Frequently Asked Questions
We get a lot of questions. We post here answers to questions we're being asked frequently. If you have a question not answered here, please contact us. Urgent questions should be directed to your nearest office. Some answers change over time; please take note of the "answered" date.
Displaying 3451 - 3475 of 3534 questionsA:
Many hunters make the mistake of thinking they can use salt water, for example, to attract deer or elk. Whether you can "see" an attractant or not is irrelevant. The regulation states it is unlawful to hunt "any game animal/bird by means of baiting with grain, salt in any form (liquid or solid), or any other substance (except liquid scents) to constitute an attraction or enticement, with the exception of applicable rules for the black bear baiting permit. The phrase "except liquid scents" DOES mean you can use items such as commercial deer scent, such as BUCKRUT or DOE-IN-HEAT. These are smell attractants to be distinguished from food items.answered 9/16/2001
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Although feral swine have been detected in areas of Idaho in the past, there has not been any verified evidence of their continued presence since early 2011. Nonetheless, feral swine pose a serious threat to habitat and native wildlife and Fish and Game fully supports the "Squeal on Pigs" campaign administered in Idaho by the State Department of Agriculture. Anybody seeing feral swine are encouraged to report sightings to the "Squeal on Pigs" hotline number [1-888-268-9219].answered 9/9/2001
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You can take a gun to shoot a bear. Just remember not to shoot your deer or elk with the gun. You would be wise to leave your bow in camp when carrying a gun for bear. Otherwise, your fellow archers are likely to report you for hunting with a gun during an archery hunt, not realizing that you are out for bear.answered 9/3/2001
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Fees were increased last year, at the same time that the legislation authorizing the upland game and waterfowl stamps expired. Fish and Game decided not to try to renew the stamp legislation, but instead will fund those habitat programs out of the general fee increase. Bottom line: You only need a state permit validation for sage and/or sharptail grouse ($1.50). You need a WMA pheasant permit ($21.50) if you are 17 or older and want to hunt pheasants on the Wildlife Management Areas where pheasants are stocked. You need a federal duck stamp to hunt waterfowl and a federal Harvest Information Program validation ($1.50) to hunt any migratory bird, including doves.answered 8/26/2001
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Yes, unsold nonresident deer and elk tags will be made available to residents beginning September 1. They will be sold at nonresident prices.answered 8/20/2001
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Yes, for deer, elk and antelope hunters the report is required. As well as mail, there are plans for phone, fax and internet reporting. We'll keep you posted as numbers and addresses are secured.answered 8/12/2001
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Yes.You can exchange it for one in another zone at a Fish and Game office, for $3.50. One exchange is allowed. The deadline is Aug. 29, or earlier if the season in your zone opens earlier. If the new zone has a quota, there have to be tags available for you to exchange.answered 8/6/2001
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On the Fish and Game web site, www.state.id.us/fishgame, select "Fishing" then "fish stocking." The next page will give you a link to information about where fish will be stocked this year, another to stocking history, and one to hatchery information. In the stocking history page, you can select a search by species, the name of the stream or lake, the county or the hatchery.answered 7/29/2001
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Traditional muzzleloaders are those with external hammers, cap or flint, flowable powder or synthetic, iron sights, and patched round balls 50 caliber or larger. During traditional muzzleloader hunts motor vehicles can be used only on public highways and improved highways which are open to public use. There are three traditional hunts this year for elk. One is in the Beaverhead Zone, one in the Boise River Zone and one in the Bannock Zone. See pages 35, 37 and 39 in the big game rules for details. A controlled antelope hunt in Unit 47 is also traditional muzzleloader.answered 7/22/2001
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Idaho Code provides that the commissioners be paid $50 per day when they work on Fish and Game business, plus expenses, out of the Fish and Game account.answered 7/15/2001
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Sandhill crane hunting is by controlled hunt only. You need to apply by July 15 at any vendor or Fish and Game office. The standard $6.50 application fee is required.answered 7/8/2001
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An angler with an Idaho license cannot tie up a boat to the Oregon shore while fishing nor fish while wading from the Oregon shore. If you anchor in a shallow spot, fish from the boat, don't get out and wade.answered 7/1/2001
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You can put in your boat anywhere, regardless of what state's license is on it, the trailer, or your vehicle. With your Idaho fishing license you can fish from the shore on the Idaho side, or any of the water from a boat, except sloughs and tributaries on the Oregon side. The Powder River inlet on the Oregon side is an example of a tributary that requires an Oregon license. These rules apply anywhere on the Snake River between Idaho, Oregon and Washington. An Oregon or Washington license holder has the same rights and restrictions on the Idaho side. You can only keep the limit of fish allowed by one license, even if you have licenses for more than one state. There is a short segment of the Snake upstream of its confluence with the Boise River that is entirely within Oregon. On that stretch of the river, an Oregon license is required.answered 6/24/2001
