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 1776 - 1800 of 3534 questionsA:
Deer and elk--youth hunts are for youth ages 12-17. An 18 year old cannot participate.answered 8/1/2013
Q: Is the LPO Angler Incentive Program still active?
I turned in heads of Makinaw, about 3 weeks ago, at Dans in Bayview. How long before I receive a check for the heads? Also I can't find any info on the Angler Incentive Program on the IDFG website.A:
Yes, a reward is still being paid for the harvest of lake trout from Lake Pend Oreille. Contact our Coeur d'Alene office at 208-769-1414 for more details. Funding for the program is being provided by Avista Power as part of their Lake Pend Oreille mitigation obligation. F08answered 8/1/2013
Q: Duplicate of lost license
My son is up teaching 6 merit badge classes at Camp Morrison in McCall. He lost his fly fishing vest somewhere up there, which had his combo fish/hunt license in the pocket. If it doesn't show up, can he get another license? And does he have to pay for that? Thanks!A:
All vendors can issue a duplicate license. Duplicates cost $7.25.answered 7/31/2013
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Yes, but...... The only brook trout we presently stock in Henrys Lake are sterile and can't successfully reproduce. Their are still some natural brook trout in Henrys that migrate up the tributaries in the fall and spawn but survival of the eggs is poor. By placing eggs in a pressure chamber shortly after fertilization, we can produce fish that can't successfully reproduce (3n). This allows them to put their energy into developing body mass and allows them to stay in a lake or reservoir for a longer period of time and be available to anglers. F08answered 7/31/2013
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No, there is no fall Chinook season scheduled for the Upper Salmon River, however, the very lower end of the Salmon River will have a fall Chinook season. Fall Chinook typically don't run far up the Salmon River. Most only venture no more than 15 miles from the confluence with the Snake River. F08answered 7/31/2013
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A hunting license is $154.75 and the wolf tag is $31.75.answered 7/31/2013
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Wolf tags are available and we don't limit the number we sell... The only elk tag that is completely sold out at this time (July 31, 2013) is the nonresident Sawtooth B elk tag. The tag count of nonresident general season tags is posted on our website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/?getPage=75. The counts are updated every Friday or Monday each week.answered 7/30/2013
Q: Tiger Muskie
Hi. I just ran across a question someone asked regarding pike and muskie. One of the locations in the answer for Tiger Muskie given is Carey Lake. Is this new there? How long have the Tiger Muskies been in there? I also noted on a report earlier this year they were considering putting them in Montpelier Reservoir. Has that happened? Are there other waters in SE. SW, or the Magic Valley areas with Tiger Muskie in them. Looking at the historical stocking data it doesn't show anything new for the past few years....as it has shown for a few years now. Any help on where I may find some without going to Utah would be appreciated. ThanksA:
Placing tiger muskie in Carey Lake was discussed many years ago, but it was never done. Channel catfish were tried instead to control stunted bluegill and bass. The only place in the Magic Valley Region with tiger muskie is Dog Creek Reservoir near Gooding. They've been stocked in the reservoir for over 10 years, however, very few are seen in the fishery. At this point in time, tiger muskie have not been introduced into Montpelier. Prior to introducing this "toothy" predator, we will go through an extensive analysis process that includes collecting public input. F08answered 7/30/2013
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Big game hunters who were drawn in controlled hunt drawings have until Thursday, August 1, to buy their tags. Any tags not purchased by that date will be forfeited and will become available for a second drawing. The application period for the second drawing runs from August 5 to 15. The drawing will be August 20. Any left over tags will go on sale August 25. Leftovers can be purchased online.answered 7/28/2013
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You can apply for a hunt during the second chance application period--August 5-15. We didn't have any leftover moose hunts in 2013.answered 7/28/2013
Q: What is a nongame fish
I have seen the term "nongame" fish in the regualtions and I am wondering what type of fish are considered nongame.A:
Game Fish: Brook, brown, bull, cutthroat, golden, lake (Mackinaw), rainbow (including steelhead), splake and Sunapee trout; trout hybrids; Chinook, coho, Atlantic, and kokanee (blueback) salmon; grayling; whitefish; cisco; crappie; perch; bass; catfish; bullhead; sunfish; sturgeon; northern pike; tiger muskie; walleye and sauger; and burbot (Ling). Bullfrogs and crayfish are also defined as game fish. Nongame Fish: Any fish not specifically defined as a “game fish.” Protected nongame fish are Shoshone, Wood River, and Bear Lake sculpin, sand roller, northern leatherside chub, bluehead sucker and Pacific lamprey.answered 7/26/2013
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The answer is no. In Idaho, specific wording in code makes it illegal to fish catch-and-release for anadromous (ocean-going) salmon or steelhead if there is not a defined season.answered 7/25/2013
Q: Where can I find a list of size regulations for fish in Idaho?
