Frequently Asked Questions

A: 

There are many variables that influence time of the run return.  Flow, temperatures, and sediment loading are just three of the factors.  We know concentrations of predator (seals and sea lions) also have some influence on return timing but were not sure how much they delay movement between the mouth of the Columbia and Bonneville Dam. You can add salmon to death and taxes as a sure thing.  A few salmon will stray into streams outside their natal grounds, but the majority of the fish will find their way home once they enter the Snake River.  

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Panhandle Zone Elk Seasons (2012) A Tags: Archery Only--Antlered only--Sept. 6-30 Any Weapon--Antlered only--Oct. 25-29 Muzzleloader Only--Antlered only--Nov. 20-Dec. 1 (open in unit 4 only) Archery only--Antlered only--Dec. 10-16 B Tags: Archery Only--Antlered only--Sept 6-12 Any Weapon--Antlered only--Oct. 10-24

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Yes, they can.  If they are under 14 they don't need a fishing license but they must fish with someone who does have a fishing license (resident or nonresident).  If they want to keep their catch, it becomes part of the licensed fisherman's limit.

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Yes, there are fish in Long Tom and Mountain Home reservoirs.  Mountain Home Reservoir is typically stocked with rainbow trout in the early spring.  Fish will survive all year if adiquate water remains in the reservoir over the winter.  If conditions are right, this can be a very nice ice fishery.   Long Tom Reservoir is mostly on private property The owner has stocked it with rainbow trout in the past and there have been hatchery rainbow trout wash down to the reservoir with high-water events.  There are also wild rainbow trout that are caught in the reservoir that were produced in the tributaries.

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You can use a jug or plastic water bottle as a bobber provided it's attached to a tended line.  Each line can have 5 hooks and you can attach as many bobbers/bottles per line as you would like.

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You can see the list of Idaho's Record Fish in the Fishing Rules Book (page 55)

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Based on PIT tag detection among adult Chinook Salmon ascending the dams in the Columbia River we anticipate 2012 returns of adult Chinook salmon to the Sawttooth Hatchery will substatially exceed brood stock needs for that facility and will be avaialble for harvest. In contrast, current information from PIT tag detections in the Columbia River hydrosystem suggest that the returns of adult salmon to the Pahsimeroi hatchery are only slightly higher than the brood needs for that facility and cannot support a sustained and concentrated directed harvest in the terminal area downstream of that facility. The fishery in the Upper Salmon River that was approved by the Fish and Game Commission extends from the highway bridge just upstream of the mouth of the East Fork Salmon River to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth fishery. That fishery will allow anglers to target the harvestable share of returns to Sawtooth Hatchery River sections downstream of the aforementioned highway bridge near the East Fork Salmon River will remain closed to minimize fishery impacts on natural populations and the harvest of hatchery Chinook salmon destined for the Pahsimeroi Hatchery. We currently do not anticipate expanding the Upper Salmon REiver Chinook Fishery into the sections downstream of the East Fork Salmon River.

A: 

The tree squirrel you describe appears to be a red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).  This squirrel is classified as a Protected Nongame Species. It is not legal to shoot/hunt this squirrel in Valley County or for that matter, anywhere in Idaho.  

A: 

The Department does sell nonresident white-tailed deer tags. The quota of 1,500 white-tailed deer tags you are seeing on our website is an amount above the regular/white-tailed deer tag quota of 12,015. By Idaho Fish and Game Commission rule, the extra 1,500 white-tailed deer tags are available when the regular/white-tailed deer tag quota of 12,015 is sold out. The regular deer tag can be used for both mule deer and white-tailed deer in most units. However, the regular deer tag is generally good only through November 3 for white-tailed deer in most units. The white-tailed deer tag is good only for white-tailed deer and generally is good for hunts later in the year.

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An Idaho resident can purchase your nonresident hunting license, controlled hunt applications and tags for you.  All vendors can take care of that for you.

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Thanks for the question and your interest in this fishery.  Unfortunately there are very few Pahsimeroi fish returning this year and their chance of encounter in this fishery is very small.  Even when the Pahsimeroi  Hatchery Chinook return is robust only a small fraction of the Pahsimeroi stock are caught in the Little Salmon to Vinegar Creek stretch.   

A: 

Yes, but notifying Fish and Game within 24 hours and obtaining a free salvage permit within 72 hours is a legal requirement to lawfully possess salvaged wildlife.    Within 24 hours, you must report the wolf salvage by going online to fishandgame.idaho.gov/roadkill, which will direct you to a free, self-generating permit that you can print.  A copy of the permit must accompany the salvaged wildlife.  You can also report the wolf salvage by contacting your nearest IDFG regional office, conservation officer, or other Fish and Game employee within 24 hours.  If contacting Fish and Game by phone outside normal business hours, it’s critical you leave your full name, phone number, address, and location of salvage so a permit can be issued and mailed to you within 72 hours.      In addition to reporting the wolf salvage and receiving the permit, the wolf skull must be presented to your nearest IDFG office within 10 days to satisfy mandatory harvest tagging/pinning report requirements.