Frequently Asked Questions

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The holder of a controlled hunt tag for big game or permit for turkey may transfer that tag/permit to his or her minor child or grandchild under the age of 18 who is otherwise qualified to participate in the hunt. The form at the link below must be used to transfer the tag/permit. Visit any Fish and Game office, or send by mail. The tag must accompany the form. The child or grandchild may receive only one controlled hunt tag/permit per species, per calendar year. The transfer must be made before the opening date of the hunt. For more information, please contact your local Fish and Game office or call our licensing section in Boise at 208-334-2592. . The form is available here: Designation/Transfer Of Control Hunt Tag Or Control Hunt Permit Form

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I'm not sure.  I would talk with the Meridain Police about discharge of a bow in their city, they may consider a bow a dangerous weapon and have restrictions.

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Thank you for your question.  Idaho is a member state of the Wildlife Violator Compact (WVC) as are many other states including Utah.  If an individual’s hunting privileges are suspended in any of the member states, every state belonging to the WVC honors that suspension.  If your hunting privileges are still suspended in Utah, your hunting privileges are also suspended in Idaho and the purchase of an Idaho hunting license while suspended constitutes a misdemeanor violation.  However, unless there are additional restrictions placed on your suspension in Utah prohibiting you from accompanying anyone in the field while hunting, you can accompany others while they are hunting in Idaho as long as you do not kill, or attempt to kill any wildlife.

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Yes ladder stands are considered a portable stand. This rule applies only on Fish and Game property, for use on BLM, Forest Service, or Department of Lands property consult their regulations for clarification.

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Hello, I can provide answers to your questions.  I listed your questions below with my responses. 1.Are these Kokanee's that were recently stocked at Honeysuckle beach wild or farmed? The kokanee are raised in a Fish and Game fish hatchery and stocked into Hayden Lake every year.  The get stocked as juveniles in June and are about 3-4 inches long when released.  It takes about a year before they are large enough to be caught by anglers.  The largest kokanee in the lake (typically 14-17") are two years old. 2. Are they safe to eat? Yes, they are safe to eat.  In fact, kokanee are one of the finest tasting fish in our area and are hugely popular with anglers for this reason. 3. I saw some people fishing them with corn, isn't that illegal to use corn? Corn is legal to use as bait.  In fact, corn is the most popular bait to use when kokanee fishing.  Kokanee are caught primarily by trolling from a boat in open water.  There are differnent types of trolling gear you can use to catch them.  However, corn is commonly placed on the hook of the lure.  Maggots can also be used. 4. I caught one and when I held it, the eggs were pouring out of it, can you use these eggs for fishing, like for trout? It is legal to use fish eggs for bait.  However, I would not recommend this as an effective bait for kokanee fishing.  Corn or maggots is much preferred. If you are interested in learning more about kokanee fishing, there are some good websites with information on fishing techniques.  Also, local sporting goods stores are usually good about helping, too. I hope this helps.  Have a good day. Andy Dux

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“It is illegal to fish in any waters of Idaho with more than one handline or pole with a line attached; …..or by archery, spearfishing, snagging, hands and netting except as permitted. “ If you observe a violation I would encourage you to report it to your local Conservation Officer, Sherriff’s Office or the “Citizen Against Poaching” CAP hot line at 1-800-632-5999 – this phone number is also on the back of your fishing license.  The limit for kokanee varies from region to region so you will need to consult your regulations for kokanee limits in each region.  For Hayden Creek and its tributaries the Kokanee limit is 15 and this information is found on page 13 of the printed fishing regulations.  Kokanee can provide some excellent table fare when smoked but they must be harvested using legal methods.  Catching Kokanee by hand is not a legal method of take or harvest.

