Press Releases and Articles
River otter trapping season closed in Clearwater Region
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game was notified that the Clearwater Region's limit of 20 river otters was met on Feb. 20. The otter trapping season for the entire region closes 72 hours after the harvest quota has been met. As a result, the otter season for the Clearwater Region closes at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 23.
Any otter… more
Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (02-20-2024)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for February 20, 2024. The data discussed in this report was collected between Tuesday, February 13th and Sunday, February 19th.
As mentioned in last week’s river condition report, the spring steelhead fishery on the Upper Salmon River is off… more
Hunter education course offered in Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
An instructor-led hunter education course will be held in Salmon during the following dates:
Feb. 26 5-7 p.m. Feb. 27 5-7 p.m. Feb. 29 5-7 p.m. March 1 3-7 p.m. March 2 8 a.m. to noonThis course is designed for youth 9 years of age or anyone new to hunting.
F&G asks public to avoid portion of Fort Boise WMA during bridge replacement project
| idfg-tarchibald
A bridge replacement project inside of Fort Boise WMA is slated to begin on Feb. 26 and last for approximately four weeks. During this time, equipment and materials will be transported to the job site via the Bar Diamond parking area and access road.
For safety reasons, users are advised to avoid this portion of… more
Trout and suckers of Williams Lake: Understanding how they interact and vary over time
| idfg-bkelly
By: Luke Anderson, Fisheries Technician, and Brett Kelly, Regional Fisheries Biologist
Welcome back to the next installment of our Williams Lake blog series. If you haven’t already, check out the earlier parts in the series: Part 1 that describes how we used a picket weir to monitor rainbow trout spawning in the… more
Reminder: Antler gathering closure remains in SE and Upper Snake regions until April 15
| idfg-rphillips
The antler gathering closure runs until April 15 in the Upper Snake and Southeast Regions. The closure is on public land only, and is intended to reduce stress on wintering big game and help eastern Idaho mule deer herds recover after the harsh winter of 2022-23.
The closure includes searching for,… more
F&G takes ownership of big game winter range parcel in Elmore County
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game recently took ownership of a 5,533-acre land parcel in Elmore County about 20 miles southeast of Boise that contains high-quality wildlife habitat and provides valuable winter range for deer and elk.
The property was bought from a seller who sought out Fish and Game as a preferred buyer… more
F&G Citizens Shooting Range Advisory Committee to meet Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. MST in Boise and virtually
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Citizens Shooting Range Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. MST at Fish and Game's headquarters building at 600 S. Walnut St. in Boise. The meeting will be streamed live via Zoom, however, members of the public in attendance or online can observe the meeting; but there… more
'Hunting as Conservation': MK Nature Center to host evening lecture series on Feb. 22
| idfg-sfocht
Idaho Master Naturalist and avid sportsperson, Eric Keren, will share information about hunting as a tool throughout history and today to manage wildlife. The act of hunting is an act of conservation...find out how and why! This will be an informative talk for hunters and non-hunters alike! Free and open to the adult… more
Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Conditions Report (02-14-2024)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone,
Since our last update two weeks ago, we have continued to experience warmer than average temperatures along the Upper Salmon River which has resulted in an early start to the spring steelhead fishing season. Compared to more recent years, the Deadwater ice jam opened a month earlier which means that… more
Craig Mountain WMA public meeting scheduled for March 12 at 6 p.m.
| idfg-bstuder
Idaho Fish and Game will be hosting a public meeting at the Clearwater Regional Office at 3316 16th St. in Lewiston on March 12 from 6-8 p.m. Come learn about the recent and future habitat projects happening on Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area (CMWMA). Contact the Clearwater regional office for more information… more
F&G asks ice anglers and 'polar plunge' participants to take precautions on Lake Cascade
| idfg-bhurd
Idaho Fish and Game wants to remind ice anglers this winter to always remain cautious when walking or operating off-highway vehicles on ice. Throughout this winter ice fishing season, there have been multiple reports of people cutting large square holes in the ice so they can take a "polar plunge" or ice bath.… more
Leash your pets: F&G increasing patrols on Boise River WMA
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game enforcement staff will be conducting increased patrols in the Boise River Wildlife Management Area over the next couple months to ensure compliance with leashed dog requirements and access restrictions, as well as to address littering issues on trails.
“We have a number of issues that… more
F&G continues to receive multiple reports of two sub-adult mountain lions frequenting Ketchum neighborhoods
| idfg-tthompson
Residents in Ketchum are reporting two mountain lions frequenting their yards or seeing them on their security cameras. From video observations, biologists are calling them sub-adults, approximately 1.5 to 2 years of age and suspect they are siblings. Most of these reports are from west and north Ketchum.
… more
February 'Wildlife Express' goes underground for a closer look at the subnivean zone
| idfg-cliess
Chances are, if you've ever left your elk or deer meat in the deep freezer for too long, a fine layer of ice crystals forms around the vacuum bag. The process—known as sublimation—doesn't just occur in your freezer; you can also find examples of sublimation in nature, which is where you can find this month's edition of… more
The prize of the Kootenai River—a lobster-flavored freshwater cod—is the perfect way to cure cabin fever
| idfg-cliess
Burbot fishing on the Kootenai River is most productive during the winter months as burbot prepare to spawn in February and March. Unlike the summer months when burbot often hunker down in deep pools or in Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, this time of year they can often be found in shallower water or in tributaries… more
Anglers can now provide comments on F&G’s fishing seasons and fish management plan and attend public meetings to get more information
| idfg-cliess
Anglers have not one, but three different opportunities to leave public comments and shape Idaho’s fisheries:
2025-27 Statewide Fishing Seasons and Rules The (New) 6-Year Statewide Fish Management Plan 2024 Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon Fishing Seasons and Bag LimitsIdaho Fish and Game highly encourages angler… more
Fish and Game to hold two open houses in the Magic Valley to seek public input on three fisheries processes
| idfg-tthompson
Idaho Fish and Game has three public comment periods opening on February 12,2024 that will address important issues impacting anglers in Idaho. They include setting the 2024 Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon fishing seasons and bag limits, the upcoming 2025-27 statewide fishing seasons and rules, and rewriting the 6-year,… more