Press Releases and Articles
Application period for F&G Commission Community Challenge Grants is open until April 15
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission's Community Challenge Grant program is open for applications March 1 through April 15. Grants provide competitive funding for officially recognized nonprofit organizations to implement projects that are broadly supported by the local sporting community and enhance… more
Draw results available for spring black bear controlled hunts
| idfg-cliess
Spring black bear controlled hunt draw results are now available at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com.
Email notifications will be sent to those who provided an email address on their profile, others can check results at any license vendor or Fish and Game regional office. It is the applicant's responsibility to see if they… more
Summer 2025 Learn to Hunt and Fish Camp and Hunting and Shooting Skills Field Days in the Panhandle Region
| idfg-tjross
If hands-on learning is your thing, look no further than our Learn to Hunt and Fish Camp in the Panhandle Region! Not only do participants leave hunter education certified, but they also leave with more specialized hunting and fishing know-how compared to a standard hunter education class.… more
Stonebraker Access Yes! Parking Area Closed Until Temperature Drops
| idfg-jmessner
Once again, due to warm temperatures, rain, and muddy conditions, the Stonebraker Lane Access Yes! Parking area at Lake Cascade is closed until further notice.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game staff have decided to close the Stonebraker parking lot to reduce the risk of damage to private property while… more
F&G seeks public input on 2025 Strategic Plan update; you can attend meetings in March/April or comment online
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game is updating its strategic plan in 2025 and wants to hear from Idahoans who are interested in shaping future wildlife management in the state. Known as The Compass, Fish and Game’s Strategic Plan was last updated in 2015. Much has changed in Idaho since then, so it’s important for those who value… more
Area residents should be aware that they may see helicopters flying low over areas within Game Management Unit 14 in the near future
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game will be conducting elk captures between February 27th and March 2nd and residents may observe low flying helicopters in the area. This effort will be conducted in areas between Grangeville and Riggins for the purpose of radio collaring elk to monitor movement patterns and survival to better… more
Thinking about spring steelheading? Here's 100K reasons to do it this year
| idfg-rphillips
Anglers looking to get an early start on their fishing season and catch one of Idaho's most prized fish should take advantage of spring steelhead fishing. It’s an exciting time because we’re seeing the best steelhead return since 2015 with more than 100,000 fish crossing Lower Granite Dam in 2024.
… more
Attention bear hunters, a bear ID course is required to hunt in 2025
| idfg-cliess
Effective Jan. 1, anyone hunting black bears in Idaho must show proof that they have passed a bear identification test to help them differentiate between grizzly bears and black bears. Both grizzly bears and black bears reside in portions of Idaho, so it is important to know their physical differences. Grizzlies are… more
Deer and bull elk illegally shot and killed near Wallace in the Panhandle Region
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game has received information about two recent incidents of illegal take of a white-tailed deer and bull elk near Wallace. Fish and Game is requesting the public to report any information about the incident.
The first incident is believed to have occurred in the nighttime hours of Jan. 9 and 10. A… more
Feb. 18 S.F. Clearwater steelhead broodstock update: First week starts off hot!
| idfg-staff
As of the weekend of February 7-9th, we broke the 70 fish mark for steelhead brought back to Dworshak as broodstock! Since much of the river has been inconveniently locked up with ice, most of the fishing effort and success has been confined to a few miles upstream of Stites, Idaho. Despite the challenges, anglers rose… more
Deadline approaching! Comment period for big game season proposals closes Feb. 23
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game will be setting new big game seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, wolf, and mountain lion in March, and hunters can comment on season proposals Feb. 8–23.
Hunters can easily check out the proposals on the big game season setting webpage at idfg.idaho.gov/comment. … more
Upper Salmon River - Deadwater Ice Jam Update (02/18/2025)
| idfg-bbeller
Hi everyone,
Warmer weather has returned, and the Upper Salmon River has started to thaw. Not surprisingly, we’ve also seen an increase in the number of calls from anglers asking about the status of the Deadwater ice jam, so we thought now would be a good time to issue a brief update.
The ice jam… more
These instructor-led hunter education courses are coming up in Southwest Idaho
| idfg-bpearson
A total of 19 courses with open seats are slated to start before the end of April. If you or someone you know hasn't completed Hunter Education but plan to hunt for turkey or bear in the spring, or to put in for a big game controlled hunt during the application period (May 1 - June 5), now is the time to enroll!
… more
F&G Citizens Shooting Range Advisory Committee to meet Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. MST in Boise and virtually
| idfg-cliess
The Idaho Fish and Game Citizens Shooting Range Advisory Committee will hold its fourth meeting on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. MST at Fish and Game's headquarters building at 600 S. Walnut Street in Boise. The meeting will be streamed live via Zoom. However, members of the public in attendance or online can observe the meeting,… more
Attention steelhead and salmon anglers: E-tagging is available; here's how to buy and use it
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game’s new electronic salmon and steelhead permits are available at all vendors, or through the Go Outdoors Idaho mobile app. Remember, if you buy a paper tag, you're ineligible for e-tagging so ask for it when you buy from a license vendor.
E-tagging allows salmon or steelhead anglers to validate… more
Fish and Game schedules big game scoring day for March 13
| idfg-jjackson
It’s time again to see how your latest trophy animal measures up! Idaho Fish and Game is hosting a Big Game Scoring Day on Thursday, March 13, at the Southeast Region Office located at 1345 Barton Road in Pocatello. Measuring for Boone & Crockett (rifle/pistol), Pope & Young (archery), and… more
Idaho Fish and Game's homegrown 'Hook and Bulletin' podcast hits 50 episodes
| idfg-cliess
We get it. Not every sportsman or sportswoman wants to get their hunting/fishing news and stories from press releases or social media. Time can sometimes be in short supply, and spending it online or scrolling the dredges of social media to seek out important information and reminders is not always in the cards.
… more
Anglers: Give your input for the proposed 2025 spring/summer Chinook salmon seasons
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game is seeking public input on management strategies for spring and summer Chinook salmon for the Clearwater Basin, Hells Canyon, Rapid River (lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers), and South Fork Salmon River fisheries. Fish and Game will be setting new seasons for upcoming spring and summer Chinook… more