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 2051 - 2075 of 3534 questionsQ: Are big game decoys legal to use during a hunt in idaho?
I recently purchased a cow elk decoy and use it so we can at least see the decoy in our field. But can't seem to find anything in the rules about using them with elk, deer, coyotes during a hunt. Thank youA:
Yes, you can use a big game decoy while hunting.answered 4/22/2013
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There is only one type of invasive species tag; Idaho law requires that any motorized or non-motorized boat operating in Idaho have an Invasive Species Sticker. Information from the Dept. of Agriculture about Invasive Species and the sticker program is found online at http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/Environment/InvasiveSpeciesCounci.... Idaho Invasive Species Program FAQ's Q. Who can I contact with questions specific to the IISF sticker?A. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation 1-800-247-6332 Q. Who can I contact with additional questions regarding the IISF program?A. The Idaho Department of Agriculture manages the IISF program.1-877-336-8676 Q. What kind of vessels need to have the sticker?A. Any boat that is registered in Idaho or another state, and any non-motorized vessel (canoe, kayak, raft, drift boat, etc.) need to have the sticker. Inflatable non-motorized vessels must be less than 10 feet in length to be exempted from this requirement. Q. Why are boaters being asked to help fund invasive species prevention? A. Aquatic invasive species seriously impact waterbodies. Species like the quagga mussel “hitchhike” from one body of water to the next, primarily on boats.answered 4/22/2013
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The physiological changes anadromous fish (fish that migrate from freshwater to saltwater and return to freshwater to reproduce) are remarkable and still not fully understood. As the fish go through the "smolting" process they change their osmotic balancing features which includes their digestive system, their swim bladder size changes, there is a decline in excretory rates, blood chemistry changes, etc. Think of it this way: in freshwater their environment is trying to flood them with water; when they go to saltwater, their environment is trying to pull water from the bodies of the fish. Consequently, anadromous fish spend considerable time in the brackish water at the mouth of the Columbia River waiting for their bodies to adjust. As the adults move from the Pacific Ocean to the freshwater of the Columbia River, it's an immediate transition. Their ability to process nutrients/food immediately ceases. They still have a feeding behavior but can't process food, hence they still strike at eggs or other food sources from the past. If you want more details, there is a book titled: Fish Migration and it's written by Brian A. McKeown.answered 4/22/2013
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An April 22 Idaho Fish and Game Commission tele-conference to set 2013 salmon fishing seasons has been postponed. Based on low counts of spring Chinook salmon at Bonneville Dam, Fish and Game biologists lack sufficient information to project the size of the salmon run to Idaho. The meeting will be rescheduled when manager have more information about his year's runs size. If fish counts at Bonneville improve, and it appears that the run is returning late, Fish and Game biologists say that salmon returns to Idaho may be enough to allow at least a limited fishing season. Sufficient information may be available late next week to make a better assessment of the timing and numbers of salmon returning to Idaho.answered 4/22/2013
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Yes, if you are talking about "salvaging" a road killed deer. Within 24 hours, you can report a wildlife salvage by going online to fishandgame.idaho.gov/roadkill, which will direct you to a self-generating permit that you can print. A copy of the permit must accompany the salvaged wildlife.answered 4/22/2013
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They were released in November last year (2012). If we have enough to release in 2013, it won't be until November.answered 4/21/2013
Q: Can I put in for bighorn sheep and still put in for deer and elk?
