Press Releases and Articles
Youth turkey season opens April 8; Portneuf Wildlife Management Area still closed
| idfg-jjackson
Youth turkey season runs April 8-14 for licensed hunters ages 10-17, and general spring turkey season for all hunters begins April 15 and finishes May 25 for most of the state.
However, before heading out, please note that a popular turkey hunting destination in southeast Idaho — the Portneuf Wildlife… more
State of Deer and Elk: 2023-24 Big Game Seasons and Rules now available
| idfg-rphillips
The digital 2023-24 Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure is now available and the printed brochures will arrive at Fish and Game offices and license vendors later in April and before May 1 to June 5 application period for big game controlled hunts.
Big game season setting was the culmination of months of… more
Another year of South Fork steelhead broodstock collection success
| idfg-jbruns
Fish and Game fisheries staff started collecting broodstock fish on the South Fork of the Clearwater River on Feb. 3 and wrapped up March 23. Volunteer anglers tubed 781 steelhead, and 580 (295 females and 285 males) of those met the hatchery origin and length requirements for broodstock.
Low February flows in… more
April 4: Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Fishing Report
| idfg-mdemick
Over the past week, the majority of steelhead angler effort and catch on the upper Salmon River was located downstream of North Fork in location code 15, and anglers interviewed within this area averaged six hours per steelhead caught.
April trout stocking schedule for the Clearwater Region
| idfg-jbruns
April may be known for its unpredictable spring weather, but here is a schedule anglers can rely on to plan their outings. Personnel from Idaho Fish and Game’s hatcheries in the Clearwater Region will be releasing nearly 24,000 catchable-sized trout at various locations throughout this month!
F&G wraps up deer removal project in Slate Creek this spring
| idfg-jbruns
Chronic wasting disease was found for the first time in Idaho in 2021 in the Slate Creek drainage within Unit 14.
Fish and Game staff in conjunction with the Idaho Fish and Game Commission made the tough decision to quickly limit the spread of this always fatal, highly contagious disease. A large-scale… more
F&G encourages public to comment on its Idaho action plan for big game migration and winter ranges
| idfg-cliess
Idaho Fish and Game is encouraging the public to provide comments on its Idaho action plan for conserving priority big game migration routes and winter ranges is now available on Fish and Game’s webpage.
The opportunity to leave a comment closes on April 24.
Since 2018, Fish and Game’s management and… more
Hunter harvest stats show slight increase in elk in 2022, drop in mule deer and white-tailed deer
| idfg-cliess
While it was another good year for elk hunter harvest, both mule deer and white-tailed deer saw drops in overall harvest and remained below the 10-year average.
Overall, big game harvests tend to fluctuate slightly from year to year due to numerous factors, including weather the prior winter and during hunting… more
Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee Meeting scheduled for April 4
| idfg-jjackson
Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023- 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Address: Idaho Fish and Game Southeast Region Office
… more
Winter feeding update for the Southeast Region (03/31/2023)
| idfg-jjackson
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game with input from the Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) initiated the feeding of deer and elk at several locations in the Southeast Region beginning in early February.
Approximately, 30 tons of deer feed is currently being distributed to 23… more
Public asked to avoid recreating on a trail near Georgetown due to an aggressive moose
| idfg-staff
An aggressive moose has been reported on a popular winter trail in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest near Georgetown. Members of the public have had recent encounters with this moose on the groomed trail extending beyond the parking area where Georgetown Canyon Road ends and Caribou-Targhee National Forest Road… more
Salmon Region trout stocking schedule for April
| idfg-mdemick
Anglers will have approximately 1,850 freshly stocked rainbow trout to catch at the following locations in April:
How to Be a Good Witness: What to do if you see someone shoot more than one animal
| idfg-scassinelli
You’re elk hunting and see someone across the canyon shoot and kill more than one elk, how would you report this? Providing the right details when reporting a wildlife crime not only helps our conservation officers investigate a case, but it ultimately increases the likelihood that a violator stealing Idaho’s… more
Harsh weather prompts F&G to ask for public’s help protecting wintering wildlife
| idfg-jbrower
It has been a long harsh winter for all of us in Idaho, and an especially hard one for big game animals in the Upper Snake and Southeast Regions. As the winter weather drags on with deep crusted snow, cold temperatures and little reprieve in sight, Fish and Game is asking people to recreate responsibly and not… more
F&G captures mountain lion in Ammon neighborhood
| idfg-jbrower
Wildlife biologists with Fish and Game captured an adult female mountain lion from an Ammon neighborhood on the morning of March 30. The lion was reported by a homeowner whose dog chased the lion into a tree. Given the proximity to Woodland Hills Elementary, the school was put on alert.
When wildlife staff… more
Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunt application period is now open
| idfg-cliess
The application period for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunts is now open and runs through April 30. Hunters can apply online or at any Fish and Game office, license vendor or by telephone by calling (800) 554-8685.
Apply online at GoOutdoorsIdaho.comHunters are reminded that… more
Annual walleye netting on Lake Pend Oreille will begin on April 10
| idfg-tjross
Spring 2023 will mark the sixth year of netting operations to help control the walleye population in Lake Pend Oreille.
Walleye gill netting operations run for three weeks every spring on weekdays only. Crews target walleye that are grouping up to spawn in the shallow, northern sections of the lake. Netting… more
It's trout stocking time! Here's what's headed to Panhandle waters this April
| idfg-tjross
If you're looking for a good excuse to enjoy some spring weather while soaking a line, look no further. Over 43,000 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) rainbow trout will be stocked in the Panhandle Region in April.