Press Releases and Articles
Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Jan. 2
| idfg-jjackson
Members of the Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) will meet on Jan. 2, 2024 to assist Idaho Fish and Game with the assessment of winter conditions and observations related to big game animals (movements, depredations, activity on roadways, body conditions, mortalities) in the Southeast Region.… more
New year, time for a new fishing/hunting license, and you have lots of options
| idfg-rphillips
The new year is here, so it’s time to get a 2024 hunting and/or fishing license. Not only do you get a full year of hunting and fishing, you also help fund protecting, preserving and perpetuating all of Idaho’s fish and wildlife.
Licenses, permits and tags can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsIdaho.… more
Statewide trout stocking highlights for January 2024
| idfg-cliess
Many of Idaho’s lakes and ponds are soon going to be bolstered with Idaho Fish and Game stocking roughly 4,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout this January. Wondering if the stocking trucks are going to be backing up to your favorite fishing hole? We asked our Fish and Game hatchery staff to boil down some of the most… more
Expert ice fishing: F&G staff shares their tips so you can catch more fish
| idfg-rphillips
Ice fishing can be pretty darned simple. Drill a hole, drop a baited hook and wait for a fish to bite. It really can be that simple if you’re just starting. But like all fishing, there are more ice fishing skills you can learn to catch more fish, and those skills can come from trial-and-error experience, or… more
Rainbow trout stocking schedule for January 2024 in the Magic Valley Region
| idfg-tthompson
Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 900 10-12” catchable-sized rainbow trout in January. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate.
Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions (angler safety concerns); dates… more
Southwest Region rainbow trout stocking schedule - January
| idfg-bpearson
Fish and Game staff will be stocking more than 3,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) trout at the following locations across the Southwest Region in January.
All fish stocked are rainbow trout. Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions (angler safety concerns… more
“Talk Shop with Idaho Fish and Game” launching in Jan. in the Panhandle Region
| idfg-tjross
Beginning in Jan. 2024, Idaho Fish and Game in the Panhandle Region will be launching “Talk Shop with Idaho Fish and Game”. The title says it all, but this is a great opportunity for folks to come out for some free food and soft drinks and to meet and mingle with many Fish and Game staff from the Panhandle Region.… more
Feeding backyard deer and elk does more harm than good
| idfg-cliess
Seeing a herd of deer outside your door or a herd of elk may seem idyllic, and during winter they can almost seem tame. But truth is they’re wild animals that need to remain wild animals, and feeding them can quickly create a variety of problems.
Here’s how a simple well-meaning act can lead to a neighborhood-… more
Potential wolf trappers must attend and pass course prior to trapping
| idfg-cliess
A head's up for all potential wolf trappersAll wolf trappers in Idaho are required to attend and pass a wolf trapper education course prior to trapping wolves. Idaho Fish and Game has recently posted wolf trapper classes in all 7 regions of Idaho.
These classes will be taught during January… more
Steelhead Habitat Restoration in the Potlatch River: Part 4- Monitoring Stream Restoration Projects
| idfg-jbruns
The Potlatch River basin in north-central Idaho is home to an endangered population of wild steelhead. Due to a variety of factors, including historic land use practices, wild steelhead numbers in the Potlatch River have been declining. Idaho Fish and Game and partner organizations have been conducting a large-scale… more
Boaters: Be prepared and take extra precautions in winter weather
| idfg-cliess
Temperatures (and snow) are falling across much of the state. With the onset of cold air and water temperatures, anglers and waterfowl hunters are encouraged to take precautions and practice boating safety this winter.
Nearly every year, there is a boating accident in Idaho involving duck hunters or winter… more
Fill every crevice of your freezer by hunting these small game species this winter
| idfg-cliess
Small game hunting through winter is a great way for hunters young and old to develop their skills and confidence without breaking the bank. You don’t need specialized or expensive gear to hunt them, just a .22 long rifle and/or any shotgun, warm clothes and boots suitable for hiking. The skills learned while… more
Fish and Game amends hunting, fishing and trapping closure in the Snake River previously closed due to presence of quagga mussel larvae
| idfg-tthompson
Idaho Fish and Game has lifted the hunting, fishing and trapping closures in the previously closed reach of the Snake River upstream of “broken bridge” (Yingst Grade) to Pillar Falls. The closure was in response to the detection and treatment of the Snake River for quagga mussels and larvae earlier this year.
On… more
Habitat Connectivity by Design: How Engineering Shapes Idaho’s Streams
| idfg-kgilliesrector
Engineers working for the Department of Fish and Game juggle many projects like designing buildings, hatcheries, and fishing access areas. But a few engineers get to design in-stream structures and habitat restoration projects to help fish move through the Idaho landscape.
One of these engineers is Jared… more
Fish and Game to provide trapper and wolf trapper education classes in Glenns Ferry
| idfg-tthompson
Trapping is an age-old tradition, especially in the West. Today, that tradition continues as regulated trapping plays an important role in wildlife management.
Today’s trapper has to attend an 8-hour trapper education class before being allowed to purchase a trapper license, unless the trapper has a… more
The birds and the seeds: Let’s talk about winter bird feeding
| idfg-cliess
We all know that neighbor that takes bird feeding to Olympic games-level extremes. With tree limbs sagging under the weight of countless feeders and a back lawn that looks like it was ripped straight from Augusta Country Club, they stand out on their back porch with arms outstretched as a myriad of birds swoop in to… more
Steelhead Habitat Restoration in the Potlatch River: Part 3- Private Landowners
| idfg-jbruns
In Parts 1 & 2 of the video series, we provided an overview of how we implement a stream restoration project. Part 3 of this series focuses on the importance of private landowners in the success of the steelhead habitat restoration program. Check out this third video, “Partnering with Private Landowners”!… more