So if I put in for bighorn can I put in for deer and elkA:
Any person applying for any moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat hunt is prohibited from applying for any other big game controlled hunt in the same year. Except: They may apply for a controlled depredation hunt for deer, elk, or pronghorn, a controlled black bear hunt, or leftover deer, elk or pronghorn controlled hunt tag, an unlimited controlled hunt, or extra deer, elk, pronghorn, or turkey hunt.answered 4/21/2013
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No. You may be contacted at some point for information, but no report is required until then.answered 4/20/2013
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Any vendor can sell you the archery permit. Be sure to take your bowhunter education card information with you when you go to the vendor. If you order online, enter your bowhunter education number in the "Archery Education" space in your demographic information. When that is filled in you can choose the archery permit.answered 4/19/2013
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The 3% is charged when you apply for the sheep hunt; the money is collected at that time and, if you draw a tag, the tag is sent to you. The 3% convenience fee cannot be refunded.answered 4/19/2013
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Please contact the Idaho Department of Agriculture.answered 4/19/2013
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry/suggestion. We do have broodstock collection targets for the facilities listed on the “Cumulative Steelhead Hatchery Returns” page (they are listed below); however, using these targets to gauge the status of the run is problematic because most of fish returning to these sites are removed by anglers. Therefore trapping numbers alone don’t truly reflect the size of the run. Hatchery/Trap Broodstock Target Dworshak National Fish Hatchery 1,800 East Fork Weir 28 Oxbow/Hells Canyon Trap 1,125 Pahsimeroi Weir 1,600 Sawtooth Weir 1,350 For evaluation purposes we annually monitor the number of adults returning from each rearing hatchery (most are not listed on the web page) which provide a better gauge as to how each facility is contributing to the run and how the run is doing overall. This is confusing, but let me briefly explain how Idaho’s hatchery steelhead program operates because it is very large, diverse, and integrated. All of the hatcheries listed on the hatchery return webpage are broodstock facilities that collect and spawn steelhead. Most of the eggs produced at broodstock facilities are then transferred to another hatchery (rearing facility) where they are grown for a year prior to release. We focus our evaluations on rearing facilities because steelhead spend the majority if their “in hatchery” life at these facilities and therefore they are most influential in regards to returning adult steelhead. We are working on getting the adult return information for each of the rearing hatcheries on the IDFG webpage as well, but in the meantime this information is available in reports on the web (just search “Idaho hatchery steelhead calendar report”). Dworshak NFH produces a separate report for their facility that can be found on their webpage. Our calendar reports are produced after the run is complete, so if you are interested in the current run I would use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering dam count website as they are updated regularly through the season and provide a lot of useful information for past runs as well. http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environment/Fish/Reportsandcounts.aspx Cheers and good fishing!answered 4/19/2013
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License and tag fees are listed on our website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/fees/.answered 4/18/2013
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The short answer to your question is one hundred (100) square inches of fluorescent orange paint is required for a wood post, at an interval of not less than one per 660 feet. There are two statutes which address this issue, Idaho Code Sections 18-7008 (criminal trespass) and 36-1603 (hunting and fishing trespass). The statutes currently require posting with legible "No Trespassing" signs, or "a minimum of one hundred (100) square inches of fluorescent orange paint except that when metal fence posts are used, the entire post must be painted fluorescent orange, or other notices of like meaning, placed in conspicuous manner on or near all boundaries at intervals of not less than one (1) sign, paint area or notice per six hundred sixty (660) feet ...." There is provision in the statutes for marking only at certain points of access when the geographic configuration of the property limits access. The Legislature amended these statutes this year to allow other shades of orange paint, and to specify that only the top 18 inches of a metal post must be painted. Effective July 1, 2013, the statutes are amended to require posting with legible "No Trespassing" signs, or "a minimum of one hundred (100) square inches of fluorescent orange, bright orange, blaze orange, safety orange or similar high visibility shade of orange colored paint except that when metal fence posts are used, a minimum of eighteen (18) inches of the top of the post must be painted a high visibility shade of orange, or other notices of like meaning, placed in a conspicuous mannner on or near all boundaries at intervals of not less than one (1) sign, paint area or notice per six hunderd sixty (660) feet ..."answered 4/17/2013
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You can use a seine or throw-net to harvest nongame fish and yellow perch. The net can be no more than 10' in length or width and must have 3/8" or smaller mesh. The seine or net cannot be left unattended. See page 51 of the 2013 - 2015 Fishing Rule booklet.answered 4/16/2013
Q: I hunted Ohio my entire life on a landowner permit do I still need to take a hunter safety course?
