Reminder to turn in Kootenai River creel packets by May 1 for a chance to win prizes!

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 12:23 | idfg-tjross

If you are one of the many anglers who participated in the 2024 Kootenai River Angler Science Program, thank you for investing time and energy into helping Idaho Fish and Game. Information collected by all of you will help Fish and Game manage the burbot fishery in the Kootenai River.

A recording of the 2024 Lake Pend Oreille 'State of the Lake' meeting presentations and videos is now available online

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 10:12 | idfg-tjross

If you missed the 2024 Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake" meeting on April 4, you can now watch the presentations that were given and the videos that were shown at the meeting. Please visit our Lake Pend Oreille Fisheries website or click the video below to watch it.

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (04-09-2024)

Tue, 04/09/2024 - 09:09 | idfg-bbeller

Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for April 9, 2024. The data included in this report was collected between Monday, April 1 and Sunday, April 7, 2024.

During the past week, steelhead angler effort was concentrated upstream of the East Fork in location code 19. The only other… more

Officer Spencer Wesche honored as Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 13:38 | idfg-jbrower

We are pleased to announce Conservation Officer Spencer Wesche from the Rexburg patrol area as Idaho’s 2023 Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year. Officer Wesche has been recognized for exemplary service to her community, fellow employees, and the sportsmen and women of Idaho. Her efforts… more

F&G biologists complete Middle Fork Salmon River bighorn sheep survey

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 12:35 | idfg-bpearson

Recent aerial surveys by Fish and Game staff in the Middle Fork Salmon River showed promising results for the area’s bighorn sheep population. Conducted in Hunt Areas 20A, 26, 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, and 27-4, this year’s survey showed an increase in bighorn numbers compared with the last survey flown in 2017.… more

Public meeting focused on the Bear Lake fishery scheduled April 16

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 10:41 | idfg-jjackson

Fisheries staff from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will share updates on the Bear Lake fishery, including work plans for 2024, at an upcoming public meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, at the Garden City Convention Center’s Lakeside Room.… more

Harsh winters mean harsh truths for southeast Idaho mule deer

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 10:11 | idfg-efreeman

Winter is an extremely stressful time of year for mule deer in southeastern Idaho and is the single largest factor shaping deer numbers on the landscape from year-to-year. Freezing temperatures and snowfall dramatically reduce the amount and quality of available forage, deer function at a caloric deficit for several… more

April's 'Wildlife Express' goes hoppin' down the bunny trail

Mon, 04/08/2024 - 09:56 | idfg-cliess

Rabbits, bunnies, hares, wabbits—whatever you call them, we know one when we see one. Every bunny knows that. 

Believe it or not, there are five different members of the rabbit family found in Idaho, and divided amongst them are two groups: rabbits and hares. And there are several ways to tell them apart.… more

Join Fish and Game in celebrating 125 years of conserving Idaho’s wildlife

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 14:45 | idfg-rphillips

In 1899, the Idaho Legislature established the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage Idaho's fish, wildlife and habitat on behalf of the public, and Fish and Game officials invite people to share in celebration of that mutual effort. 

Through the invaluable support… more

Fish and Game is recruiting new volunteer Range Safety Officers at the Farragut Shooting Range Center in Athol

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 14:04 | idfg-tjross

Idaho Fish and Game is recruiting new Range Safety Officers at the Farragut Shooting Range Center in Athol. 

Anyone interested in becoming an RSO is encouraged to reach out to Cory Blanchard at cory.blanchard@idfg.idaho.gov or 208-683-1499.

Access Yes! looking for landowners in the Salmon Region

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 10:09 | idfg-mdemick

Fish and Game is seeking to enroll new properties in its Access Yes! Program, which improves public access to or through private land by compensating willing landowners who provide access. 

In addition to receiving monetary compensation, landowners can specify conditions upon public access that best meet… more

F&G officers seek information about five elk shot and left to waste in Unit 39

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 09:51 | idfg-bpearson

In early March, conservation officers in Southwest Idaho discovered a total of five elk that were shot out of season and left to waste in two incidents in Unit 39, and are asking for the public for any information regarding these two cases.

At the first location, officers found three cow elk that had been shot… more

It's trout stocking time! Here's what's headed to Panhandle waters this April

Wed, 04/03/2024 - 14:41 | idfg-tjross

If you're looking for a good way to kick off spring, look no further. Over 33,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) rainbow trout will be stocked in the Panhandle Region in April.

Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions (angler safety concerns); dates may… more

Don't miss this evening lecture series at the MK Nature Center, 'What's Up With Wapiti?'

Wed, 04/03/2024 - 13:59 | idfg-sfocht

At 6:30 p.m. on the evening of April 11, MK Nature Center will host Idaho Fish and Game's Deer and Elk Coordinator, Toby Boudreau, as their April speaker.

Toby will present an overview of elk in North America—from the first encounters with Europeans, their biology and their habits, to modern day elk management… more

Spring 2024 CWD Management Action Wrap-up

Tue, 04/02/2024 - 13:04 | idfg-jbruns

Now that the second year of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management action has concluded, Idaho Fish and Game would like to take this opportunity to share the results. The three-week CWD management action took place from February 5th through February 23rd within the Slate Creek “hot spot” area, which consists of… more

April fish stocking schedule for the Upper Snake Region

Tue, 04/02/2024 - 09:09 | idfg-jbrower

With any luck, spring will begin to show itself in Eastern Idaho and we can begin to shake off those winter blues and enjoy some time outdoors fishing at one of the many stocked fishing locations. Fish and Game staff will be placing 6,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) trout into the following bodies of… more

Wild turkeys with backpacks - a project to learn more about nesting, habitat use and survival of wild turkeys in North Idaho

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 16:06 | idfg-tjross

Turkeys, turkeys and more turkeys. Anyone who has lived in the Panhandle for more than a couple of months knows there is no shortage of wild turkeys in North Idaho. While some might understandably find wild turkeys pesky, many others continue to value the incredible hunting opportunity they provide. 

To… more

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (04-02-2024)

Mon, 04/01/2024 - 14:50 | idfg-bbeller

Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for April 2, 2024. The data included in this report was collected between Monday, March 25 and Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Angler effort continued to shift more upriver last week. Angler effort was very low in the areas downstream of Salmon, ID,… more