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 3226 - 3250 of 3534 questionsQ: Why is the actual price of the moose, mountain goat and bighorn tag higher than it says in the regs?
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The rules brochure, covering 2005 and 2006, was printed before a new fee structure went into effect in July, 2005. The Idaho legislature can and usually does modify new fees proposed by Fish and Game, but it may choose to not approve a proposal at all. Trying to anticipate the final fee structure before the legislature acts is futile, but new rules brochures must be printed on schedule regardless. The department web site is exactly as the brochure appears in print. When a fee change happens, the department uses every means at its disposal to alert the public, as was the case this time. The brochure does carry a disclaimer about the possibility of fee changes.answered 4/16/2006
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No, you haven't. The annual auction is set for April 29 at the Idaho Fish and Game's Southeast Region Office, located at 1345 Barton Road in Pocatello. Sale items will be available for preview at 8 a.m. and bidding begins at 10 a.m. Items include seized and abandoned fishing gear; deer, elk and moose antlers; otters; mountain lion and black bear skulls and hides and traps.answered 4/9/2006
Q: I want to apply for a controlled moose hunt this year. When will the new rules brochure come out?
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Moose, Goat and Sheep Rules Brochures are valid for two seasons. The brochure printed last year lists hunts for 2005 and 2006. The rules are on the Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ and printed copies should be available from your local vendor. Application fees have changed from last year, however, and are not correct in the printed copies of the rules brochure.Residents now pay $180.75 to enter the moose, goat or sheep drawing, and nonresidents pay $1,765.75. Don't forget that the application period runs through April 30.answered 4/2/2006
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In Idaho, you can use fish and fish parts for bait anywhere except in "no bait" waters. Many anglers use dead rainbow trout or trout parts from hatcheries for sturgeon bait, but they need a receipt to show the source if they have more than six trout in their possession. If other species of gamefish are used, anglers need to watch limits for them as well.answered 3/26/2006
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It is time to think about choices for 2006 controlled hunts. (Draws for spring bear and turkey controlled hunts are already over.) Moose, mountain goat and bighorn applications are accepted during the month of April. Applications for elk, deer, pronghorn and fall black bear controlled hunts are accepted from May 1 through June 5. Yep, that's right-June 5. The application dates have been the month of May for many years but mixing applications with fishing license sales during the last week of May led to frustrations for all concerned. So the Fish and Game Commission added a week to the big game controlled hunt application period this year.answered 3/19/2006
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Hunter education classes cover much more than weapon safety. Idaho law requires that everyone born January 1, 1975 or later to take hunter education unless they can present proof such as a hunting license or big game tag to show they have hunted in another state. If you have hunted in another state you will have to provide proof when you purchase your hunting license. For those who cannot attend a regular class, Idaho Fish and Game offers classes online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/education/hunter_ed/. When you pass the online course you have to participate in a Field Day set up by local Fish and Game offices.Internet courses are not recommended for hunters under 14 years of age.answered 3/12/2006
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Everyone who wants to start hunting during an archery only season has to take a bowhunter education class. If you can't attend a regular class we now offer the class online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/education/hunter_ed/.When you pass the online course you have to participate in a Field Day set up by local Fish and Game offices to become certified to hunt with archery equipment. Internet courses are not recommended for hunters under 14 years of age.answered 3/5/2006
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The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will set final rules and seasons for 2006 big game hunting in its March 2-4 meeting in Boise. The final copy for the new brochure must be completed and shipped to the printer with copies available to the public in late April.answered 2/26/2006
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No evidence exists that anyone has yet. But public health officials caution hunters to avoid handling brains, spinal columns and lymph nodes when field dressing deer and elk taken in areas where chronic wasting disease is found. They are urged to destroy the meat from any deer or elk that test positive for chronic wasting disease. There is no known cure for the fatal brain disease that affects elk and deer and is related to mad cow disease in domestic cattle and scrapie in domestic sheep. The disease has been found in 11 states and two Canadian provinces - but not in Idaho. Scientists, including the Centers for Disease Control, don't know how it is transmitted, and so far they have found no evidence that the disease has or can be spread to humans, either through contact with infected animal or by eating meat of infected animals.answered 2/16/2006
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Under state law, the Fish and Game Commission is charged with responsibility to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage "(a)ll wildlife, including all wild animals, wild birds, and fish within the state of Idaho," in a manner that will "provide for the citizens of this state and, ... others, continued supplies of such wildlife for hunting, fishing and trapping." As a practical matter, most of the funds for Fish and Game Department operations come from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Any individual, however, may express concerns and opinions to the commissioners during public comment periods at regular commission meetings. The next opportunity will be at 7 p.m. March 1, in the Trophy Room of Fish and Game Headquarters, at 600 S. Walnut in Boise.answered 2/12/2006
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The 2005?2006 rule book was published before the 2005 season, and fees went up in July 2005. Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat tags cost $174.50 for Idaho residents. The non-resident cost is $1,759.50. The price includes a $7.75 controlled hunt permit fee, but it doesn't include the nonrefundable $6.25 application fee. Tag and permit fees must be submitted at the time of application. Hunters also must buy a valid Idaho hunting license. The application period runs from April 1 through 30. Applications may be made by telephone, at 1(800) 554-8685; from the G-Tech link on the Internet at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/ch/; at Fish and Game offices; and at license vendors.answered 2/5/2006
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The application period for spring bear controlled hunts is January 15 through February 15. You'll find hunt descriptions and hunt numbers in the 2005 Big Game Rules Book in the Bear Season section.answered 1/22/2006
