Press Releases and Articles
Portions of Andrus WMA Now Closed due to Wildfire
| idfg-eoneale
NOTICE: This original closure has been rescinded.
Learn more
Effective immediately, that portion of Andrus Wildlife Management Area (WMA) north and east of Highway 71 is closed to all public entry due to wildfire and public safety concerns… more
Elk depredation actions in the Magic Valley Region continue to show positive outcomes to landowners
| idfg-tthompson
Over the last several years biologists with Fish and Game have been applying consistent deterrents to local big game herds in an effort to keep them from damaging crops on private property. In some locations across the Magic Valley Region these deterrents, which include non-lethal and lethal actions, are resulting in… more
Porphyry Fire Could Impact Middle Fork Zone Elk Hunters
| idfg-eoneale
It’s hard to pronounce and could prove to be a headache for Middle Fork Zone elk hunters. The Porphyry wildfire, burning north of Yellow Pine in portions of Game Management Units 20A and 26, has led to closures on portions of the Payette National Forest.
While the road from Yellow Pine to Big Creek and beyond… more
Tag Exchanges Available for Brownlee Zone Elk Hunters
| idfg-eoneale
With fires burning in Game Management Unit 31 – the Brownlee Elk Zone – hunter access has become extremely limited to a large portion of the unit. Elk hunters holding Brownlee Zone A-tags now have the option of exchanging those tags for another zone in which tags are available.
Brownlee Zone A-tags can be… more
The Maiden Hunt Series, Part 2 – Kori
| idfg-bpearson
Mentoring is woven in the fabric of hunting. For millennia the tradition has been passed down through generations and shared with friends. For the tradition to continue, the each generation of hunters are tasked with passing the torch to the next.
Fish and Game's Maiden Hunt Series explores how rewarding it… more
2020-21 Upland Forecast: Here's what hunting looks like across the state
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho is a big state with a diverse mix of habitats, elevations and climates, and the state contains a variety of upland game birds. Upland bird populations can vary tremendously on an annual basis, and their health and numbers typically depend on favorable weather conditions, which are often very… more
Fire affecting your hunting area? Here's what you need to know
| idfg-bpearson
Hunters and anyone else heading into the backcountry are advised to check with Forest Service ranger district offices or county sheriffs’ offices in their hunt area before heading out. Fire updates can be found online at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/?state=16.
Additional fire information is available on Fish… more
Bird hunters encouraged to donate their wings
| idfg-bpearson
With many upland game bird seasons open or opening soon, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game is asking hunters to donate a fully feathered wing for each bird they harvest.
Because juvenile and adult birds molt their wing feathers differently, biologists can use this information to estimate chick production… more
F&G Commission will meet via conference call at 8:30 a.m. MDT on Sept. 15
| idfg-bpearson
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet via conference call at 8:30 a.m. MDT on Tuesday, Sept. 15 to decide season setting for a Clearwater River coho salmon fishing season, and vote on setting shooting hours for pheasant stocking areas where an Upland Game Bird Permit is required. Fisheries staff will also give… more
White-tailed deer found shot in Bear Lake County
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding the illegal shooting of a white-tailed deer doe near Dingle Pond approximately 4 miles east of the town of Dingle, Idaho, in Bear Lake County.
The deer was illegally shot with a rifle during the current general archery season, though the exact… more
Homedale angler sets new catch-and-release catfish record
| idfg-mkoenig
Jared Holt of Homedale hoists a 42-inch flathead catfish caught from the Snake River before releasing it to earn a new catch/release state record.
Congratulations to Jared Holt on reeling in a new record flathead catfish. Jared was fishing the Snake River in Owyhee County on Sept. 6… more
Allow 10 days for delivery when ordering tags online or by phone
| idfg-rphillips
Ordering online or by phone is a convenient way to buy your hunting/fishing licenses and permits, but sportsmen and women are reminded to allow enough time for their products to be mailed before their outings. Fish and Game recommends allowing 10 days for hunting tags to arrive. (Note: the items are processed and… more
More upland bird seasons open in mid-September
| idfg-bpearson
Many Idaho upland game bird hunting seasons are about to begin, adding to the list of hunting options that already opened at the beginning of September. Here’s a brief summary of the upcoming seasons.
Chukar & Partridge
Chukar and gray partridge seasons run from September 19 through… more
Bear attacks hunters in Upper Pack River area north of Sandpoint
| idfg-ksiitari
On the morning of Sept. 9, two archery hunters were attacked after what they described as a surprise encounter with a sow grizzly bear with cubs in the Apache Ridge area of the Upper Pack River drainage. One of the men was injured and has been released from the hospital with stitches.
The hunters reported… more
Fish and Game reports ink on some licenses is fading; here's what to do
| idfg-rphillips
Fish and Game officials are reporting some hunters and anglers are finding faded licenses and/or tags, but in much smaller numbers than in the past. Officials said people can prevent fading by not storing licenses and tags in a plastic sleeve.
The problem is not widespread, and the culprit appears to be… more
Venomous Snakes Seized from Boise Residence
| idfg-eoneale
Nearly three dozen venomous snakes were recently seized from a Boise residence following a lengthy Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) investigation. While many of the specimens were Great Basin rattlesnakes – a species native to Idaho – many others were exotic species from Southeast Asia, Africa and Central and… more
Waterfowl hunting conditions update for Market Lake WMA
| idfg-jbrower
A lack of precipitation has resulted in lower than normal water levels in the marshes at Market Lake this year, with some areas being only a few inches deep. “It has been a very dry year on the WMA with less than three inches of rainfall so far,” says Market Lake Manager Brett Gullett. “That is only 60 percent of the… more
Help catch poachers by calling the CAP hotline at (800) 632-5999
| idfg-bpearson
With some hunting seasons underway and more opening soon, Idaho Fish and Game asks the public to call the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline if they witness a violation of wildlife laws, and program the number into the contacts in your smart phone.
“The public plays a critical role in catching poachers… more