Frequently Asked Questions

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Back in the 1990’s the application period for deer, elk, and pronghorn hunts began June 1 and ended June 30. That date has been moved up to May 1 through June 5. The Department’s big game biologists need the months of January, February, and March to determine the health and size of our deer and elk herds. During those months, Department biologists are gathering data on harvest from the prior year and working to get counts of existing animals through a variety of methods such as aerial flights. They also spend time putting together recommendations for the next fall’s hunting seasons. Our biologists spend time discussing these plans with hunters around the state and taking hunters comments and suggestions into consideration. These plans are then brought together and presented to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in late March for approval. After the Department receives approval on seasons and hunts, it takes us some time to get the big game proclamations published, printed and distributed to our license vendors and hunters. We need to give hunters ample time to research hunting opportunities before making their application for a controlled hunt.   The drawing is a random draw process. However, we do accept mailed in applications as long as they are post-marked by the end of the application period, June 5. It takes us some time with our limited staff to enter these applications. We then must conduct several audit checks to make sure all applications are valid. There are several checks we make such as ensuring only those eligible for a youth hunts are in the drawing. We do have occasions when an adult will submit an application on a youth hunt. We have to then make that application ineligible during the draw process. We also perform other edit checks such as ensuring anyone who drew an antlered deer hunt in the first drawing last year has not submitted an application for an antlered only deer hunt this year. Some years due to the volume of applications it does take us a little longer to complete the drawing but we work very hard to complete the drawings as quickly as possible to let hunters know the results of their application.

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Broadhead blades can be removable, they just cannot be expandable, in otherwords the blades can not have a pivoting point that allows the blades to pivot upon entering the animal. Also the following rules apply to broadheads when archery hunting:  With arrows or bolts having broadheads measuring less than seven-eighths (7/8) inch in width and having a primary cutting edge less than fifteenth-thousandths (0.015) inch thick.  With arrows or bolts having expanding broadheads  With arrows or bolts having barbed broadheads. A barbed broadhead is a broadhead which has any portion of the rear edge of the broadhead forming an angle less than ninety (90) degrees with the shaft or ferrule.

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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. 

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The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Monday, June 11, approved Chinook fishing seasons on the upper Salmon and South Fork Salmon rivers. The Chinook fishing season opens June 23 and continues until further notice from Fish and Game. Seasons open June 23 on:   South Fork Salmon, lower - From the bridge on Forest Service Road (Lick Creek/East Fork South Fork Road) where it crosses the South Fork Salmon River main stem just upstream of the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, upstream about 18 river miles to the Blackmare Creek pack bridge, accessible from the trailhead at Poverty Flat campground. South Fork Salmon, upper - From Blackmare Creek pack bridge, accessible from the trailhead at Poverty Flat campground, upstream about 17 river miles south to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap. Upper Salmon River, Stanley Area - From the State Highway 75 Salmon River bridge about 250 yards upstream of the mouth of the East Fork Salmon River upstream to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir and trap at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley. These waters would remain open until closed by further notice. Fishing hours on the South Fork will be from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on the upper Salmon from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily bag limits will be four Chinook, no more than two of which may be adults, and the possession limit will be 12 Chinook, no more than six of which may be adults. Anglers must stop fishing for salmon when daily, possession or season limits of adult salmon are reached, whichever comes first. The season limit is 20 adult Chinook salmon statewide during 2012 salmon seasons occurring before September 1, 2012. Adults are Chinook, 24 or more inches long and jacks are less than 24 inches long. Only salmon with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. All adult Chinook that are caught and kept must be recorded on the angler's salmon permit. A brochure will be available before the start of the season. For additional information please consult the 2011-2012 Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure, of the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

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The surface management agency layer (simplified landownership/management) is provided as an overlay in the huntplanner mapcenter.  This layer is cached for improved rendering, unfortunately our current server configuration is not ideal, and the firewall setup is not optimal for delivery of a data heavy map services (though these services are only used in a couple small applications, they are responsible for 25% of our outgoing web bandwidth) We are aware of the issue, and are working on an improved map server and actively exploring hosting our layers in the cloud for better response.  There will be some improvements made before the start of this year's big game hunting season. For the time being you have a number of options. When using the mapcenter try panning or zooming slightly to force the page to update when it is not responsive. View this layer online from Inside Idaho or gis.idaho.gov  Download and view this layer from Inside Idaho on your computer locally Please feel free to contact our mapping team directly with any idea or issues.  Thanks for your patience!

