Frequently Asked Questions

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You can exchange a B elk tag for an A elk tag as long as the season on the B tag has not yet started.   The exchange can only be done at one of our Idaho Fish & Game Regional Offices or our Headquarters Office in Boise.

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Yes, we have a blue tongue or EHD outbreak in the Clearwater Region that will last until the first heavy frosts.  You can read more about it on our website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/media/viewNewsRelease.cfm?newsID=7890 

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No, it is not legal to shoot across a road on the WMA. However, if you check out the WMA Map at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/wma/ , you may note that many of the "roads" you observe on Fort Boise WMA are actually designated as walking trails.  You should be able to hunt the area without shooting across a public road.

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Idaho is blessed with many backcountry elk hunting spots and many big game units with few roads or motorized traffic allowed.  Wilderness hunts provide hunters the opportunity to get away from road hunters.  Archery hunters like to hunt during archery only seasons typically so the largest contiguous wilderness in the lower 48 states would be considered non huntable because the September hunt allows rifles.  You didn't mention you wanted to hunt on public land though that is a given for most hunters.  If however you want to hunt on private land, many large landowners are very selective about who they allow hunting on their property, thus providing great conditions and low crowding.  You might consider ranch lands in the Lemhi, Beaverhead, Salmon, or Pioneer zones that have many elk but lots of private land.  That will require some ground work getting permission however.  People that want to hunt on public land have to share with other hunters unfortunately.  The good thing though is that most hunters don't stray too far from roads even during archery season.  If someone wishes to walk and camp away from trailheads, most units provide very low traffic areas.  You didn't mention which elk zone you have been hunting in but I would bet you could find areas with low pressure there too.  The problem with archery hunting is everyone bugles and cow calls and it sounds like the woods are full of people, thus detracting from the experience for the solitude seeking hunter.  Just look for the holes that nobody wants to go to away from roads and trails, or the hanging basins half way up a mountain if you want to find elk that haven't been pressured.  They disappear after getting hunted into these hard to get places as you probably know.  If you are willing to work for it, you can find solitude even in heavily hunted zones.  You might do some homework on our website looking at hunter success and number of hunters in a zone then call the regional office for better information on the zone or unit you are exploring.  Good luck!

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The Department knows about this issue with the hunting passport and has taken steps to address the issue. New rules have been proposed by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to address the nine (9) year olds but those rules must be approved by the Idaho legislature in its next session. Information about the proposed rule changes can be found at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/commission/2015/05_May/Minutes_May_19.pdf. Thanks.

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Great question, please follow me through to the end.  Page 95 in the Big game rules states:  It is unlawful to shoot from or across the traveled portion, shoulders or embankments of any road maintained by any government entity.  The rule is under Chapter 15 of the Idaho Code: Public Safety section.  No distinction is made for open or closed roads, only that they are public-----even closed roads are used by many to acess areas, and are a public safety concern---- so following the letter of the law the answer is No.   -------Obviously, the totality of the individual circumstance will guide an officer's discretion in working with any violations... with safety being the primary concern---- Stay Safe and Good Luck Hunting

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It is legal to hunt in Idaho with a suppressor. Keep in mind that there is a federal permit required to possess a suppressor in Idaho and the weight of your weapon must stay under 16 lbs.

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Please review the Disabled Hunter Companion Rules at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/?getPage=356 and then give us a call at 208-334-3700 if you need further assistance. Thank you.

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All hunters must have a valid Idaho hunting license and the appropriate tags or permits in their possession while hunting. See our seasons and rules section for more information and rules regarding hunter education.

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There are a number of variables that effect when salmon and steelhead arrive in the Stanley Basin.  Flow, temperature and downstream fish passage conditions are the most common environmental conditions that can alter arrival by 2 - 3 weeks. The Stanley area has both spring and summer run Chinook.  They typically don't arrive until mid-July.  There are few Stanley Basin steelhead and no fishing open above the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery.  Most steelhead begin arriving in mid to late October in the Salmon/Challis area and will stage in the main Salmon River over the winter and move into the tributary streams in March and early April to spawn.   It is illegal to fish for salmon and steelhead when the area is not open for those species.  That includes catch-and-release fishing.    Chinook salmon and steelhead do not use those upper basin lakes.  The only anadromous fish found are sockeye which need the lakes for an important part of their lifecycle.  Hopefully, we will have a sockeye fishery in Idaho wtihin the next 10 years on hatchery produced fish.

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Bass were illegally introduced into Treasureton Reservoir. "Bucket" biologists are a serious problem in Idaho.  They not only effect some our most important fisheries, they endanger native fish in some lake and river systems.  This has a huge impact from a dollars and cents perspective.  Lost revenue to the local economy and cost anglers in lost opportunity and fishery renovation costs can be in excess of $1,000,000 (e.g. Horsethief Reservoir fishery, which is being treated in 2015, generates over $4.5 million annually in revenue).  We poison several waters each year to remove undesirable fish species and restore appropriate fish populations.  In 2015, we are renovating Horsethief Reservoir, Hagerman Wildlife Management Area and Soldiers Meadows Reservoir at a cost to anglers of almost $50,000.