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This year's fire season is no doubt putting both hunters and IDFG in a tough spot.  We did consider the effects of the closures and the necessity for hunters to change areas because of the current fire closures.  For the following  reasons we made the decision to maintain the current season: We are offering the ability for hunters to switch zones.  We have extended the period that hunters with a Panhandle tag can change zones to Sept 11.  Hunters can either switch to a different zone or get a receipt they can turn in later for any zone with a general hunt, including the Panhandle.  That way then can keep their options open and hunt in the Panhandle if fire closures are reduced or choose a different zone.  This will reduce crowding somewhat. The last 2 years have been mild and we've observed excellent overwinter survival.  The survival rate of cows in Units 4, 6, and 7 has been 93%. Last year there was a marked improvement in calf:cow ratios in the St Joe drainage.  Previously we have observed calf:cow ratios in the low teens during our mid-winter helicopter flights.  Last year the calf:cow ratio in the St Joe was 34 calves per 100 cows and in some areas they were as high as 43:100. We have a predation managment plan in effect in the St Joe drainage.  We've put a lot of pressure on predators, including wolves and mountain lions, and harvest of both of these species has been increasing.  This, in conjunction with the mild winters, may explain the high cow survival rate. There is no cow harvest in any of these units.  By protecting the cows we are preserving the reproductive portion of the population.  As mentioned above, the last 2 years were very mild and female calves from 2013 will now start producing calves.  There are currently closures on Forest Service and private timber lands in Units 6, 7, and 9.  Some of the most productive elk areas are currently closed.  This will provide a refuge for all elk regardless of the harvest in open areas of these units.  If the closures are lifted in these units they will also be lifted in other areas, allowing hunters to return to Unit 4. Some hunters will simply choose to not hunt this year.  While this is something that IDFG does not want to see, it will reduce the number of hunters in the woods. As was mentioned earlier, this is a difficult year for everyone.  Hopefully area closures will be reduced by the elk rifle season.  However, in the event they are not, we feel we can offer the existing hunting season without severely impacting the elk herds.  If conditions worsen we can consider other options.  Thanks for your question.

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There is no maximum number of shots that can be fired at an elk in Idaho.  During an archery-only season, you may not use any type of firearm for dispatching an animal.

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Very good question. When we write the rule pamphlets we often don't take into account how they may effect other species and fishing opportunities.  To answer your question, I went to the Administrative Rules section of Idaho Code. For Steelhead, when you reach your daily bag limit, you only need to stop fishing for Steelhead as per IDAPA 13.01.11.405.04.  This means you can no longer target Steelhead - but you can still fish for Fall Chinook and Coho or resident fish species.  When an officer contacts you in the field and you show him you have filled your bag limit for Steelhead and then he asks you, "what are you trying to catch" the correct answer is, "anything but Steelhead." In the case of Fall Chinook and Coho - things are a little more tricky.  IDAPA 13.01.11.505.04 says, when you reach your daily bag limit for salmon you need to stop fishing for salmon.  When the rule was written, we did not consider the overlap between Coho and Fall Chinook.  In practical terms, your chances of catching bag limits for either species is very slim.  If you have your bag limit of Coho and are approched by an officer, when he asks the question, "what are you trying to catch" specifically state, "Fall Chinook" - unless that stretch of the river is closed to the take of Fall Chinook. 

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Please contact Rotary Offset Press at 253-813-9900, cleininger@seattletimes.com.  6600 South 231st Street, Kent, WA 98032

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These hunts are designed to reduce depredation pressures from elk on private lands.  Elk will often move to private ground to avoid hunting pressure on public land thus causing impacts to private land owners.  They may be attracted to private land because of green lush pastures, irrigated farm ground, cultivated fields, or hay.  These "green field" hunts are designed to reduce elk pressure on private ground.  Allowing hunting on Forest Service and other public land would be counter- productive to the purpose of the hunt.  Our hunt planner mapping function on our website has land ownership boundaries, but your best bet would be to purchase a Forest Service map with the travel plans, boundaries, and big game units on them.  Printing these boundary descriptions in our big game rules book would be cost prohibitive and duplicative considering availability of the information from the US Forest Service.