Frequently Asked Questions

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Here is the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission Refund Rule: IDAPA 13.01.04.600 03. Refunds. The fee for any nonresident license (as defined in Section 36-202(z), Idaho Code) shall not be refunded for any reason except as follows. a. Hunting license and general season deer and elk tag refunds due to death, illness/injury or military deployment of licensee. Non-resident general season deer or elk tag fees and prerequisite hunting license fee and controlled hunt deer and elk tag fees may be refunded for death of licensee; illness or injury of licensee which totally disabled the licensee for the entire length of any applicable hunting season; or military deployment of licensee due to an armed conflict. Refund must be substantiated by death certificate, published obituary, written justification by a licensed medical doctor, copy of military orders, or other similar substantiating documents. The hunting license fee will not be refunded if it was used to apply for any controlled hunt or to purchase a turkey, mountain lion, or bear tag. The amount refunded will be the amount of the applicable deer or elk tag and hunting license less all issuance fees and a fifty dollar ($50) processing fee. The refund request must be postmarked on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which the license and tags were valid. b. General season and controlled hunt deer and elk tag refunds for other than death, illness/injury, or military deployment of licensee. Non-resident general season and controlled hunt deer or elk tag fees may be refunded for any reason other than death of the licensee; illness or injury of licensee that totally disables the licensee for the entire length of all applicable seasons; or military deployment of licensee due to an armed conflict. The request for the refund must be postmarked in the year in which the tag is valid. The hunting license fee will not be refunded. The refund will be based on the following sliding scale as a percent of the deer or elk tag fee.   Postmarked Percent of Fee Refunded Before April 1 75% In April through June 50% In July and August 25% September through December 0% c. Department Error. The Department determines that a Department employee made an error in the issuance of the license. d. Submission Requirements. All refund requests must be in writing and be accompanied with the original copy of the license or tag.   e. Effective. These changes will be effective with the 1997 licenses and tags. The URL for the Commission rules can be found at http://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/13/0104.pdf

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You can only hunt from a location/unit that you are licensed/permitted to hunt from.

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Do you mean a disable hunting license?  Anyone certified as eligible for federal supplemental income (SSI), social security disability income (SSDI), railroad retirement board disability, a nonservice-connected veteran’s pension, or a service-connected veteran’s disability benefit with 40 percent or more disability, may qualify for a disabled license.  Make sure to take your current year documentation when applying. Disabled licenses may be purchased at Fish and Game offices, selected license vendors (see website for list), and through the mail. For more information, please contact your nearest Fish and Game office.   

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The proportion of wild fall Chinook that returned to the Snake, Salmon and Clearwater systems was a "good news/bad news" story.  The "good news" was we had a record fall Chinook return to Idaho.  More "good news" was a large portion of the fish were wild.  The "bad news" was that we didn't have take authority from NOAA to harvest wild Chinook. Wild fall Chinook are classified as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act - that's why wild fall Chinook are managed by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration - National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA).  Hatchery reared fall Chinook (clipped adipose fin) are still managed by Idaho, so we were able to offer harvest opportunities on those fish.   Just when you think we know everything there is to know about our anadromous fish runs, we get a surprise record breaking run of fall Chinook like we did in 2013.  Hopefully, this is a sign of good ocean conditions and an omen for steelhead and spring/summer Chinook runs in 2014.

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The IDFG hunting closure in Ada County includes the area between Hwy 21 and the Boise city limits. The Boise river above Hwy 21 is not closed to hunting by IDFG. Ada County and or the State Park may have other regulations in place.  

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You can use any lethal means for forest grouse except they shall not be taken with a trap, snare, net or crossbow in Idaho.  However, the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge is federally run and they have their own rules in addition to IDFG state laws.  You must contact Deer Flat Refuge managers to get the answer to this question as it relates to the refuge.

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There is no rule opposing the use of FMJ ammunition.

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Duck Creek WMA is a Bureau of Recreation WMA, not a Fish & Game WMA.  It’s one of 6 WMA’s around Cascade Reservoir managed by BOR.  Duck Creek is on the west side, a bit south of where we used to count grebe nests.

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There are a few grayling below Ashton Dam that have come from our Ashton Fish Hatchery.  Because of the cool water at Ashton, we bring all of our grayling eggs into that facility and raise them to the size fish we need for stocking high mountain lakes.    F08

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Sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, a non-resident hunting mountain lions (with a resident who has dogs) must have a valid hound hunter permit and mountain lion tag for the current year.  More information can be found on page 89 of the 2013 Big Game Seasons and Rules book:  http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/docs/rules/bgLaws.pdf

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No.  A nonresident who purchase a hunting passport for $1.75 must purchase a nonresident tag and any appropriate permits and/or validations.  All hunting rules, seasons and weapon restrictions also apply to the holder of a hunting passport.     

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Yes, we have recently stocked early spawning kokanee in Hayden Lake for the purpose of providing a sport fishery.  We have significant numbers of early kokanee from our south Idaho egg taking station at Deadwood Reservoir. Kokanee, in certain waters, can be extremely difficult to manage when stocked where they can reproduce on their own.  They can very easily over-populate and "stunt."  As you pointed out, there is little habitat for this fish to spawn in during August - which is one of the reason we've gone to early spawning kokanee.c  Now we control/manage the population by stocking juvenile fish and don't want an unknown contribution from natural spawners.  They will be stocked at the boat ramp . The reason you see "red" fish at Honeysuckle beach is because there are still some late spawning kokanee left in Hayden Lake from previous stocking events.  Most will try spawning along the shore but won't be successful.  If everything goes according to plan, you should no longer see red kokanee in October and November by 2015.