Frequently Asked Questions
We get a lot of questions. We post here answers to questions we're being asked frequently. If you have a question not answered here, please contact us. Urgent questions should be directed to your nearest office. Some answers change over time; please take note of the "answered" date.
Displaying 2651 - 2675 of 3534 questionsA:
It is legal to view wildlife with a spotlight. However, be aware that shining a spotlight “upon any field, forest or other place by a person while having in his possession or under his control any uncased firearm or other contrivance capable of killing any animal or bird, shall be prima facie evidence of hunting with an artificial light.” Idaho Code Section 36-1101(b)(5). Since spotlighting is associated with poaching, you may be contacted by law enforcement. If you have an uncased firearm or other weapon with you, you could be cited for hunting with an artificial light.answered 7/14/2012
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Leg-hold Trap Education Partners with Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Hunters and other dog enthusiasts now have another reason to attend an upcoming Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Day. Fish and Game officers will be holding a trap awareness seminar as part of the day’s events. The combined event will be held at Veterans’ Memorial Park – State Street and Veterans’ Parkway in Boise – on Saturday, August 11th, 2012 from 8:00am to 1:00pm. While the cost of the rattlesnake avoidance training is $40 per dog, the trap awareness seminar is free. The trap awareness seminar is designed for anyone who regularly takes their dogs to the Boise foothills, other outlying areas and even the greenbelt. “Most dog owners are unfamiliar with traps of any kind,” Fish and Game conservation officer Kurt Stieglitz noted. “This seminar will provide them with some very practical tools related to trapping, including the steps to take if a pet dog ever ends up in a trap.” Stieglitz and fellow officer Brian Flatter will discuss the different types of traps that might be encountered including leg-hold traps, body-gripping traps and snares, how each trap type works and how to safely release a pet from a trap. Other topics to be covered include trapping seasons, areas to avoid while walking your pet, trapping rules, and what to do if a trap is encountered. For more information regarding the trap awareness seminar, contact the Idaho Fish and Game Nampa office at 208-465-8465. For more information regarding the Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Day, contact Heidi Funke at 208-463-2304. - IDFG -answered 7/14/2012
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Starrflight FOBS, otherwise known as plastic discs used to replace standard fletching on arrows, are legal for use in Idaho archery seasons.answered 7/13/2012
Q: When will you know what leftover controlled hunt tags for elk, deer, and antelope?
What dates will you provide the leftover controlled hunt tags available for second drawing. Timetables?A:
The deadline to pick up big game controlled hunt tags is August 1. We will have a list of leftovers available on August 2 or 3. The application period for the second draw for deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear controlled hunts is August 5-15answered 7/13/2012
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There isn't a "special license" required to fish on Redfish Lake. Each person 14 and older who is fishing must have their own fishing license. Children under 14 can fish without a license.answered 7/12/2012
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Your general season tags must be exchanged for the controlled hunt tags. This can only be done at a Fish and Game office or by mail. The mailing addresses is IDFG, License Department, P.O. Box 25, Boise ID, 83707. Remember the August 1 deadline to get the tags to us for exchange.answered 7/12/2012
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Update notice: Idaho statute changes effective July 1, 2015 changes the weapon definitions for some felons. Please review this updated answer for clarification on this change.The following answer remains intact for historical purposes. Consider consulting your lawyer for further clarification on restrictions for felons and felons using Idaho hunting licenses. If a felon is barred from using a weapon then they are restricted from using all hunting equipment including muzzleloader and archery equipment.Definitions for felonies firearms can be found in Idaho code:Felonies restricted from using firearms see Idaho Code Title 18, Chapter 3, section 18-310 (2).Definition of firearms restricted to convictions of felony Idaho Code Title 18, Chapter 33, section 18-3316 (3).answered 7/11/2012
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If the hunter was born January 1, 1975 or later they must take hunter education or show proof they have held a valid hunting license in another state. Everyone who wants to hunt in an archery-only season in Idaho must take an archery education class or provide proof that they have taken one in another state or have had archery experience in another state. The only time that both the hunter education card and the archery permit are required is when the hunter was born January 1, 1975 or later AND they will be hunting in an archery-only hunt. Idaho doesn't have any archery-only upland game seasons.answered 7/11/2012
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It has been completed and should be available soon on the IDFG website.answered 7/11/2012
Q: Are there any laws on how early you can place a tree stand?
I see alot of tree stands in trees year round, just wondering if this is legal.A:
There is not a specific IDFG law stating when you can set up a tree stand. However, land managers/owners may have such restrictions. IDFG WMA rules do not allow permanent tree stands. Idaho Code states: To construct blinds, pits, platforms, or tree stands where the soil is disturbed, trees are cut or altered, and artificial fasteners, such as wire, rope, or nails are used. All blinds shall be available to the public on a “first-come - first-served” basis. Portable manufactured blinds and tree stands are allowed but may not be left overnight.answered 7/9/2012
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Final accounting of returns will not be completed until late August but preliminary estimates of the split of adult returns over Lower Granite suggest that the contribtions to an adult passasge of 80,000 fish might be distributed approximately as follows: Total Passage 80,000 Wild Natural 22,500 Hatchery 57,500 Among hatchery returns the preliminary distribution will likely be approximately as follows: Clearwater 20,700 Salmon 26,600 Hells Canyon 3,000 OR / WA 7,200 Once again, these are preliminary and subject to change.answered 7/9/2012
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If you have lived in Idaho for at least 5 years, you can purchase your senior license on July 31.answered 7/8/2012
Q: Do you require a permit to trap crayfish in Lewiston, ID even if you place less than 5 cages/traps?