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Yes, as long as you follow the salvage reporting requirments outlined at  fishandgame.idaho.gov/roadkill. By notifying Idaho Fish and Game within 24 hours and completing reporting requirements (to obtain a free permit) within 72 hours, a person can now: Recover and keep wildlife species classified as upland birds, upland game animals, big game, furbearers, unprotected wildlife, and predators that may be lawfully hunted or trapped that have been killed by accidental vehicle-collisions.  Protected non-game wildlife, Threatened or Endangered species, migratory birds (which are federally protected), and other wildlife species not lawfully hunted or trapped may not be recovered, possessed, or salvaged. Purchase or sell wildlife parts, except the edible flesh, of wildlife species classified as big game, upland game, upland game birds, furbearers, or rattlesnakes that may be lawfully hunted or trapped that have been killed by accidental vehicle-collisions.  Bighorn sheep cannot be purchased, bartered, or sold.   Retain and consume the meat of wildlife species classified as big game, upland game animals, upland game birds, and furbearing animals which may be lawfully hunted or trapped that have been killed by accidental vehicle-collisions.   Persons salvaging and consuming this meat do so at their own risk.  

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Draw Results for Controlled Hunts for Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, Fall Bear and Fall Turkey: Successful applicants will be mailed a postcard in the mail by July 10.  The results will be posted online by July 10 at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/controlledHunts/?getPage=81. Mark your calendar for:   • May 1 - June 5 – First deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear application period.   • July 10 – Winners of first deer, elk, pronghorn drawing notified by this date.   • August 1 – Last date to purchase tags from first deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear drawing.   • August 5-15 – Second application period for deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear.   • August 25 – Winners of second drawing for deer, elk, pronghorn, and fall bear will be notified by this date.   • August 25 – Leftover tags from second deer, elk, pronghorn, bear drawing go on sale at 10 a.m.   • August 28 – Residents or nonresidents may buy a leftover nonresident general season deer or elk tag at full nonresident price starting this day, as a second tag. Unsuccessful applicants may participate in general hunts where appropriate tags are available.      

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The season for Chinook salmon opens in the South Fork Salmon River on June 23 until firther notice. Daily limit of 4 salmon only 2 of which may be adults (24 or more inches in length) and possession of 12 salmon only 6 of which may be adults.

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Chinook salmon in Lake Coeur d'Alene are not subject to the 5/8 inch shank and the barbless rules of other areas.

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Draw Results for Controlled Hunts for Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, Fall Bear and Fall Turkey: Successful applicants will be mailed a postcard in the mail by July 10.  The results will be posted online by July 10 at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/controlledHunts/?getPage=81. Mark your calendar for:   • May 1 - June 5 – First deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear application period.   • July 10 – Winners of first deer, elk, pronghorn drawing notified by this date.   • August 1 – Last date to purchase tags from first deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear drawing.   • August 5-15 – Second application period for deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear.   • August 25 – Winners of second drawing for deer, elk, pronghorn, and fall bear will be notified by this date.   • August 25 – Leftover tags from second deer, elk, pronghorn, bear drawing go on sale at 10 a.m.   • August 28 – Residents or nonresidents may buy a leftover nonresident general season deer or elk tag at full nonresident price starting this day, as a second tag. Unsuccessful applicants may participate in general hunts where appropriate tags are available.      

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Yes, there was a thorough study completed in 1982 on the suitability of walleye introductions into all Idaho waters exceeding 100 acres.  The study concluded for the most part that introduction of walleye would lead to establishment of self-sustaining populations in many waters, including CJ Strike Reservoir.  More importantly, the study concluded that walleye were incompatible for Snake River impoundments due to probable impacts to perch, crappie, and sturgeon populations that use the reservoir and support high levels of fishing effort. Furthermore, the study concluded that walleye would be entrained and would establish self-sustaining populations in the Hells Canyon Complex reservoirs and in the Snake and Salmon rivers downstream which support highly valuable salmon, and steelhead, and sturgeon populations. Due to these concerns, the IDFG commission established a policy that disallows creation of "new" walleye populations.  This policy is strongly supported by most of the general fishing public and agency fisheries professionals. You may read the details of this policy in the IDFG fisheries management plan located on our website or feel free to call your local regional office.