Press Releases and Articles
Mule deer near Homedale tests positive for bluetongue virus
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game received a positive detection for bluetongue — a virus transmitted by gnats that is similar to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) — in a yearling, male mule deer collected west of Homedale along the Snake River. The carcass was collected March 12 after a landowner reported seeing three dead deer.… more
Coyote conflicts with off-leash dogs continue in the Boise foothills
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game recently received a report of coyotes attacking a dog in the Boise Foothills. Wildlife managers and enforcement staff are monitoring the situation closely. To keep people and their pets safe, Fish and Game is recommending that recreationists with dogs avoid the area for the next few weeks. … more
F&G Commission will meet via conference call on Thursday, April 13 at 9 a.m. MDT
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to hold a special conference call on Thursday, April 13 at 9 a.m. MDT. People can attend in person at Fish and Game’s Headquarters Office at 600 S. Walnut in Boise or visit a regional office to listen in.
The special meeting will not include a public hearing, and no… more
Winter feeding update for the Southeast Region (04/07/2023)
| idfg-jjackson
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game with input from the Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) initiated the feeding of deer and elk at several locations in the Southeast Region beginning in early February.
Approximately 30 tons of deer feed is currently being distributed to 23 authorized… more
Don’t let an extended winter put a damper on your turkey hunting kickoff
| idfg-cliess
Spring turkey hunting season is upon us, despite what the view outside our windows may indicate. This seemingly eternal winter has been one for Idaho’s record books and will no doubt shake up this year’s spring turkey hunt.
That is, however, not a reason to sound the alarm and hang up the shotgun until… more
Tundra swans shot and left to waste near Saint Maries in North Idaho
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game has received information about six tundra swans that were shot and left to waste near Saint Maries in North Idaho. Fish and Game is requesting the public to report any information about the incident.
Forest Service News Release: Winter Travel Restrictions Extended Through May 1
| idfg-jbrower
Idaho Falls, ID, April 04, 2023– The 2022/2023 winter has been especially hard for local wildlife. Wildlife agencies are continuing to see an elevated level of mortality in big game animals due to the deep snow and continued cold. These concerns prompted the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to work in… more
Trumpeter swan illegally killed in Bear Lake County
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Fish and Game is investigating the illegal killing of a trumpeter swan in Bear Lake County. On the afternoon of Saturday, April 1, Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White received a report of a dead swan floating in the Bear River near the bridge on Pescadero Lane west of Bennington.
White retrieved… more
Parking lot at Crystal Springs Pond in Bingham County to be temporarily closed on April 11
| idfg-jjackson
Idaho Fish and Game will be closing the parking lot at Crystal Springs Pond for 24 hours on April 11 for repaving if weather allows.
Crystal Springs Pond is a 5-acre family-friendly pond located near Springfield in Bingham County. Last fall, it was drained to reduce the presence of dense nuisance… more
Wolf trapper education class coming to Soda Springs on April 15
| idfg-jjackson
Anyone intending to trap wolves in Idaho must attend wolf trapper education prior to buying wolf trapping tags, and there is a wolf trapper class coming up in Soda Springs!
The class will be held at the Caribou County Fire Station located at 645 East 2nd West in Soda Springs on Saturday, April 15. The… more
Youth turkey season opens April 8; Portneuf Wildlife Management Area still closed
| idfg-jjackson
Youth turkey season runs April 8-14 for licensed hunters ages 10-17, and general spring turkey season for all hunters begins April 15 and finishes May 25 for most of the state.
However, before heading out, please note that a popular turkey hunting destination in southeast Idaho — the Portneuf Wildlife… more
State of Deer and Elk: 2023-24 Big Game Seasons and Rules now available
| idfg-rphillips
The digital 2023-24 Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure is now available and the printed brochures will arrive at Fish and Game offices and license vendors later in April and before May 1 to June 5 application period for big game controlled hunts.
Big game season setting was the culmination of months of… more
Another year of South Fork steelhead broodstock collection success
| idfg-jbruns
Fish and Game fisheries staff started collecting broodstock fish on the South Fork of the Clearwater River on Feb. 3 and wrapped up March 23. Volunteer anglers tubed 781 steelhead, and 580 (295 females and 285 males) of those met the hatchery origin and length requirements for broodstock.
Low February flows in… more
April 4: Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report
| idfg-mdemick
Over the past week, the majority of steelhead angler effort and catch on the upper Salmon River was located downstream of North Fork in location code 15, and anglers interviewed within this area averaged six hours per steelhead caught.
April trout stocking schedule for the Clearwater Region
| idfg-jbruns
April may be known for its unpredictable spring weather, but here is a schedule anglers can rely on to plan their outings. Personnel from Idaho Fish and Game’s hatcheries in the Clearwater Region will be releasing nearly 24,000 catchable-sized trout at various locations throughout this month!
F&G wraps up deer removal project in Slate Creek this spring
| idfg-jbruns
Chronic wasting disease was found for the first time in Idaho in 2021 in the Slate Creek drainage within Unit 14.
Fish and Game staff in conjunction with the Idaho Fish and Game Commission made the tough decision to quickly limit the spread of this always fatal, highly contagious disease. A large-scale… more
F&G encourages public to comment on its Idaho action plan for big game migration and winter ranges
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game is encouraging the public to provide comments on its Idaho action plan for conserving priority big game migration routes and winter ranges is now available on Fish and Game’s webpage.
The opportunity to leave a comment closes on April 24.
Since 2018, Fish and Game’s management and… more
Hunter harvest stats show slight increase in elk in 2022, drop in mule deer and white-tailed deer
| idfg-cliess
While it was another good year for elk hunter harvest, both mule deer and white-tailed deer saw drops in overall harvest and remained below the 10-year average.
Overall, big game harvests tend to fluctuate slightly from year to year due to numerous factors, including weather the prior winter and during hunting… more