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Idaho Fish and Game

Press Releases and Articles

Volunteers Break Fish and Game's Seed Collection Record

| idfg-mcoleman

Volunteer sagebrush seed collectors for Idaho Fish and Game this year shattered a record set 15 years ago. Nearly 1,000 volunteers collected more than 3,500 pounds of raw sagebrush seed during 18 outings in southwest Idaho and the Magic Valley, donating nearly 4,800 hours. The previous record was set in 1992, the… more

Ask Fish and Game: Roadkill

| idfg-mcoleman

Q. If I hit a deer while driving, what's the proper thing to do? Can I keep it? A. No, you can't keep it. It is not considered a legal method of take. But if you hit one and it is still alive, call the local Fish and Game office or sheriff. If it is dead, pulling it off the roadway is helpful but only if it is safe to… more

Craig Mountain Gates Will Open

| idfg-mcoleman

With snow accumulating, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) will begin opening access gates on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area south of Lewiston. The gates will remain open until March 15, 2008 or until snow depths recede below 16 inches. The area opens annually to snowmobiles… more

IDFG TO HOLD BREAKFAST MEETINGS IN ST MARIES AND ENAVILLE

| idfg-mcoleman

Topics to include hunting season results and muzzleloader hunting equipment The Idaho Fish and Game Department will hold breakfasts in St. Maries and Enaville in early January to share preliminary results of 2007 hunting seasons and begin discussions on 2008 hunting seasons. The first of the no-host (buffet style… more

Egin-Hamer Area to Close January 1

| idfg-nnokkentved

For the 10th year, the Egin-Hamer Area closure places nearly 500 square miles of land off-limits to human entry to protect wintering deer, elk, and moose herds. The closure begins January 1 and lasts through March on lands south of the Egin-Hamer Road and until April 30, north of it. The signs marking the northern… more

Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

| idfg-staff

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I have read several articles in a couple of newspapers about the Department's meetings to discuss wolf management. I was unable to attend. What's the gist of the meetings?" Answer: Sometimes our public open house meetings become a forum for special… more

Fish and Game seeks bids for 2008 Access Yes! program

| idfg-nnokkentved

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for landowners interested in providing access for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities in the Magic Valley Region. Access Yes! is in its fifth year and continues to gain popularity with landowners and hunters and anglers. The program compensates private… more

Commission to Consider Muzzleloader Rules

| idfg-mcoleman

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is expected to take up a proposed change to muzzleloader rules at its annual meeting January 16 - 18 in Boise. The proposed change would allow the use of some inline weapons during muzzleloader-only seasons. In January 2007, the commission adopted new equipment rules for… more

Bighorn Working Group to Meet Again in January

| idfg-lfrench

On October 12, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter asked the Idaho Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to assemble a working group to develop a statewide policy addressing issues of domestic sheep and bighorn sheep in Idaho. To start discussions, the two agencies invited the following list of… more

No Penalty for Filing Harvest Reports Early

| idfg-mcoleman

Why wait? File mandatory harvest reports now, save yourself some hassle and save Fish and Game expenses by filing early. All deer, elk and antelope hunters must complete and submit a report for each tag issued within 10 days of harvest or within 10 days of the close of the season for which their tag was valid. The… more

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

| idfg-mcoleman

Want to find your outdoor enthusiast a gift that's always in style, never the wrong size or color, and useable every day of the year? Go to any Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional office around the state and buy them a gift certificate for a 2008 hunting and fishing license. They make good stocking stuffers… more

New Year Means New Rules For Ririe Reservoir

| idfg-nnokkentved

Ever since 1995, the winter fishery at Ririe Reservoir has been restricted to fishing through the ice only, but all that is about to change thanks to rules that take effect on January 1, 2008. Often, anglers complain that Idaho Fish and Game never listens to them, but the recent streak of nearly iceless winters… more

Ask Fish and Game: Ice Fishing

| idfg-mcoleman

Q. Is there enough ice for ice fishing yet anywhere? A. Yes. Many reservoirs are now ice-covered. Some have enough for ice fishing. Though all reservoirs but one in the Southeast Region have ice, they may not all be safe yet for ice fishing. Ice also is expected to be thick enough soon for ice fishing on Cascade… more

Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

| idfg-staff

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I heard a couple of guys talking about pheasant hunting and observed some hen pheasants they had taken. Isn't it unlawful to kill hens?" Answer: Generally you are correct, hen pheasants are protected. To hunt and kill wild hen pheasants would be a… more

Chlorine Leak Kills Fish in Grace Hatchery

| idfg-nnokkentved

About 200,000 young rainbow trout were killed Tuesday afternoon, December 11, at the Idaho Fish and Game hatchery in Grace when a chlorine pipe began to leak. Hatchery manager Phil Coonts was disinfecting vats during routine cleanup, when a standpipe began leaking chlorine. The chlorine flowed into the large raceways… more

Fish and Game Seeks Comments on Mule Deer Plan

| idfg-nnokkentved

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is soliciting public comment on the draft Idaho Mule Deer Management Plan. Fish and Game biologists will be available at the Pocatello office to answer questions and take comments on the plan from noon to 7 p.m. on December 18. Public comments will be incorporated into a final… more

Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

| idfg-staff

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "My son is going to college in another state and will be home for the holidays. I would like to purchase his hunting license for a Christmas gift. Is he a resident or nonresident?" Answer: Your son's residency status may be either resident or nonresident… more

Counting Big Game

| idfg-mcoleman

By Jon Rachael, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Wildlife biologists from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will soon take to the skies to assess the size and health of big game herds in a number of areas across southern Idaho. We try to estimate deer and elk numbers in most zones about every three to four… more