Press Releases and Articles
Bighorn Sheep Capture Planned in Hells Canyon
| idfg-jbruns
An interagency effort is planned between Idaho Fish and Game, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to capture 80 bighorn sheep in five Hells Canyon herds Feb. 19–28 as part of the ongoing Hells Canyon Initiative to restore bighorn sheep populations. Bighorn sheep will… more
Big Game Open House in Weiser Rescheduled
| idfg-eoneale
The open house - scheduled for February 13 but canceled due to heavy snow - has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 20 at the Vendome Event Center in Weiser from 6:30 to 8:30pm.
Please help spread the word regarding this schedule change.
Please direct any questions to the McCall Fish and Game… more
Bridge Repairs Close Fort Boise WMA Boat Ramp Access
| idfg-eoneale
The badly dilapidated bridge spanning Sand Hollow Creek at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will soon be replaced, one of the last repair projects resulting from the “snowpocalypse” of 2016-2017.
The repair work is scheduled to begin February 25th and will necessitate closing the access road to the… more
Southwest Region trout stocking schedule for February
| idfg-eoneale
Personnel from Fish and Game's Nampa Hatcheries will be releasing more than 9,500 catchable-sized rainbow trout at the following locations during February.
LOCATION WEEK STOCKED NUMBER OF TROUT
Wilson Ponds (Nampa) January 28, February 4, 11, 18 400/400/400/400
Wilson… more
Despite snowstorms, it's a normal winter and wide-spread emergency feeding unnecessary
| idfg-rphillips
When big snowstorms roll through Idaho, people often wonder how they will effect big game, and whether Idaho Fish and Game will start feeding deer, elk, pronghorn and other animals. The short answer is this is a normal winter so far, and there’s no need for emergency winter feeding to help animals survive.
… more
Hoof disease detected in Idaho elk for the first time
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game has confirmed a case of Treponema Associated Hoof Disease in an elk harvested by a hunter near Whitebird in 2018, which is the first animal diagnosed with TAHD in Idaho. Fish and Game is asking people to report elk showing symptoms.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has… more
St. Patrick's Day Machine Gun Shoot Coming to BCR March 16th
| idfg-eoneale
The Idaho Automatic Weapons Collectors’ Association (IAWCA) kicks off its 2019 season on Saturday, March 16th at high noon with the very popular St. Patrick's Day Machine Gun Shoot at Black's Creek Public Shooting Range (BCR).
This is a full-auto machine gun shoot that often includes WW II era belt fed machine… more
Game cameras provide new methods for counting and managing wildlife
| idfg-bpearson
An innovative approach using trail cameras to capture wildlife will allow Idaho Fish and Game biologists to estimate deer and elk populations in a safer, less-invasive, and less-expensive way than the traditional method of biologists flying in aircraft and counting them.
During November, biologists… more
Idaho's 2019-20 big game season proposals available online
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game's proposed changes for the 2019-20 big game hunting seasons are now available for public review and comment.
The proposals for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion and gray wolf are listed by region and are available on Idaho Fish and Game's 2019-2020 Big Game… more
Idaho’s 2019 & 2020 big game season proposals available online
| idfg-mdemick
Idaho Fish and Game's proposed changes for the 2019… more
Herd of elk raising concern near Rexburg/Sugar City
| idfg-jbrower
On Feb. 4 a herd of about 100 elk wandered into a rural area between Sugar City and Rexburg. The elk have been easily sighted from both Highway 20 and Highway 33 and are a cause for concern to passing motorists. Madison County Sheriff’s office and Idaho Fish and Game are aware of the situation and are… more
Lewis and Clark Master Naturalist Chapter seeks new members
| idfg-jbruns
A certified Master Naturalist completes 40 hours of hands-on, experiential classroom and field training about Idaho ecology, plants, animals and natural systems. Participants also complete 40 hours of volunteer work for local conservation agencies; hours can be divided between agencies such as IDFG, US Forest Service… more
Juvenile mountain lion attacks dog in Mackay
| idfg-jbrower
Early on the morning of Jan. 30 a woman responded to what she thought was a fight between her dog and another dog outside of her Mackay home. As she pulled the two animals apart, she realized that in one hand she held a juvenile, male mountain lion about 35 pounds, and not another dog as she expected.
… more
Anglers are hooking into burbot, the Panhandle’s newest fishery
| idfg-ksiitari
It’s been a little while since the Kootenai River burbot fishery reopened on Jan. 1, after a 26-year closure. Biologists didn’t know what to expect, and they were unsure how accessible about 45,000 burbot in the river would be to anglers.
“People who have never fished for burbot, and some who have never… more
Elk Hit by Train in Southeast Idaho
| idfg-jjackson
In the early morning hours of Friday, January 25, a herd of elk was hit by a train traveling between Montpelier and Soda Springs. No people were injured in the collision.
Conservation officers from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game arrived at the scene and dispatched injured animals as well as coordinated… more
Idaho Master Naturalist Highlight: Kevin Drews
| idfg-sfocht
Idaho Master Naturalist, Kevin Drews, works at a variety of volunteer tasks each year. In the past year, he performed mussel surveys for the Nez Perce Tribe/IDFG, helped at Ponderosa State Park with an owl program and a skiing day, and most recently, helped kids learn to ice fish at Horsethief Reservoir. The ice… more
Spring controlled turkey hunt application period runs Feb. 1 through March 1
| idfg-bpearson
Hunters who are hoping to participate in a spring controlled turkey hunt have the rest of February to apply. The application period opened on Friday, Feb. 1, and runs through March 1. Results will be made available by March 20.
Hunters may apply at any hunting and fishing license vendor or Fish and Game office… more
Controlled hunt application period for black bear closes on Feb. 15
| idfg-bpearson
Hunters who are looking to apply for controlled bear hunts during spring are running out of time to do so: The application period for spring controlled black bear hunts closes on Feb. 15.
Under new rules, Fish and Game will not be accepting mail-in applications for the controlled hunts. Hunters may apply at… more