Clearwater Region

Hunting seasons are here, and soon hunters will see Fish and Game check stations throughout the state. Remember that all hunters must stop at Fish and Game check stations, regardless of whether they’ve harvested game. 

Idaho Fish and Game will be lowering water levels on Moose Creek Reservoir over the next few weeks. The purpose of this project is to reduce the amount of aquatic vegetation that occurs in the reservoir. This will improve fishing and boating opportunities next year. The draw down works by exposing aquatic vegetation that is growing in shallow water and allowing it to freeze over winter.

Opening weekend hunter numbers were comparable to past years at the South Fork Clearwater check station near Mount Idaho. A total of 169 hunters visited the check station, compared to last season’s opening weekend visitation of 124 hunters. In 2016, check station hunter numbers were 176 on the first weekend of the season.

With steelhead harvest season opening Oct.15 on the Clearwater River, anglers are reminded that Idaho Fish and Game is continuing the one-fish bag limit for hatchery steelhead until Dec. 31 in order to continue reduced harvest on hatchery steelhead and protect wild steelhead. 

Pheasants will be released at both the Palouse River upland game area and Lloyd Ranch access site prior to the Oct. 6 through Oct.12 youth pheasant season. Birds will continue to be released throughout the general season Oct. 13 through Dec. 31.

Dworshak area hunters should be aware that the Idaho Fish and Game commission shortened the deer hunting season in Unit 10A for 2018. Whitetail hunting will end on Nov. 20 this year instead of the traditional date of Dec. 1. Commissioners also disallowed the use second, non-resident deer tags in unit 10A in an effort to reduce harvest.

Please don’t wait until the last minute to buy your hunting license and deer tags. Fish and Game is anticipating high volumes of sales immediately before the opening day of deer season on Oct. 10. Avoid the long lines and potential wait by buying your tags early.