Frequently Asked Questions

A: 

You can do it through the mail or at an Idaho fishing license vendor.  If you choose to do it by mail, please contact Idaho Fish and Game for a lost license affidavit.  Their number is 208-334-3400.  You can also get a duplicate from any license vendor or Fish and Game office when you come to Idaho to go fishing.  The cost is $8.25 for the duplicate.

A: 

The list is on our website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/portal/page/species-status-lists.    

A: 

Although a degree is not necessary, at least 4 upper level college courses in wildlife/fish management are. These courses may include Wildlife Management, Fishery Management, Population Ecology, Mammalogy, Ornithology, Wildlife Ecology, etc. Those applicants with a BS degree in Wildlife/Fish Management are most competitive.   Conservation Officers are the Idaho Fish and Game’s front lines to local communities. It is important that they can communicate to sportsmen the principles and reasons why seasons, bag limits, and rules exist. They must also communicate their field observations to fish and wildlife managers in a credible manner.   In addition to the educational requirements, I am looking for Conservation Officers who demonstrate the following characteristics: To be a CO, we are more interested in finding those folks with the educational background that have the right ‘talents’ or gifts to be a CO. These talents include: Good communication skills that allow you to visit with landowners, sportsmen, the public, agency personnel. You have to be able to interact with all these people, understanding that each group may have a different culture and require you to communicate to them in terms they understand and can relate to. CO’s need to learn and adapt quickly to understand complex information in order to be a problem solver. CO’s need ‘high energy levels’; self starters, multi-taskers and self-motivators CO’s need to be somewhat assertive: When the situation calls for quick action and decision making, CO’s have to be assertive. But they also need to understand and be diplomatic. This is a tough line to understand and walk Although we need you to be diplomatic and communicate and interact with others, CO’s also need to be somewhat skeptical. In LE situations, some people are going to hide things from you. Diplomatically, you need to interact with them, knowing that they may be violating and hiding something from you. CO’s need to be able to work alone and don’t require others present. CO’s work in remote areas by themselves. Again, this is tough. We want you to be able to interact with others, but your inner self needs to be comfortable when you are working by yourself for a couple of days in a row. CO’s are independent and adventurous. Being alone and self-motivators, CO’s have to be decisive, making the right decisions quickly, accepting those risks associated with quick decisions.   For more information on current job announcements, go to our web site and sign up for email updates on job opportunities. http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/

A: 

Steelhead are rainbow trout longer than 20 inches in length in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and the Pahsimeroi and Lemhi rivers), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam and lakes).   Rainbow trout longer than 20 inches in length with the adipose fin clipped, as evidenced by a healed scar, are defined as steelhead in the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam upstream to Oxbow Dam and in the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam, during steelhead seasons.   Only steelhead with a clipped adipose fin as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. These are hatcheryfish that had their adipose fin removed as juveniles. All naturally produced steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be released because they are listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.  Some hatchery steelhead are not adipose fin-clipped and must also be released.

A: 

Yes, you can.  Information about ordering that book or others is on our Website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/nongame/?getPage=244.

A: 

If you don't provide an archery education number or can't fill out an archery affidavit stating that you have hunted in an archery hunt previously, the Sportsman's pack will print without an archery validation on it.  After you have taken the course you can go to any vendor and they will put your new archery education number in the database.  A new license will print out, this time with the archery validation on it.  There will not be any charge for the archery permit because it was paid for at the time of initial purchase of the Sportsman's pack.

A: 

That's a suggestion that hasn't been considered to date.  High cost of tags is one of three reasons nonresident hunters gave us for no longer coming to Idaho to hunt (wolf impacts on elk and the economy were the other two reasons cited in a 2009 survey).  Charging two or three times more for a second tag might discourage more nonresidents from coming to Idaho.  Nonresident hunters spend approximately $127 million each year in Idaho, a significant contribution to the state's economy, particularly in rural parts of our state.      

A: 

  Piute ground squirrels are found in the area you describe.  Piutes in the southwestern part of the state are legal to hunt.  As long as you stay south of the Payette River and north of the Snake River you will not run into any protected ground squirrels.  

A: 

In recent years wolf numbers were increasing at about 15% per year in absence of hunting. Primary source of mortality was depredation control. In absence of that, perhaps 20% or so. Population Growth rate would slow as food availability became limited (numbers would not continue to grow indefinitely). Estimates for wolf predation range about 12-20 big game animals per wolf per year. Mid point of 16 deer/elk per wolf per year is reasonable for an average.   

A: 

The closest public land is U.S. National Forest property about 25 miles east of Moscow near Deary, ID.  Potlatch Corporation property is intermixed with Forest Service property in that area.  Potlatch requires a permit to be on their land.  It is recommended to check the lastest Forest Service map to make sure you are on the correct property.  With any target shooting we ask that you pick up all of your targets and other garbage type material to prevent any littering problems.

A: 

Please confirm my understanding. A nonresident application and elk tag needs to be purchased and then the controlled hunt is applied for? If successful for the general tag, then the controlled youth hunt is applied for? Is there a deadline on the controlled hunt application? Thanks   You do not need to purchase the general season elk tag before you apply for a controlled elk hunt.  You must purchase the Idaho hunting license (the youth mentored hunting license is $31.75) and pay the application fee (nonresident fee is $14.75) to enter in the draw hunt.  If you are drawn you can then purchase your controlled hunt elk tag.  The application period is May 1-June 5