Press Releases and Articles
Chukar hunters get off to good start in the Clearwater and Southwest regions
| idfg-rphillips
Upland bird hunting has started in many areas of the state and reports are trickling in about fair to good hunting for chukars in a couple of popular areas: Lower Hells Canyon and the Owyhee Desert.
Chukar season opened Sept. 16, and upland game currently available for hunters include forest grouse,… more
Sharp-tailed grouse season opens October 1
| idfg-mdemick
The sharp-tailed grouse season opens October 1 and runs through October 31, with a daily bag limit of two birds and a possession limit of six.
The season is open only in eastern Idaho in these areas: Bingham and Clark counties east of Interstate 15, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson County east of Interstate 15,… more
Decoys to be used to nab poachers
| idfg-mdemick
Hunters have long used wildlife decoys in pursuit of game. Wildlife officers also use decoys to detect wildlife violations.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game reminds hunters that in areas where the department receives complaints or reports of suspicious activity, officers may use ‘artificial simulated… more
Wildlife CSI - Panhandle elk mortality study
| idfg-lwolf
The Panhandle region placed 172 GPS radio-collars on 6-month old elk calves in the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe River drainages since 2015. A couple reasons we collared so many elk was to determine survival rates and for those elk that didn’t make it, find out why they died.
The GPS collars have a signal… more
Sockeye return slightly exceeds expectations, but second-lowest in a decade
| idfg-rphillips
In a challenging year for salmon and steelhead returns, Idaho's most endangered salmon fared a little better than expected with 157 of them trapped in the Sawtooth Basin this summer.
"We are very pleased with this return given the estimate of only about 400 Idaho sockeye made it to… more
Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule
| Anonymous (not verified)
Personnel from Fish and Game's Nampa Hatchery will be releasing more than 28,500 catchable-sized rainbow trout at the following locations during October. Local ponds are the primary focus of this stocking effort due to milder weather and correspondingly cooler water temperatures.
LOCATION WEEK STOCKED… more
Where can I hunt with my extra antlerless white-tailed deer tag?
| Anonymous (not verified)
There were 1,600 extra antlerless white-tailed deer tags issued through controlled hunts in the Panhandle in units of 1, 2, 3,… more
Youth Pheasant Clinic planned in Genesee
| idfg-jbruns
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is pleased to host an annual youth pheasant clinic on Saturday, October 7, 2017, in Genesee, ID. This event is open to youths aged 10-16 that have completed hunter education and possess a valid 2017 hunting license.
Participants will meet at 8:30 a… more
Youth steelhead fishing clinic to be held in Lewiston
| idfg-jbruns
Young anglers ages 8-14 are invited to participate in the annual Steelhead Fishing Clinic to be held Thursday, October 26 from 6:00-8:00 pm and Saturday, October 28 from 8:00 am-3:00 pm. Both events will be held at the Idaho Fish and Game regional office at 3316 16th Street in Lewiston.
Life… more
Fall chinook offer a chance to catch and keep big fish
| idfg-rphillips
While there’s disappointment over no harvest for steelhead due to a low return this fall, anglers can still catch big, hard-fighting fish and get a generous bag limit.
The fall Chinook fishing season is in full swing, and mid September is the peak period to catch them in the Lewiston area, and… more
F&G director elected president of national fish and wildlife organization
| idfg-rphillips
The Association of Fish… more
Clagstone Set to Open 9/22
| idfg-jteare
With recent rains and the lifting of fire restrictions across the Panhandle Stimson Lumber Company, IDL and IDFG will be opening, for the first time, the 8,847 acre Clagstone Public Access area this Friday the 22nd of September. The area will be open year-round for a variety of non-motorized recreational opportunities… more
2017 sage grouse check station data
| idfg-khatch
JEROME – Sage grouse hunters on the Saturday opener were a little down from last year in the Magic Valley.
The Shoshone Basin check station talked to 69 hunters, that harvested 27 sage grouse, it took hunters an average of 9.81 hours per bird, for 40 percent success.
In 2016, 62 hunters took… more
Godde / Mica Bay Access Program To Reopen Friday September 22nd
| idfg-lwolf
Due to the recent moisture, and lifting of area fire restrictions, the Godde / Mica Bay Land Company Access Program is set to reopen. Access to this private property is granted by permit only, and the permits can be obtained at the Panhandle Regional Fish… more
Entire Middle Fork Elk Zone is Now Open (Rescinded Fire Closures)
| Anonymous (not verified)
Hunters now have access to all of the Middle Fork Elk Zone – units 20A and 26 – thanks to cool weather and light rain moving across the region. While the Highline and Goat Fires continue to burn in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, fire danger is minimal, though hunters are still advised to exercise… more
2017 Upland Forecast: Winter was tough on upland birds, but hunters will get more pheasants on WMAs
| idfg-rphillips
Like other animals, heavy snowfall in across southern and central Idaho took its toll on upland game birds with many populations the same or down from recent years, but there are highlights. Pheasant stocking at Fish and Game’s Wildlife Management Areas will increase by 37 percent thanks to the license and tag fee… more
Godde / Mica Bay Property Remains CLOSED
| idfg-lwolf
Please Note: This information has been superceded by a new update on 9/19/17
Even though we have experienced some moisture in the Panhandle, the Godde / Mica Bay Land Company property remains CLOSED to all human entry. Since next week’s forecast calls for dry conditions, land managers… more
Youth waterfowl weekend and pheasant hunts begin soon
| idfg-mdemick
Young hunters will soon have an early shot at waterfowl and pheasants, with September 30-October 1 marking the youth waterfowl weekend and October 7-13 set for the youth pheasant hunt.
Exposing youth to positive hunting experiences, especially at an early age, is a critical first step in connecting… more