If you have 5 or fewer traps you don't need any special permit but you must have a fishing license. (More than 5 requires a Commercial Fishing License, available from a Fish and Game office).A:
If you place 5 or fewer traps, you do not need a special permit. You are, however, required to have a fishing license.answered 7/7/2012
Q: Is there good catfishing at American Falls Reservoir?
I've heard about people catching some big catfish in American Falls Reservoir. Where might I go for some good catfishing?A:
The report of catching catfish in American Falls Reservoir is a little surprising. We stock channel catfish in the McTucker ponds which flooded last spring and were directly connected to the reservoir. I am sure some of the catfish moved into the reservoir then. However, I do not have any specific information on where to catch them in the reservoir. We do regularly stock channel catfish in Alexander Reservoir near Soda Springs Idaho. Anglers have good success fishing in the upper 1/3 of Alexander Reservoir for catfish.answered 7/7/2012
Q: Dispose of carp?
I fish Alexander reservoir frequently and carp are becoming the only fish caught there so when they are caught can they just be left on the bank or killed and tossed in the water so other critters can eat them? I would like to help with removing them from the reservoir but there's not much information on how to dispose of them.A:
Throwing the dead carp back in the water could technically be constrewed as littering under Idaho statutes. If you want to harvest carp and don't plan on eating them, we suggest you take them home and use them for fertizlier, find a local mink or hog farm that can utilize them for animal food, or place them in the garbage.answered 7/5/2012
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The rules state that it is legal to use a battery powered or tritium lighted reticle on your weapon. See page 76 of the 2012 Big Game rules book: It is unlawful to use any pursue big game animals with any electronic device attached to, or incorporated on, the firearm or scope; except scopes containing battery powered or tritium lighted reticles are allowed.answered 7/5/2012
Q: If I don't pick up my draw deer tag, may I purchase a general tag instead?
My son drew on an antlerless youth hunt. I thought we were putting in for antlered only. He wants to hunt bucks only.A:
Yes. If you don't pick up the tag by August 1, it will go into the second drawing. That means that beginning August 2 you can purchase a general season tag instead. This also applies to elk and pronghorn hunts.answered 7/4/2012
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Yes. A tag purchased in January 2012 is valid through the end of 2012; you can purchase a second tag at any time you want.answered 7/3/2012
Q: Why did you put clipped hatchery trout in the south fork of the clear water. This is considered a trash fish to a lot of fisherman and damaging to our native rivers.
We found that we were forced to only keep hatchery trout on what was a very expensive outing to the south fork river this past week. This is a fish we could have fished for a few miles from home. We also found that while fishing for trout in the south fork, it was very hard to find a native fish. The native fish we did catch were small and a lot were foul hooked. I have fished this river for years and have never foul hooked as many fish. I feel that this was a bad addition to south fork or any river. I think the hatchery fish will starve out the native fish.A:
Every year we release over one million hatchery steelhead smolts into the South Fork Clearwater River (no hatchery rainbow trout catchables are released into this river). Two years later, many of these steelhead smolts will return as 12-16 pound steelhead that attract anglers from all over the country. Releasing over one million steelhead smolts may seem like a lot, but survival during this two year trip is not that great (less than 2% make it). As such, if we want to create a good steelhead fishery in the future, we need to release a lot of fish. A portion of these steelhead smolts don’t migrate to the ocean and remain in the river (we call this residualizing). Even if only 1% of these fish remain in the river, that leaves over 10,000 hatchery rainbow trout for anglers to harvest. For this reason we encourage the harvest of these fish (they have a clipped adipose fin) and allow a 6 fish limit. We do not allow the harvest of wild fish (fish with an adipose fin) because many of them are actually wild juvenile steelhead that will eventually migrate to the ocean. These fish are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and that is why we don’t allow any harvest on them. We also don’t allow the harvest of cutthroat trout in this river as their numbers are very depressed due to habitat degradation and overharvest. Our hopes are that having a catch-and-release season on them will help bolster their numbers. I’m not sure why your fishing experience was different this year than in past, but I can assure you that we have not changed the number of fish we stock into this river.answered 7/3/2012
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No, you not required to report a mountain goat skull that you found while hiking. For more information on the possession and sale of wildlife found dead, see page 75 of the 2012 Big Game Seasons and Rules booklet which states, “Parts of big game species – hides, horns, bones, antlers, elk teeth, bear, lion and wolf parts – may be recovered and possessed for personal use if the animal died of natural causes.”answered 7/2/2012
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Contact your local Fish and Game office for information about Eagle Scout Projects. Office locations and contact numbers are listed on our website in the "About Us" section.answered 7/2/2012
Q: Do the same muzzleloader only season rules apply to a general short range weapon season?
I am interested to know if I can add a scope, change powder and ball type, etc... just during a short range/ non-muzzleloader only season.A:
The caliber requirements for muzzleloaders specified on p76 still apply to the short-range weapons seasons, but otherwise, muzzleloader use during the short-range weapons seasons is not limited to the same restrictions specified for the muzzleloader only seasons. That is, you could legally use a scope, sabotted bullets, Pelletized powder, closed ignition system, etc. Please be cognizant of safety though. Many short range weapons hunts are in place to allow hunting where it would not be considered safe to allow use of regular rifle calibers. Although legal, Using a muzzleloader geared up to take shots in 200+ yd range may present safety issues.answered 7/2/2012
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The Idaho Fish and Game Commission opened the Salmon River section from Ellis upstream to the East Fork Salmon River on July 3rd.answered 7/2/2012
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If they are alive - the answer is "no." If they are taken from public waters in Idaho - the answer is "no." If you have a commercial fish producers license from the Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture, then you can sell shiners as bait fish.answered 7/2/2012
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The best place to get information on a hunt is to contact the region office directly. The phone number of the region office for the Island Park area is 208-525-7290.answered 7/2/2012