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The non-profit Citizens Against Poaching can offer a reward for information that leads to a citation. You can report a wildlife crime at 1-800-632-5999. You can remain anonymous, and will be eligible for a reward in the event of a citation being issued based on your information. When you apply for controlled hunt drawings, you can direct one dollar of the fee to CAP. This is not an extra dollar, but just directs Fish and Game to give one dollar of the fee to CAP.answered 6/17/2001
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You can report a wildlife crime at 1-800-632-5999. You can remain anonymous, and will be eligible for a reward in the event of a conviction based on your information. This service is funded by Citizens Against Poaching, a non-profit corporation. When hunters apply for controlled hunt drawings, they have the opportunity to direct one dollar of the fee to CAP.answered 6/10/2001
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So far this year Fish and Game has sold 33,917 salmon permits. Of those, 15,514 are part of the "Sportsman's Package" multi-permit license. We don't know how many of them are using the salmon permit that comes with the package, but even if none of them were using the permit, that would still leave 18,403 salmon anglers. Thursday, May 31, was a big day, with 700 permits sold that day alone. We'll compile a better estimate of anglers after the seasons.answered 6/3/2001
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If you want the results for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat, you will be notified by mail no later than June 10, only if you drew. You can check on the Fish and Game web site by entering your hunting license number, and find out either way. The lookup page on the web site is: http://www2.state.id.us/fishgame/hunt/ch/chdresults.htmIf you want the results for deer, elk, antelope and fall black bear drawings, you will be notified by mail no later than July 10, only if you drew. You can also check this on the Fish and Game website by entering your hunting license number, and find out either way. For this drawing you can also call a 900 number at a charge of 75 cents per minute. The number is 1-900-896-3729.answered 5/28/2001
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Applications must be postmarked by May 31 if sent by mail. They are due no later than May 31 if delivered in person, by telephone, or via the internet.In addition to the cost of the hunting license, there is a non-refundable application fee of $6.50 per applicant per species. Results will be available by July 10.answered 5/17/2001
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Technically the brook trout is a char, more closely related to bull trout than to rainbows or cutthroats. They are not a native species in Idaho. The limit is high because brook trout are very prolific and tend to out-compete and interbreed with the other trout species. Brook trout are a significant threat to fishing opportunity for native cutthroat trout and bull trout. They also tend to become stunted when over-crowded in lakes.answered 5/13/2001
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Yes, the limit is increased this year because of the size of the run. You can keep four per day and have eight in possession everywhere the season is open EXCEPT in the Snake River, where the limit is two per day and four in possession. You can record 20 salmon on your permit, and this year buy a second one for a total of 40. Remember, hatchery fish only!answered 4/30/2001
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The intent of the tag was to increase the harvest of cow elk without increasing the pressure on bulls. The questions we've heard are:Q. Do the "second" (cow) tags count in the total cap on tag sales for the zone?A. Yes, F&G will only sell 1551 A tags and 1636 B tags in the Middle Fork, and the total includes "second" tags.Q. Can I buy a tag in a zone other than the Middle Fork and buy a second tag for a Middle Fork zone cow?A. Yes.Q. Can I buy two Middle Fork tags?A. Yes. The second is good only for a cow.Q. Can I buy an elk tag and a second Middle Fork cow tag and a leftover nonresident tag?A. Yes, when the leftover nonresident tags go on sale September 1.answered 4/22/2001
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You can use it in any general hunt from May 10 to May 25.answered 4/15/2001
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You heard right. Every hunter who files the required report (this year it is required of both successful and unsuccessful hunters for deer, elk and antelope) within ten days of harvest or 10 days of the end of the season for which their tag was valid, will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 supertags. If you win, you still have to buy your tag, but it will be valid for any open deer, elk or antelope (you pick which) hunt in the state. You can go from hunt to hunt until you take an animal. You need to pick which species you want to hunt by May 1, so that you can go ahead and apply in the controlled hunt drawings for the others if you like. The original idea for the supertags was to make them free, but state law prohibits Fish and Game from giving away free licenses or tags.answered 4/8/2001
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The commission ruled that in a traditional hunt, primitive transportation is to be the only method. Hunters in these hunts agree to use motorized vehicles only on public highways or improved highways which are open to public use. According to Idaho Code section 36-202, "public highway" means the traveled portion of, and the shoulders on each side of, any road maintained by any governmental entity for public travel. "Motorized vehicle" means any water, land or air vehicle propelled by means of steam, petroleum products, electricity, or any other mechanical power. Code section 40-110 defines "improved highway" as a graded and drained earth traveled way or better. This means any dirt road (or better) if it has regular maintenance work, including grading and drainage.answered 4/1/2001
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Look for it around the third or last week of April. Because the Fish and Game Commission met later in March than usual to set the rules, the book will be printed later.answered 3/25/2001