Press Releases and Articles
Archery hunters kill grizzly bear in self-defense
| idfg-jbrower
On the evening of Sept. 1, two archery hunters shot and killed a large adult male grizzly bear in self-defense while hunting for elk west of Island Park Reservoir.
The hunters were moving through thick brush when a large grizzly charged directly towards them from a short distance away. Both… more
Two grizzly bears trapped and euthanized outside of Ashton after months of conflicts with humans
| idfg-jbrower
On Aug. 31, after consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and Game trapped and euthanized two, 1 ½ year old grizzly bears in the Squirrel area east of Ashton. The two bears, a male and a female, received many food rewards, consistently showed no fear of humans, and acted aggressively towards… more
Private land access agreements set to reopen in North Idaho
| idfg-tjross
With the recent rains and cooler weather, private land managers in North Idaho have set dates to rescind recent land closures and allow normal public access. Below are the dates parcels will open, as well as a news release directly from North Idaho Timber Group.
Godde Family/Kroetch Land and Timber Company is… more
The 2023 Upland Game Bird Outlook
| idfg-cliess
Idaho, with one of the most rugged landscapes in the union, offers a ton of upland game bird hunting opportunities. Whether you find yourself in the high-mountain timber or the lowland-sagebrush steppe, there’s a good chance you’re in upland bird country.
Upland game birds are sensitive to environmental factors… more
Fall Chinook Salmon Update (8/31/2023)
| idfg-jdupont
Idaho’s fall Chinook Salmon season opened on August 18, so I figured I better put out an update to let people know what is going on with this fishery. In this update, I will try to answer the questions people have been asking most frequently including what is the run looking like, what percent of the run is being… more
The State of Deer and Elk: EHD vs. CWD (VIDEO)
| idfg-cliess
It’s no secret. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease and chronic wasting disease have both reared their ugly heads in the last couple years and have impacted Idaho’s deer and elk in localized areas. While both diseases affect members of the deer family, there are some pretty significant differences between the two.
In… more
Be sure to brush up on your wildlife identification skills before your fall hunt
| idfg-sross
Fall is approaching! Once again it’s time to dust off the hunting gear, lace up, load up and head out to the hills. Hopefully before Thanksgiving most of us will have notched a tag or two and be enjoying some well-earned woodland meals shared with family and friends. Many of life’s fondest memories come from time spent… more
Idaho's Steelhead Update 8/30/2023
| idfg-jdupont
Hi everybody. Idaho’s steelhead harvest season starts on September 1 or September 10, depending on where you fish, so I thought it was about time that I let people know what the runs are looking like and remind people of what the regulations are.
Idaho’s Early Summer Run (Upper Salmon, Little Salmon and Snake… more
Important changes to remember for cow elk hunting in the Panhandle in 2023
| idfg-tjross
Idaho Fish and Game prioritizes the simplification of hunting, fishing and trapping seasons and rules whenever possible. However, due to variability in the status of fish and wildlife populations across the state, special rules and exceptions must sometimes be implemented to ensure future opportunity remains for… more
Southwest Region rainbow trout stocking schedule - September
| idfg-bpearson
Fish and Game staff will be stocking around 18,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) trout at the following locations across the Southwest Region in September.
All fish stocked are rainbow trout. Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions (angler safety concerns);… more
Idaho takes home national award for hatchery trout study
| idfg-mkoenig
Hatchery-raised trout are hugely important part of managing Idaho’s fisheries. They often provide instant fishing opportunity when stocked in Idaho’s lakes, reservoirs, ponds and streams, especially where natural populations or habitat can't meet fishing demand. Idaho's trout stocking program includes 10 hatcheries and… more
Deer hunters in Owyhee units reminded that antlerless harvest was eliminated for general archery season
| idfg-bpearson
With archery deer hunting set to kick off on Aug. 30 for Units 40, 41 and 42, Fish and Game staff in the Southwest Region are reminding hunters that they can no longer harvest an antlerless animal during the general archery season on the regular deer tag.
The change will not affect the youth-only controlled hunt… more
Fish, Fires and the Fallout
| idfg-mheller
In recent years, large wildfires in Idaho seem to be synonymous with summer. These uncontrolled fires can burn large swaths of forested land, oftentimes on steep slopes leading to river and stream drainages. As most people know, these fires can influence wildlife and wildlife habitat. But what about fish… more
Rainbow trout stocking schedule for October in the Clearwater Region
| idfg-jbruns
Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Clearwater Region will be stocking approximately 46,500 catchable-sized rainbow trout in October. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate.
Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions (angler safety concerns); dates may… more
Even Treasure Valley homeowners should be "Bear Aware" heading into the fall
| idfg-bpearson
While Idaho Fish and Game staff often start receiving reports of black bear conflicts in mountain communities early in the summer, there have been no such reports of black bears in the urban areas around the Treasure Valley so far this year.
While it's not an everyday – or even annual – occurrence that a… more
Edson Fichter Nature Talks coming to Pocatello in September
| idfg-jjackson
The popular Edson Fichter Nature Talks series is returning to Pocatello for its third year this September. Take this opportunity to learn more about the wildlife, habitats, and landscape features found in the Portneuf River Valley through this free lecture series co-sponsored by Friends of the Edson Fichter Nature… more
Winners announced for second 2023 Super Hunt drawing
| idfg-cliess
The second wave of Idaho Super Hunt drawing winners have been picked.
Of the 42,439 total entries, 10,635 were for two deer tags, 14,554 were for two elk tags, 4,093 were for two pronghorn tags, 8,682 were for one moose tag and 4,475 entries were for one Super Hunt Combo, which includes a tag for each of the… more
Statewide trout stocking highlights for September 2023
| idfg-cliess
Many of Idaho’s lakes and ponds are soon going to be bolstered with Idaho Fish and Game stocking roughly 104,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout this September. Wondering if the stocking trucks are going to be backing up to your favorite fishing hole? We asked our Fish and Game hatchery staff to boil down some of the… more