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Idaho hunting regulations specify how, when and where vehicles may be used in hunting. Vehicle use is subject to federal, state and local rules as well as Fish and Game hunting regulations. The rules do not cover horses used in hunting.answered 1/12/2006
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This license allows 10- and 11-year-olds to hunt upland game birds, migratory birds, cottontail rabbits, and unprotected and predatory birds and animals, as well as turkeys and sandhill cranes. They must have a hunter education certification and the holder of an adult Idaho hunting license must accompany the youth in the field. A Hunter Education Graduate Hunting License, however, doesn't allow the holder to hunt turkeys, sandhill cranes or big game. To hunt turkeys or sandhill cranes they must buy a youth small game license and turkey or crane tags. For more information refer to general hunting license regulations or visit the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/answered 1/8/2006
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In response to anglers' requests for more family-oriented fishing opportunities and simplified rules, IDFG has developed the Family Fishing Waters program. The idea is to make it easy, simple and fun for folks to go fishing with the children, and to target waters where beginners have a great chance of catching their first fish. Many of these waters are at parks or areas with other facilities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Family Fishing Waters are open all year and have a six fish limit for trout and bass. There are no bag limits on other species and no length limits. Family Fishing Waters also provide easy access, and area easily fished by anyone with simple, standard fishing gear. Check the Region maps in the new 2006-2007 Fishing Rules Book for Family Fishing Waters near you. The brochures soon will be available at license vendors and Fish and Game offices. Anglers aged 14 and older must have a fishing license in their possession.answered 12/29/2005
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You had to apply for the depredation hunt list earlier in the year. If you are an Idaho resident with a valid hunting or combination license, you have to fill out the "Depredation Hunt Application" found in the Big Game Rules Brochure and mail it to the regional office in the area you are willing to hunt. You, and a partner if you like, may apply in different regions for deer, elk, and antelope. But you can apply only once each year for deer, once for elk and once for antelope. All applications received from May 1 to June 30 will be placed in random order. All applications received after June 30 will be placed at the end of the list in the order received. The list is valid from July 1 to the following June 30.answered 12/22/2005
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The season opens on January 1, 2006 and spring season limits are 3 per day, 9 in possession and 20 per season. If you catch your limit you must stop fishing for steelhead that day, including catch-and-release fishing. Be sure to have your 2006 fishing license and steelhead permit in your possession when you go after your big fish. Check the 2006 Fishing Rules Brochure for season ending dates and descriptions of the areas that you can fish.answered 12/18/2005
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It depends. If your brother-in-law is a nonresident you can purchase a license for him. If he is a resident you can't buy him a license but you can purchase a gift certificate at a Fish and Game office that he can use for that purpose. Adult residents 18 and over must purchase their own hunting license because they are required to prove their resident status when the license is issued. Gift certificates can be used at any Fish and Game office.answered 12/11/2005
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You will find the link on the home page of the Fish and Game website in the FEATURED PAGES list. The website address is http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ and the link is the sixth item listed: "Online Harvest Report Card". Hunters that don't have access to the internet can mail their reports to Idaho Fish and Game, Hunter Harvest Report, P. O. Box 70007, Boise, ID 83707-0107. You can also phone in your report to 1-877-268-9365 or fax it to 1-775-423-0799.answered 12/4/2005
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No, the rules have not changed. It is still illegal to harvest sturgeon in Idaho. Sturgeon were planted this fall in the Snake River below American Falls Dam to provide additional catch and release opportunities for anglers. While this section of river may not have sufficient habitat for sturgeon to successfully reproduce, it does have sufficient river habitat for a limited number of sturgeon to grow and provide exciting fishing for years to come. Sturgeon were previously planted in this area in 1990, 1991, 1997 and 1998.answered 11/27/2005
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The new 2006 licenses, tags, and permits go on sale December 1 at 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time, except for the nonresident Selway B elk tags which go on sale at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on December 1, 2005. Resident can purchase deer and elk receipts that can be redeemed for the tags in July of 2006.answered 11/20/2005
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Stop, that's what you are supposed to do if you have been hunting or fishing. All hunters traveling through Idaho are required to stop regardless if they have been hunting in Idaho or another state. We have no way of knowing where they are coming from. A quick stop to let us know that they have been hunting outside of Idaho will meet this requirement. By the way, the stop is required even if no fish or game is present in the vehicle.answered 11/13/2005
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No, the gas-check additions to traditional conical lead bullets amount to the same thing as sabots and are not legal in hunts designated "traditional". The rules call for lead or lead alloy bullets, not lead bullets with plastic added on. Power Belt and other similar gas-check devices are legal for use in regular muzzleloader hunts as well as any-weapon or short-range weapon hunts.answered 11/6/2005
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Cottontail rabbits and forest grouse-ruffed, spruce and blue-are legal game with a .22 caliber weapon. Shotguns are the legal and appropriate weapon for all other small game. Much small game hunting takes place fairly close to human habitation and .22s are dangerous up to about a mile so this becomes a matter of safety as well as tradition and law. Predators may be hunted with .22s.answered 10/30/2005
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Unfortunately for your cousin, nonresident general elk tags are sold out, but you, as a resident, can still buy a tag, depending on where you plan to hunt. General hunt tags are available in many parts of the state on an unlimited basis. There are some areas where quotas are in place, and in some of those areas the tags are sold out. There are still some Lolo B tags available, and there are also tags available in the Middle Fork. In addition, there are still a limited number of leftover controlled hunt tags available for cow and youth hunts. The leftover tags are available to residents and non-residents alike, so your cousin may still hunt elk if he would be satisfied with one of the limited leftover cow tags available. For more information on available elk tags, check the Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.answered 10/23/2005