Press Releases and Articles
Bear activity is picking up, taking precautions at camp and home can help avoid problems
| idfg-mdemick
While it is exciting to see a bear in the wild, it isn’t so wonderful to have one in your campsite or trashing your cabin barbeque at midnight.
Most conflicts with bears occur from July through September and are linked to careless handling of food and garbage. With thousands of campers, anglers,… more
F&G biologists studying how environmental conditions and C.J. Strike sturgeon fishery interact
| idfg-bpearson
After a concerning number of dead sturgeon washed up in a stretch of C.J. Strike Reservoir in late summer 2022 amid abnormally low oxygen levels and high water temperatures, Fish and Game issued a temporary conservation closure for sturgeon fishing. By themselves, the environmental conditions in 2022 approached – and… more
Fish salvage order issued for Mormon Reservoir
| idfg-tthompson
The Magic Valley Regional Office of Fish and Game has been monitoring the water level and temperatures at different locations within the region and have found water conditions in Mormon Reservoir are no longer suitable for fish survival. In response, a fish salvage order is now in place for Mormon Reservoir. … more
Prescribed fires near Challis and Mackay may affect hunters
| idfg-mdemick
Hunters planning to hunt in Wino Basin near Challis and the Cedar and Cabin Creek areas near Mackay should beware of prescribed fires planned for this fall.
According to Salmon-Challis Forest Service officials, the purpose is to improve forest health and wildlife habitat and to reduce risk of large… more
Looking for fish particles? A different tool for finding rare native fishes in Idaho.
| idfg-bbowersox
If you look over IDFG news releases and blogs you can get a pretty good idea of the tools we use to survey Idaho’s fish populations. We often use traps, nets, electrofishing, and anglers to collect information used to make management decisions. But this field season, we’ve partnered with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky… more
Smallmouth Bassin’ in Ririe Reservoir
| idfg-jheckel
When some anglers think of Ririe Reservoir they may picture limits of silvery kokanee or Yellow Perch fish fries, but there’s another fishy critter that can provide hours of entertainment at the end of your line, Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu. Not only are Smallmouth Bass abundant and fun to catch in Ririe… more
Range grant application period is open; deadline is Nov. 1
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game enhances recreational shooting ranges through its Shooting Range Development Grant program to assist organizations or agencies to establish, upgrade, expand or otherwise improve public firearms and archery ranges in Idaho. The department expects to award more than $550,… more
Hunters beware: prescribed fires in the Salmon-Challis National Forest could affect hunts
| idfg-jbrower
Challis and Mackay, Idaho- August 15, 2023- The South Zone of the Salmon-Challis National Forest may implement prescribed burning projects on the Challis-Yankee Fork and Lost River Ranger Districts. Prescribed fire activity is highly weather dependent. As areas come into favorable prescribed fire… more
An alarming discovery on the banks of the Salmon River?
| idfg-jdupont
First smallmouth bass, then walleye, and now SALMON SHARKS! When are our salmon and steelhead going to catch a break? That’s right, you read correctly, salmon sharks! Calls and e-mail came pouring in yesterday claiming they found a shark washed up on the shores of the Salmon River near Riggins. With… more
New 3-D youth archery range set to open at the 2023 North Idaho State Fair Aug. 18-27
| idfg-tjross
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game in the Panhandle Region is excited to announce the grand opening of its new 3-D youth archery range at the North Idaho State Fairground!
Walleye are spreading into Idaho
| idfg-mdobos
Idaho Fish and Game has received more verified reports and pictures from people catching walleye in the Hells Canyon reach of the Snake River and Salmon River in 2023 than in all previous years. It is alarming to receive so many reports of walleye being caught upstream of Lower Granite Dam, and unfortunately there are… more
Idaho Fish and Game surveys trophy trout waters in the Southeast Region
| idfg-cnau
What do Daniels Reservoir, Treasureton Reservoir, Springfield Lake, and Twentyfour Mile Reservoir have in common? Idaho Fish and Game manages them as trophy trout waters in the Southeast Region which means:
Trout limit is 2, none under 20 inches One line only when ice fishing No bait allowed, barbless hooks… more
Instructor-led hunter education courses coming up in Southwest Idaho in August and September
| idfg-bpearson
Southwest Idaho currently has 14 instructor-led courses slated to start in August or September, with more to come. Among the upcoming offerings in the Southwest Region are Hunter Education Certification, Hunter & Bowhunter (Combo) Education Certification, Trapper Education Certification, and Wolf Trapper… more
F&G Commission awards $100K to groups for conservation and recreation projects
| idfg-rphillips
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently awarded $100,000 to help support projects that enhance fish and wildlife habitat, populations or benefit recreational opportunities associated with hunting, fishing, trapping and other wildlife recreation.
Grants went to the following organizations throughout the state… more
Register now for Fish and Game’s Learn to Hunt and Fish youth camp in Blackfoot
| idfg-jjackson
Do you have bored kids at home looking for something to do during the day? Perhaps your child needs a hunter or bowhunter education class to participate in hunts this fall? Or, maybe you know a youth who wants to learn to fish? Well, we may just have a solution for you!
The Idaho Fish and Game’s… more
What is a redd? Salmon keep cleaning out a 'nest' for spawning
| idfg-tcopeland
That’s right- redd with two Ds. Another funny word that fish biologists use. In this blog post, I am talking about the nest where salmon, trout and steelhead lay their eggs in the gravel of a stream.
Every August and September in central Idaho’s high country, the returning salmon start cleaning their… more
Deadline for second Super Hunt drawing is Aug. 10
| idfg-rphillips
Deadline for the second Super Hunt drawing is Aug. 10. The second Super Hunt drawing will include tags for two elk, two deer, two pronghorn and one moose hunt. A Super Hunt Combo that includes one tag for each of those species will also be drawn. All winners will be notified in mid-August.
Super Hunt winners… more
Resident hunters can now buy nonresident elk tags as second tags
| idfg-rphillips
Fish and Game has about 500 nonresident elk tags remaining after recent tag returns, and residents can buy a tag from the nonresident quota as a second tag.
Tags available can be found on the nonresident elk tag webpage.
Nonresident limits for uncapped elk zones do not apply to nonresident… more