Frequently Asked Questions

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  Provided you are on the water and your boat isn't tied to the Oregon shore while you are fishing - all you need is an Idaho fishing license.  Idaho has a reciprocical agreement with Oregon stating we recognize these reservoirs as being jointly managed and for the benefit of Idaho and Oregon's fishermen. As such, they can be fished with either an Idaho or Oregon fishing license.

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We do allow a spouse to purchase a license for a spouse. Please obtain a photocopy of his valid Idaho driver's license and bring that in when you come to purchase his license.

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The rule that requires hunters to either pick applying for a trophy species (moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep) or deer, elk, and pronghorn was implemented to improve drawing odds for moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep.  By reducing the number of people that apply for any one species, the better chance an individual has to draw.  Allowing everybody to apply for any and all species would reduce everybody's chance of drawing any given species..  While drawing odds for any of the trophy species are relatively difficult, Idaho is often reported as having some of the best odds of drawing in the west for one of these species. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission did review potential changes to the controlled hunt system a few years ago, but were primarily focused on addressing what could be done to improve drawing odds, including the option of only allowing an individual to apply for 1 species.  Ultimately, the Commission did not make any changes in part due to the wide diversity of opinions held by sportsmen over what type of controlled hunt drawing system was desired.  

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Here is some information from our trophy proclamation booklets: Any person who has killed a California bighorn ram or Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, on any controlled hunt in Idaho may not apply for a tag for the same species, except any person who has killed a California bighorn ram south of Interstate Highway 84 since 1974 and is otherwise eligible, may apply for a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram tag for any hunt north of Interstate Highway 84. Any person, who has killed a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram north of Interstate Highway 84 since 1974 and is otherwise eligible, may apply for a California bighorn ram tag for any hunt south of Interstate highway 84. No person applying for a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep controlled hunt as a first choice shall apply for a California bighorn sheep controlled hunt as a second choice. No person shall apply for both a Rocky Mountain and a California bighorn hunt the same year. Please contact our wildlife bureau if you have additional questions about bighorn sheep eligibility rules.

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I'm glad you mention LEGAL ground squirrels and rock chucks.  Idaho does have ground squirrels that cannot be hunted, see page 48 of our 2014 and 2015 Upland Bame, Furbearer & Turkey Seasons and Rules.  You need a hunting license to hunt any of the wildlife in the Idaho.  If you are a nonresident ther is a Nongame Hunting license availabel at a reduced price that can be used to hunt ground squirrels and marmots.   It is unlawful to take any wildlife without a valid hunting license, or without required tags or permit in possession. No tag or permit is required to hunt ground squirrels or marmots.  Please pay attention to where you are hunting and make sure you have permission to hunt on private land. 

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If your son has completed all the necessary requirements and is certified in hunter education, but he has never purchased a hunting license in any state before, Idaho's Hunting Passport is a great option.  If he has purchased a license before in any state, he is ineligible to purchase a Hunting Passport and would need to purchase a Junior Mentored Hunting license.      The 2015 seasons and rules brochure for moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep brochure is currently available. The big game brochure, with deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain lion, wolf and black bear seasons, is scheduled to ship the week of April 15. Upland game, furbearers and turkey was printed last year and is good through 2015. The fishing brochure is also good through 2015, so hang on to your copy. Waterfowl rules are due to ship the week of September 15. While these are scheduled shipping dates, they may vary slightly. All seasons and rules brochures will be available on Fish and Game's website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov the week before arriving at Fish and Game offices and license vendors. Good luck this fall.   

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Thanks for your interest in fishing around Menan.  The Butte Slough is not a waterbody we have sampeld before, so we have no information on what's in there.  I would guess that some fish are present, though.  My best guess would be that there are some chubs and minnnows in there, but possibly bullhead catfish or even perch.  If you decide to fish it, let me know what you find.   Dan Garren Regional Fisheries Manager 208-525-7290

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You can catch all you want - but you can only keep 6 Grayling from Horseshoe Lake.

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No it is illegal to shoot the black birds in your back yard, it sounds like you need to get a different type bird feeder, try a finch feeder or a tube feeder, those feeder types have smaller holes where as the bigger birds cannot get at the food source as easily.

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It means you cannot track collared big game animals for the purposes of hunting. There are not limitations on ground to ground communication with other hunters via handheld radio or GPS.

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Because snow geese are migratory game birds, the federal governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, under the authorities of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, are ultimately responsible for their protection and conservation in North America. In the United States, this responsibility has largely been delegated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Pacific Flyway Council cooperates with the USFWS to develop regulations for migratory birds in the United States west of the Continental Divide. Both organizations consider the welfare of migratory bird populations first, and then public demands for recreation and subsistence harvest, and other uses. The USFWS sets migratory game bird hunting regulations by establishing the frameworks, or outside limits, for season lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting. The total length of the light (Snow and Ross’s) goose season cannot exceed 107 days. The existing framework established by the USFWS currently allows for light goose hunting until 10 March in the Pacific Flyway; therefore, the March 10 closure is the latest date allowed as per the Federal Framework.  Furthermore, the most recent (2013) Pacific Flyway Management Plan for Western Arctic Population Lesser Snow Geese states the following: “Seek an overabundant designation for WAP lesser snow geese and implementation of Conservation Order seasons in Canada and the United States, or implementation of direct control on the primary breeding colony on Banks Island if the 2013 photo inventory indicates population growth.” The 2013 Banks Island photo inventory did NOT indicate population growth. As a result, an “overabundant” designation has not been sought in the Pacific Flyway to date. However, a banding program was initiated on Banks Island during July 2015 and has been funded through 2019. Results from this work will help to better inform light goose management in the Pacific Flyway in the future.  It is important to note that snow goose seasons in the Pacific Flyway are not similar to the “Conservation" seasons in the Midwest. Snow geese in the Central and Mississippi flyways are from the Mid-continent breeding population, and have been designated as “overabundant” due to extensive damage to their arctic tundra breeding grounds. In an effort to provide hunting opportunity for snow geese in Idaho, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will continue to recommend a light goose season that closes as late as possible under the Federal Framework.