Press Releases and Articles
Upland game bird number strong
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JEROME - A wet spring followed by a warm weather helped produce one of the best crops of birds the Magic Valley has seen in the past 10-years. "Things just happened perfectly, " said Randy Smith, Fish and Game Regional Wildlife Manager. "Weather conditions from April through June were nearly ideal for nesting and… morePocatello Youth Sets Bighorn World Record
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By Harry Morse, Regional Conservation Educator, Pocatello The world record Rocky Mountain bighorn ram Justin Armstrong set his sights on was about to get away. Justin's range finder registered the ram at 203 yards, a maximum range for his muzzleloader. Decision time! With one well-placed shot, the 16-year-old… moreCommission to Meet in Idaho Falls
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The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet in Idaho Falls October 2-3. The meeting, to be held at the Red Lion Hotel on the Falls, will begin at 8:00 a.m. each day. A public hearing will be held at the same location at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, the Commission will take a tour of the Upper… moreControlled Hunts Dropped for Fall Turkey
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Turkey hunters all over Idaho can hunt this year's fall seasons without having gone through the controlled hunt process. This is the first year since fall turkey seasons were established in Idaho that all hunts are general, meaning hunters can simply buy a turkey tag over the counter rather than applying earlier in… moreHunting in Bear Country
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The Idaho Department of Fish and Game would like to remind hunters to be aware of proper handling of game in bear country. When a hunter kills a big game animal, he or she should be aware that the gut pile and carcass provide an attractant for bears. Hunters, particularly in grizzly bear habitat, should try to remove… moreSteelhead Run Update
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The steelhead are on their way. The recent drop in the water temperatures in the Snake River has signaled the steelhead to continue to migrate to their home waters in Idaho. From Sept. 9 to Sept. 14 the number of steelhead crossing Lower Granite Dam (the last of eight dams on their travels from the ocean to Idaho)… morePlease Report Wolf Sightings
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Idaho Department of Fish and Game, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nez Perce Tribe, is asking hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to please report wolf sightings. In particular the agencies are interested in documenting pack activity, but also all wolf sightings, howling, and multiple tracks… moreAsk Fish and Game
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Q. When I bought my deer tag, the vendor asked me what unit I intended to hunt. Am I limited to that unit? A. No. The information on your intended hunt is collected to help Fish and Game in its management. For example, if one particular unit appears to be drawing a mob, the department needs to know that and may want… moreDishonest Nonresident License Buyers Beware
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MOSCOW - With a new computer software cross-checking system shared between the Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, fishing and hunting license purchasers who are dishonest in their residency claims may quickly pay the price. All fishing and hunting licenses purchased within six… moreDon't Spark a Wildlands Closure
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After one of the hottest and driest summers on record in most of the state, The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is asking hunters to be extremely cautious this hunting season. "The Forest Service has reported to us that fire conditions are extremely volatile out there," Kelton Hatch, Magic Valley regional… moreMore Bird Seasons Open Sept. 20
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Get ready, upland bird hunters! September 20 is the big day for you! Chukar and gray partridge, California quail and sage grouse seasons all open that Saturday when shooting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise. Sage grouse seasons run through Sept. 26 in Area 2 and through Oct. 12 in Area 3. There is no open… moreFake Animals Readied for Annual Workout
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The Idaho Department of Fish and Game reminds hunters that in areas where the department receives complaints of spotlighting or other suspicious activity, enforcement officers may use artificial simulated animals (ASAs). These life-like models of deer, elk, and other game species have been used for more than a decade… moreRedfish and Bats On View at Nature Center
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Visitors to the MK Nature Center in Boise have an unusual chance to view seldom-seen Idaho creatures. In the outdoor fish viewing windows, kokanee salmon from Deadwood Reservoir are making redds (fish nests) for their eggs. Spawning began to happen soon after the fish were delivered to the Nature Center September 2.… moreNez Perce License Valid Only on Reservation
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Steelhead anglers are reminded that the Nez Perce tribal steelhead license is not valid outside the reservation boundary on the Clearwater River or on the Salmon and Snake rivers. However, an Idaho fishing license with a steelhead permit is valid on all three rivers. Steelhead anglers who possess a valid Nez Perce… moreAsk Fish and Game
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Q. If it is illegal to use artificial light to fish, how come they talk about lighted lures for salmon or steelhead? A. The rule on artificial light, which applied only to trout, was dropped several years ago. Lighted lures are okay.Unraveling the Mystery of the Kootenai River White Sturgeon
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By: Vaughn Paragamian, Principal Fishery Research Biolosist, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Gary Barton, US Geological Survey Sturgeon have remained unchanged for over 175 million years. They outlasted the dinosaurs and many mammals that went extinct after the last ice age. However, sturgeon are now in… morePopular Boat Launch to be Closed
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The Walter's Ferry boat launch on the Snake River will be closed beginning Monday, September 15. The closure will encompass the entire launch area, including the boat ramp. The popular boat launching area will reopen on Saturday, September 26, possibly earlier if continued construction upgrades are completed prior to… moreFire conditions
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JEROME - After one of the hottest and dry summers on record in most of the state, The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is asking hunters to be extremely cautious this hunting season. "The Forest Service has reported to us that fire conditions are extremely volatile out there," said Kelton Hatch, Regional Conservation… more