Press Releases and Articles
Large Tracts Program land closures announced due to excessive fire danger
| idfg-tjross
North Idaho Timber Group, a partner in the Large Tracts Program, just announced a closure of their lands in response to extreme fire danger. The closure is effective Aug. 23, 2023.
The press release below is from North Idaho Timber Group. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
… more
Youth marksmanship skills workshop to be hosted in the Panhandle Region on Sept. 16
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game staff and volunteers in the Panhandle Region will be hosting a Youth Marksmanship Skills Workshop on Sept. 16 at the Farragut Shooting Range Center in Athol.
F&G seeks public comment on proposed Draft Snake River White Sturgeon Management Plan 2023-2032
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on its Draft Snake River White Sturgeon Management Plan 2023-2032. This revised plan will guide white sturgeon management and conservation priorities throughout the Snake River during the next 10 years.
People are encouraged to review the draft plan at https://idfg.idaho.… more
Collaborative effort to restore Bear Lake cutthroat trout receives national award
| idfg-mkoenig
The national American Fisheries Society recently awarded top honors to Idaho for conservation efforts in the Bear Lake watershed to help restore the wild Bonneville cutthroat trout fishery there.
The award recognized community and stakeholder engagement, and partnerships devoted to improving the habitat of… more
Ahsahka Access Site near Orofino is now day-use only
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game's Ahsahka access site status now changed from a 10-day camping limit to day use only. The Ahsahka site is positioned between Clearwater Power's yards and the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery along Highway 7.
This decision was made with public safety in mind as there has been misuse of… more
Fall salmon and steelhead fishing outlook
| idfg-csullivan
With summer winding down, it’s time to start looking ahead to the fall season fisheries for salmon and steelhead. This is an exciting time of year as we watch fish counts at Bonneville Dam, and anticipate the fisheries that will be ramping up in Idaho over the next few months. Below is a description of upcoming… more
Bear activity is picking up, taking precautions at camp and home can help avoid problems
| idfg-mdemick
While it is exciting to see a bear in the wild, it isn’t so wonderful to have one in your campsite or trashing your cabin barbeque at midnight.
Most conflicts with bears occur from July through September and are linked to careless handling of food and garbage. With thousands of campers, anglers,… more
F&G biologists studying how environmental conditions and C.J. Strike sturgeon fishery interact
| idfg-bpearson
After a concerning number of dead sturgeon washed up in a stretch of C.J. Strike Reservoir in late summer 2022 amid abnormally low oxygen levels and high water temperatures, Fish and Game issued a temporary conservation closure for sturgeon fishing. By themselves, the environmental conditions in 2022 approached – and… more
Fish salvage order issued for Mormon Reservoir
| idfg-tthompson
The Magic Valley Regional Office of Fish and Game has been monitoring the water level and temperatures at different locations within the region and have found water conditions in Mormon Reservoir are no longer suitable for fish survival. In response, a fish salvage order is now in place for Mormon Reservoir. … more
Prescribed fires near Challis and Mackay may affect hunters
| idfg-mdemick
Hunters planning to hunt in Wino Basin near Challis and the Cedar and Cabin Creek areas near Mackay should beware of prescribed fires planned for this fall.
According to Salmon-Challis Forest Service officials, the purpose is to improve forest health and wildlife habitat and to reduce risk of large… more
Looking for fish particles? A different tool for finding rare native fishes in Idaho.
| idfg-bbowersox
If you look over IDFG news releases and blogs you can get a pretty good idea of the tools we use to survey Idaho’s fish populations. We often use traps, nets, electrofishing, and anglers to collect information used to make management decisions. But this field season, we’ve partnered with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky… more
Smallmouth Bassin’ in Ririe Reservoir
| idfg-jheckel
When some anglers think of Ririe Reservoir they may picture limits of silvery kokanee or Yellow Perch fish fries, but there’s another fishy critter that can provide hours of entertainment at the end of your line, Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu. Not only are Smallmouth Bass abundant and fun to catch in Ririe… more
Range grant application period is open; deadline is Nov. 1
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game enhances recreational shooting ranges through its Shooting Range Development Grant program to assist organizations or agencies to establish, upgrade, expand or otherwise improve public firearms and archery ranges in Idaho. The department expects to award more than $550,… more
Hunters beware: prescribed fires in the Salmon-Challis National Forest could affect hunts
| idfg-jbrower
Challis and Mackay, Idaho- August 15, 2023- The South Zone of the Salmon-Challis National Forest may implement prescribed burning projects on the Challis-Yankee Fork and Lost River Ranger Districts. Prescribed fire activity is highly weather dependent. As areas come into favorable prescribed fire… more
An alarming discovery on the banks of the Salmon River?
| idfg-jdupont
First smallmouth bass, then walleye, and now SALMON SHARKS! When are our salmon and steelhead going to catch a break? That’s right, you read correctly, salmon sharks! Calls and e-mail came pouring in yesterday claiming they found a shark washed up on the shores of the Salmon River near Riggins. With… more
New 3-D youth archery range set to open at the 2023 North Idaho State Fair Aug. 18-27
| idfg-tjross
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game in the Panhandle Region is excited to announce the grand opening of its new 3-D youth archery range at the North Idaho State Fairground!
Walleye are spreading into Idaho
| idfg-mdobos
Idaho Fish and Game has received more verified reports and pictures from people catching walleye in the Hells Canyon reach of the Snake River and Salmon River in 2023 than in all previous years. It is alarming to receive so many reports of walleye being caught upstream of Lower Granite Dam, and unfortunately there are… more
Idaho Fish and Game surveys trophy trout waters in the Southeast Region
| idfg-cnau
What do Daniels Reservoir, Treasureton Reservoir, Springfield Lake, and Twentyfour Mile Reservoir have in common? Idaho Fish and Game manages them as trophy trout waters in the Southeast Region which means:
Trout limit is 2, none under 20 inches One line only when ice fishing No bait allowed, barbless hooks… more