and we are starting to see changes in steelhead movement and behavior that… more
Mountain lion take season closed in Units 71, 72, and 74
| idfg-jjackson
Mountain lion take season closures have occurred in several southeast Idaho game management units over the last few weeks, with new closure orders again affecting Units 71, 72, and 74. The specifics regarding the closures for these and other Southeast Region units are as follows:
Units 71, 72,… more
Wildlife captures for multi-year research project set for early 2021 in units 1, 6 and 10A
| idfg-kcampbell
Wildlife capture work will begin early January in the Panhandle and Clearwater Regions among game units 1, 6, and 10A. Idaho Fish and Game is continuing to monitor and capture animals as part of a large multi-year research project to better understand how various management activities, such as harvest levels,… more
Southeast Idaho Winter Feeding Advisory Committee to meet January 5
| idfg-jjackson
Southeast Idaho Winter Feeding Advisory Committee
Meeting and Agenda
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
6:30 PM
Southeast Regional IDFG Office
1345 Barton Road
Pocatello, ID… more
Duck carcasses found dumped on road in McCammon
| idfg-jjackson
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game received a report of duck carcasses dumped on the side of Hall Road in McCammon. The report came through the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline on Christmas Day.
Senior Conservation Officer Nick Noll responded to find about a dozen dead ducks—a mixture of common… more