Press Releases and Articles
F&G seeking public input on Idaho upland game, turkey and furbearer season setting, 2026-2027
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game will be setting the new seasons for upland game, turkey, and furbearers for 2026-2027 in January 2026. Members of the public are highly encouraged to review the proposed seasons and changes and weigh in with their own comments. The comment period is open until Dec. 7, 2025 at 6 p.m. MST.
Fish… more
Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (11-25-2025)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for November 25, 2025, and the data discussed in this report were collected from November 17 through November 23.
Steelhead angler effort along the Upper Salmon River continued to decline last week as we move further into… more
Water pump failure at Rapid River Hatchery near Riggins causes loss of newly hatched Chinook salmon
| idfg-rphillips
During a routine facility check on Nov. 18, Rapid River Fish Hatchery staff detected a pump used to supply oxygenated water to the early rearing/incubation building had malfunctioned. The alarm system designed to identify water flow associated with pump failure also failed.
Staff were able to turn on a… more
Everything a nonresident hunter needs to know about the 2026 tag drawing
| idfg-cliess
If you’re a nonresident hunter looking to hunt deer or elk in Idaho next year, the process is going to look a little different—and much improved.
This move to a draw should be celebrated as a win for nonresident hunters. The new framework replaces the historical first-come, first-served tag sale that occurred… more
ICYMI: Idaho Fish and Game Commission Meeting Nov. 20
| idfg-cliess
Watch the full recap of the November 20, 2025 Idaho Fish and Game Commission Meeting in Lewiston.
Topics covered include the adoption of administrative rules, 2025 Nonresident Tag Draw update, CWD update, and more.
Changes to muzzleloader elk seasons in Palouse and Dworshak zones
| idfg-jbruns
Muzzleloader elk hunters planning to hunt the Palouse and Dworshak zones need to be aware of the following season changes for the 2025 season.
In the Palouse zone, units 8 and 11A are now open only for the harvesting of antlerless elk and on or within 1 mile of private agricultural lands. The season… more
F&G seeks information regarding bull elk shot and wasted in Unit 32A
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers are seeking information about a bull elk that was shot and left to waste in Adams County in October.
Officers located the animal about 200 yards east of Four Bit Creek Road (Forest Service Road 718), just north of Mill Creek Summit in Unit 32A. Nothing was… more
Upper Snake Winter Feeding Advisory Committee will meet Nov. 26
| idfg-jbrower
Upper Snake Winter Feeding Advisory Committee Meeting
Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025- 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM MST
Address: 4279 Commerce Circle, Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Members of the Upper Snake Winter Feeding Advisory Committee will meet to assist Fish and Game with the assessment of winter… more
Collaborative juniper removal efforts in the Magic Valley Region improve wildlife habitat in southern Idaho
| idfg-Kenzie.Baratti
Idaho Fish and Game habitat staff in the Magic Valley Region, working in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Idaho’s Office of Species Conservation, began a large-scale juniper removal project in fall 2022 in the… more
About 1 million fingerling kokanee will be ready for spring stocking thanks to captive broodstock program
| idfg-rphillips
A million fingerling kokanee are headed to Idaho waters in 2026 thanks to Idaho Fish and Game’s new captive broodstock program aimed at supplementing eggs taken from "wild" fish. It's the first batch produced by Idaho Fish and Game's newest hatchery project aimed at providing stability to the annual number of kokanee… more
Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (11-18-2025)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for November 18, 2025, and the data discussed in this report were collected from November 10 through November 16.
Last week on the Upper Salmon River was the first week so far this fall where we observed a noticeable decline in steelhead angler… more
Steelhead are coming to the Boise River on Nov. 21
| idfg-bpearson
Treasure Valley residents, it’s official: You can go ahead and dust off your steelhead fishing gear. Fish are coming to the Boise River on Friday, Nov. 21.
“After two weeks of trapping at Hells Canyon Dam, we have met broodstock needs for the hatchery and have enough steelhead on hand for a stocking event… more
Don't let a lack of gear stop you from waterfowl hunting
| idfg-bpearson
Waterfowl hunting has a reputation for being expensive, but hunters don’t need to shell out tons of money on a boat or a truckload of waterfowl gear to be successful. That’s especially true in a state with as much public land as Idaho.
Jump shooting is a low-cost option for public land hunts, but it is not the… more
Wasted deer near Slate Creek
| idfg-jbruns
On the weekend of November 8-9, person(s) entered private property on the west-side of Salmon River near Slate Creek without permission in order to kill a mature mule deer. Only the head, cape, and back straps were retrieved leaving the majority of the animal to waste.
Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (11-12-2025)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for November 12, 2025, and the data discussed in this report were collected from November 3 through November 9.
The Upper Salmon River steelhead fishery was busy again last week with many anglers on the water. Most anglers were observed… more
Anglers: Expect changes at American Falls Reservoir, the Snake River below, and Walcott Reservoir
| idfg-pkennedy
Persistent drought has stressed popular fisheries in southeastern and eastern Idaho, setting up tougher trout fishing in 2026. Despite adequate high-elevation snowpack last winter, warm valley temperatures limited lower-elevation accumulation.
Spring and summer brought little additional moisture, and… more
F&G officers seek information on multiple wildlife waste incidents in Unit 33
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking the public’s help in gathering information regarding three separate cases of wasted wildlife that occurred recently in Unit 33.
The first incident occurred around October 24 in the Lightning Creek drainage north of Crouch, where a mule deer buck was shot and only the head was taken… more
F&G Commission meeting Nov. 19-20 in Lewiston
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet Nov. 19 and 20 at Fish and Game’s Clearwater Region office at 3316 16th St. in Lewiston. A public hearing will be held the night of Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. PST at the same location. Those wishing to speak to the Commission during the public hearing will have a three-minute time… more