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Since you have had a hunting license in Ohio you do not have to take a hunter education course. The rule is, if you were born after Jan. 1, 1975 you must show proof that you have taken hunter education or that you have held a valid hunting license in another state.answered 4/16/2013
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Idaho doesn't require that anyone hunt with a guide. A hunting partner can go with you...if they have a tag for the area you decide to hunt they can also harvest an animal. Remember, a superhunt allows the tag holder to hunt in any hunt in Idaho for that species (controlled, general season).answered 4/16/2013
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No, as protected nongame all parts and pieces are prohibited from being sold.answered 4/16/2013
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With the license you get when you are 64 (adult hunting or adult combination, for example) you can only get the adult priced tags, not the senior priced tags--even after you are 65.answered 4/15/2013
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Yes, we start selling nonresident OTC tags on December 1 for the next fall's hunting. You must buy a hunting license and a tag.answered 4/14/2013
Q: How do I go about obtaining a permit for a catch and release fishing tournament?
This will be a community tournament for all levels. All catch and release. All wading no boats. Flyfishing only.A:
The cost and application information is: RESIDENT Fishing Tournament Permit Fee $23.50-for clubs and/or sponsors based or incorporated in Idaho NONRESIDENT Fishing Tournament Permit Fee $26.75-for clubs and/or sponsors based or incorporated outside Idaho Applications for fishing contest permits should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event. Any missing information could delay processing. Please send your application along with the appropriate fee to: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Fisheries Bureau, P.O. Box 25, Boise, Idaho, 83707. Questions should be directed to Theresa Hart, IDFG, 208- 287-2776 or at theresa.hart@idfg.idaho.gov. The application form is online at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/fishTournament.pdfanswered 4/14/2013
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We still stock Sawyers Pond. The following table is stocking information for the past two years. If you have additional questions on fish management at Sawyers Pond, please contact our Fisheries Management staff at the Nampa Regional Office. Their number is 465-8465. Date Stocked Species Type Size NumberStocked 06/05/2013 UNSPECIFIED RAINBOW CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 1,016 05/14/2013 UNSPECIFIED RAINBOW CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 900 04/26/2013 UNSPECIFIED RAINBOW CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 920 04/24/2013 FALL CHINOOK FINGERLING (3-6 inches) 4,026 03/20/2013 HAYSPUR RAINBOW TRIPLOID CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 935 03/12/2013 UNSPECIFIED RAINBOW ADULTS 100 02/26/2013 HAYSPUR RAINBOW TRIPLOID CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 1,012 12/04/2012 HAYSPUR RAINBOW TRIPLOID CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 520 11/07/2012 HAYSPUR RAINBOW TRIPLOID CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 1,029 10/10/2012 TRIPLOID TROUTLODGE KAMLOOP CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 997 10/18/2012 TRIPLOID TROUTLODGE KAMLOOP CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 435 06/27/2012 FALL CHINOOK FINGERLING (3-6 inches) 1,908 06/04/2012 TRIPLOID TROUTLODGE KAMLOOP CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 1,022 05/08/2012 HAYSPUR RAINBOW TRIPLOID CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 916 04/24/2012 UNSPECIFIED RAINBOW ADULTS 60 04/24/2012 UNSPECIFIED RAINBOW CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 34 04/19/2012 TRIPLOID TROUTLODGE KAMLOOP CATCHABLE (6 inches+) 962answered 4/14/2013
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It depends on your definition of "good." Do you mean from a "taste" or "health" perspective? Mussels are filter feeders and they will taste similar to the substrate and quality of water in which they reside. They also will bioaccumulate heavy metals and other contaminants to a certain degree. With that said, if you harvest mussels from a relatively clean water system and don't eat too many at a time; they can safely be consumed when taken from Idaho waters.answered 4/14/2013
Q: Canada Geese
There is a pair of Canadian geese that have laid, up to this time, 8 eggs on a second story ledge of the building I work in. The geese do attend to the eggs occasionally but not close to 23 hrs a day. My concern is if any of these eggs hatch, since the ledge is covered in rocks with no water source or food, the baby geese will have nothing to eat/drink and may even fall off the ledge to the ground below. Would be very sad. Is there anything that can be done if any of these eggs hatch? Who do we call?A:
Please contact Animals in Distress (367-1026). They can help you determine if the geese need to be moved or helped.answered 4/13/2013
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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 (see Page 47), as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. These are hatchery fish 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 (see Page 48). Some hatchery steelhead are not adipose fin clipped and must also be released.answered 4/12/2013