My husband catches a lot of fish. I like fish and for health reasons need to eat more of it. However, he isn't sure of what sizes are legal so he "catch and releases" them all! I particularly like salmon and German Brown. Could you please tell me the legal sizes?A:
That information is in the Fishing Rules Book. Each region of the state has a chapter in our Fishing Rules Book. The first page of every chapter is the information about general bag limits and possession limits of different types of fish as well as the length restrictions, if any, for the fish. For example, in the Southwest Region (page 22), the limit on Tiger Muskie is 2, none under 40 inches; the limit on Bass is 6, none under 12 inches. The rest of the pages in each chapter list specific waters that have special season dates or length or limit restrictions that are different than the general bag limits listed on the first page of the chapter. For example, Lake Lowell in the Southwest Region has a special water rule for bass that is different than the limit shown above. On page 23 it shows that the bass limit in Lake Lowell is: Lake Lowell • January 1 to June 30 - bass limit is 0, catch-and-release • July 1 to December 31- bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inchesanswered 7/24/2013
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Please contact the Forest Service at 208-774-3000 for information. There have been some fires in the area and it may be closed.answered 7/23/2013
Q: how can I find out how many tags are left for limited quota units?
is there a place on the website to see how many tags are still left in certain units such as unit 76 where there is 1800 tags on a first come basis.A:
Resident Elk tag quotas are on our website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/?getPage=76. Nonresident tag quotas are on our website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/?getPage=75. Both lists are updated weekly.answered 7/23/2013
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If the areas is not closed for safety reasons, you can spear unprotected nongame fish in the Spokane River provided you have a valid fishing license and the fishing season for game fish is open. Suckers and tench are considered unprotected nongame fish in Idaho.answered 7/22/2013
Q: On Lake Pend Oreille, is the two pole permit required to fish multiple lines?
Page 15 of the regulations says, "No limit on the number of fishing rods per angler while fishing from a boat." There is no mention of purchasing the two pole permit. Is a two pole permit needed to fish multiple lines on Lake Pend Oreille? If the two pole permit is required, if I have a two pole permit do all people in the boat need a two pole permit?A:
You can fish with an unlimited number of rods in Lake Pend Oreille, without a 2-pole permit, while fishing from a boat. Lake Pend Oreille is an exception to our rules on the 2-pole permit. As part of our effort to recover kokanee in Lake Pend Oreille, we are trying to encourage harvest of lake trout. One way to encourage harvest is to get as many lines as possible in the water. If you are fishing from the bank on Lake Pend Oreille and want to use two lines/rods at the same time, then you must have a 2-pole permit. F08answered 7/22/2013
Q: 2013 Second Chance
When will the 2013 second (2nd) chance drawing for available controlled hunts be listed, along with the application period? Thanks.A:
The list will be out in early August (after the first). Vendors will receive a list on their License machines and the list will be available on the IDFG website. The application period is August 5-15.answered 7/22/2013
Q: How/When can I find out how many tags, if any, will be available for a left over controlled hunt draw?
Specifically, I am looking at applying for unit 31 antlerless deer as a non resident. I do not want to apply (waste $ and time) if there are no tags available. I know that the application period is Aug 5-15 and am just trying to get everything together. Thank you for your time.A:
The list of hunts available will be out (on our website and at vendors) by August 4.answered 7/22/2013
Q: Is it legal to use roe as bait for steelhead during the catch and release season on the Clearwater?
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Yes, you can use roe or any other bait in a steelhead catch-and-release season. You also must use a barbless hook and immediately release any steelhead that are caught.answered 7/21/2013
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Unit 4 has hunting seasons for mule deer, elk, bear, moose and wolf. Please contact the Panhandle Region office for information about animals at 4,000 feet and the prescense of other animals. Their number is 208-769-1414.answered 7/21/2013
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Contact the Panhandle Region office at 208-769-1414.answered 7/21/2013
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In the Portneuf River, no harvest of cutthroat is allowed. Rainbow cutthroat hybrids are often difficult to distinguish from either a rainbow trout or cutthroat trout. To be on the safe-side, if it has an orange slash under the jaw, regardless of other markings, release the fish. In the Panhandle Region where hybridization between rainbow and cutthroat is also a problem, our rules now say, "Trout limit is 6, no harvest of any trout with a red or orange slash below jaw."answered 7/21/2013
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This is a tricky question and open to interpretation by individual enforcement officers. First, you've acknowledged that it is illegal to keep the smallmouth bass. If a bass is bleeding from the gills but still alive, if you can remove the hook without doing anymore damage - do so and release the fish. If you will do more damage to the fish or gills by removing the hook, clip your line as near the hook as possible and release the fish. Even though the fish is bleeding, there is still a chance it will survive if you release it back into the water. Even if it doesn't survive, the fish is not being wasted because it will probably be feeding some other species of fish or wildlife. If you encounter an officer in the field during the described situation, be honest with him and explain your rationale behind the decision you made in whether to release the fish or any other alternative. Our officers understand these things sometimes happen when fishing.answered 7/21/2013
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The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has the ability to suspend a person's hunting and fishing privileges if child support is not paid. You will need to check with DHW to see if they have placed a suspension on your privileges to hunt or fish.answered 7/19/2013