Press Releases and Articles
Know your species before heading into the mountains this fall
| idfg-tjross
Is that a mule deer or a white-tailed deer? A moose or an elk? A black bear or a grizzly bear? These are questions asked and thoughts pondered by many a sportsman each hunting season.
While it may seem like an easy task, correctly identifying your target species can be challenging at times. Weather conditions,… more
Hunt safe with these 10 survival tips when hunting big game
| idfg-rphillips
Every hunting season, hunters get lost in the woods, and while most escape no worse than tired, chilled, and hungry, the hazards of being lost in Idaho's woods shouldn't be underestimated.
Hunters can take precautions and prepare for unexpected situations in the woods.
Know the area you're huntingAlways… more
Upper Salmon River Fall 2024 Steelhead Fishing Update (10-15-2024)
| idfg-bbeller
Between the unseasonably warm weather and the smoke hanging in the valleys, last week did not feel like mid-October in Central Idaho. Despite these conditions, we did observe a noticeable increase in steelhead angler effort downstream of Salmon, ID. Normally, we would expect to see a larger increase in angler effort… more
Deadline alert: Apply by Oct. 31 for Magic Valley and Upper Snake Regions for Shooting Range Advisory Committee
| idfg-rphillips
Anyone from the Magic Valley and Upper Snake Regions has until Oct. 31 to apply to serve on a Citizens Shooting Range Advisory Committee that recommends to Fish and Game which public shooting ranges should receive a total of about $500,000 annually in grant funds.
Applicants for the Citizens Shooting… more
Teton County residents reminded to keep the community safe by storing attractants to reduce human-bear conflicts
| idfg-jbrower
A recent report of bears getting into unsecured garbage in a Teton County neighborhood serves as a reminder for residents to properly store attractants to prevent unwanted bear encounters. Bears become very active in the fall as they search for easy calories to fatten them up for winter. This often drives bears to seek… more
Pheasant stocking continues in the Clearwater Region
| idfg-jbruns
In northern Idaho, the general pheasant season runs from Oct 12 through the end of December. You can find more information regarding seasons and rules in the Idaho Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer Regulation Book.
Hunters, 18 years of age and older, intending to take advantage of stocked birds by… more
F&G announces closure of Willow-Oxarango Access Yes! parcels in Unit 32
| idfg-bpearson
Fish and Game announced this week that several Access Yes! parcels in Unit 32 will be closed to public access immediately in the wake of the Paddock Fire.
The Willow-Oxarango Access Yes! parcels, located on the west slopes of Squaw Butte, were engulfed in the Paddock fire and currently have almost no… more
Idaho Fish and Game investigating elk meat dumped on roadside in Bear Lake County
| idfg-jjackson
On September 30, Idaho Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White received a call from an archery hunter who had discovered four quarters of a harvested elk alongside a road near Geneva in Bear Lake County.
Officer White investigated the report and confirmed that the quarters had been dumped on US… more
Wolf trapper education course offered in Salmon Nov. 2
| idfg-mdemick
An instructor-led wolf trapper education course will be offered in Salmon on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Idaho Fish and Game office located at 99 Highway 93 North.
Wolf trapper education courses are usually offered just a few times a year locally - so if you need to complete the course,… more
Salmon Region irrigators asked to contact Fish and Game before turning water off this fall
| idfg-mdemick
With the irrigation season winding down and efforts to keep fish out of ditches, local irrigators who divert water from rivers and streams in Idaho’s Salmon Region are asked to call Idaho Fish and Game’s Fish Screen Program at 756-6022 several days before shutting off their water for the season. … more
Seats available in Southwest Idaho for Trapper, Wolf Trapper certification courses
| idfg-bpearson
Idaho Fish and Game's Southwest Region has several upcoming instructor-led certification courses, including one Trapper Education class and two Wolf Trapper Education classes, with plenty of open seats. Find a date that works for you below, and follow the links to register for a class:
Trapper Certification… more
Fish and Game to monitor impacts to fisheries from quagga mussel treatment
| idfg-tthompson
Quagga mussels have once again been detected in the Snake River near Twin Falls. The new detections were a result of extensive proactive monitoring done by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), the state agency responsible for invasive species monitoring and management.
While ISDA detected… more
Upper Salmon River Fall 2024 Steelhead Fishing Update (10-08-2024)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone, IDFG creel employees began interviewing steelhead anglers along the Upper Salmon River last Thursday (October 3rd). Angler effort and catch were low during the first weekend of monitoring, but both were at levels higher than what we have observed during the first week of October since 2015.
… more
Winchester Lake waterfowl hunting opens Oct 19
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game along with Winchester State Park are excited to announce the second year of limited waterfowl hunting at Winchester Lake. Fish and Game is teamed up with Winchester State Park to provide more opportunities for waterfowl hunters in the Clearwater Region. Specific rules are in place to… more
Hunting/technology working group named, meetings to start in November
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game has named 24 members to its Hunting and Advanced Technology working group that will review current technology used in big game hunting and provide recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission if the working group feels changes to hunting rules are warranted.
“We’re humbled that more… more
2024 Hunting Outlook: Mule Deer
| idfg-cliess
Statewide, mule deer numbers appear to be improving, while eastern Idaho’s muleys—after suffering from one of the worst winters on record in 2023—are starting to gradually grow thanks to a much-needed mild winter. Winter survival is typically the driving factor for mule deer herds, and the long-term average is about 60… more
F&G seeks information regarding the killing of grizzly bear in Clark County west of Island Park Reservoir
| idfg-jbrower
On September 2nd, an adult female grizzly bear was found shot and killed in Clark County near Lower Shotgun Road, in the Willow Creek drainage, west of Island Park Reservoir. Fish and Game is seeking information from the public regarding the incident and would appreciate hearing from anyone that may have heard or seen… more
Dworshak Reservoir 2024-25 Fisheries Update
| idfg-tzumwalt
By Tyler Zumwalt
Dworshak Reservoir has provided great angling opportunities in 2024. Reports from anglers and research by Idaho Fish & Game showed that kokanee fishing was better than the previous two years and Smallmouth Bass continued to provide a world-class fishery. Additionally, Rainbow Trout stocking… more