Press Releases and Articles
Hunters: If your tag isn't properly notched, it's invalid
| idfg-rphillips
Reminder for hunters, after you harvest your animal, you must validate your tag by completely removing the correct day and month – just like in the picture – and attaching it to the largest portion of the carcass.
Fish salvage order issued for Jensen Grove Pond in Blackfoot
| idfg-jjackson
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has issued a salvage order for the pond at Jensen Grove Park in Blackfoot, Idaho, effective October 11 through October 31, 2019.
During the salvage order timeline at Jensen Grove Pond:
● Fish may be taken by any method except use of firearms, explosives, chemicals… more
Waterfowl season is open in the North Panhandle
| idfg-edehamer
Fall migration of waterfowl is on throughout the Panhandle Region, bringing thousands of birds and groups of eager waterfowl hunters to our Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for opening weekend. Boundary-Smith Creek and McArthur Lake WMA's both offer opportunities to hunt waterfowl from October 12th through January 24th… more
Fall Fishing in Idaho
| idfg-vosborn
Anglers have good reason to say some of the best fishing in Idaho is in the fall.
There are fewer people on the water. Many rivers are running low and are more accessible. Cooler water means fish become more active. Fish and Game stocks ponds in the fall, once the water temperatures have cooled down.… more
Hunters needed to help monitor for Chronic Wasting Disease in the Clearwater & Panhandle Regions
| idfg-jbruns
The Clearwater Region of the Idaho Fish and Game is asking hunters to help with a surveillance program looking for chronic wasting disease. Fish and Game has been testing for the disease for decades in other parts of Idaho. This latest testing is part of a general surveillance, rotational sampling strategy that… more
Temporary Closure of Johnson Creek Access Site
| idfg-adux
Idaho Fish and Game has started Phase 2 of the Clark Fork Delta Restoration Project. Construction activities will require the Johnson Creek Access Site to be closed from October 16, 2019 until approximately April 1, 2020. The closure is necessary to provide the contractor a location to stage supplies and equipment,… more
Access Yes! provides hunters and anglers opportunities to access private lands
| idfg-lburman
Looking for a new spot to hunt, fish or to simply stretch your legs? Look no further than the many Access Yes! properties found throughout the Magic Valley, which is one of the most diverse regions for hunting and fishing in Idaho. From the bottom of the Snake River canyon to the cold streams of the Pioneer Mountains… more
Seven-mile Slough Access on the Payette River WMA Remains Closed
| Anonymous (not verified)
UPDATE NOTICE: This project has been updated and the information below may not be current. Please see the Update
While waterfowl hunting season opens this weekend across southwest Idaho, one popular access site along the lower Payette River remains closed.
Seven-mile Slough… more
White-tailed buck shot and left headless near Lacy Meadows Rd. southeast of Weippe on Oct. 8
| idfg-jbruns
A report came in at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8th regarding a white-tailed buck shot and left to waste near mile marker 7 on Lacy Meadows Rd. at the Jct. of Brown's Ridge Road southeast of Weippe. There currently is no open hunting season for deer in that area. It is anticipated that the animal was shot in the… more
Two giant sturgeon get a new home in Idaho Falls
| idfg-jbrower
Two 7-foot long sturgeon were transported 190 miles from the Hagerman Fish Hatchery to the Snake River in Idaho Falls after spending the first 25 years of their life in a Fish and Game display pond, but these long-lived giants still have a long life ahead of them.
“Sturgeon can live to be around… more
Youth mentored waterfowl hunt a success in the Upper Snake
| idfg-jbrower
Fish and Game partnered with Delta Waterfowl and our local Hunter Education instructors in the Upper Snake Region to provide a mentored youth hunt during the youth season opener. Ten recent Hunter Education graduates from around the region were treated to their first waterfowl hunt.
The… more
Birders can flock to southeast Idaho to see fall migrations
| idfg-hturner
As a birder, there is almost nowhere I would rather be than southeastern Idaho in the fall. In the later summer, migrant birds begin their southward journeys, stopping over along the way to rest and refuel.
August brings excitement to birders, as shorebirds are among the first migrants to come… more
Magic Valley hunter ed graduates participate in mentored youth pheasant hunt
| idfg-tthompson
On a chilly October morning, several recent hunter education graduates from around the Magic Valley gathered to hone their hunting skills for upland birds at the Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area. The excited youth were joined by staff and volunteers from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Mule Deer… more
Kid’s Creek Pond restroom vault replacement delayed
| idfg-mdemick
Due to forecasted cold weather this week, replacement of the new vault on the toilet at Kid’s Creek Pond has been delayed.
Stoddard Construction of Salmon will remove the old vault and Missoula Concrete will install the new concrete vault as soon as condition allow.
Once construction begins,… more
Oct. 7: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report
| idfg-bbeller
Steelhead angler effort on the upper Salmon River was light during the first week of October. Bank anglers were mainly observed downstream of North Fork in location code 15, while boat anglers were more spread out with the majority found upstream of North Fork in location code 16. Anglers did not report catching a… more
Pheasant season opens Oct. 12 in northern Idaho, Oct. 19 in balance of state
| idfg-bpearson
The 2019 pheasant hunting season gets underway Saturday, Oct. 12 in northern Idaho, and on Oct. 19 for the rest of the state. The season runs through November 30 in eastern Idaho and through December 31 in southern and northern Idaho.
Shooting hours start one-half hour before sunrise, and end one half hour… more
Ten tips for safe firearm handling while hunting
| idfg-bpearson
With many hunters heading outdoors with firearms, it is a good time to think about gun safety.
Some people have the mistaken impression that because firearms are used, hunting is a dangerous activity. While there is always the potential that a hunter will be involved in a firearm accident, statistics… more
Read about birds migrations, mountain goats and the MK Nature Center in 'Windows to Wildlife'
| idfg-scassinelli
Fall migration begins in August and wraps up in late November to early December, and there is no better place to be birding than in southeast Idaho. Get the scoop on fall migration and birds to watch for from Idaho Fish and Game wildlife technician, Hilary Turner.
Also, learn why mountain goats are an… more