Fall Chinook season will be considered by the Commission at its July 22-23 meeting.
On Friday, July 10, all resident capped elk zone tags, except for the Sawtooth Zone, went on sale at Fish and Game offices, license vendors, with a credit card at Fish and Game’s online vendor, or by calling (800) 554-8685. Resident Sawtooth Zone A and B elk tags also went on sale, with half…
Chinook angler effort on the upper Salmon River increased over July 4 weekend. Once again, the majority of anglers were observed fishing downstream of the Yankee Fork Salmon River confluence, but effort also increased upstream of Stanley, near the Sawtooth Hatchery.
Located along the Snake River, about two miles west of Shelley, this 12 acre fishing pond bears the community namesake. The pond has traditionally provided some limited fishing opportunity when fish are entrained during high spring runoff, but has not received a consistent supply of fish over time.
Salmon and steelhead are famous for their amazing migrations, but trout and char can pull off some pretty impressive migrations as well.
A new law that takes effect July 1 reduces the archery and muzzleloader permit fees specifically for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Only holders of Disabled American Veteran licenses are eligible for the discounted permits.
The 2020 Upper Salmon River Chinook fishery opened Friday, June 26.
Winners in the first of two Idaho Super Hunt drawings have been picked. (Second drawing runs through Aug. 10)
July is a popular month for anglers and F&G provides lots of fish.
The new fees for both permit types are $3.75 for resident and $5.75 for nonresident DAV license holders.
Resident hunters wanting to purchase a general season elk tag in a capped zone will need to keep two dates in mind in July.
Recently, Fish and Game hatcheries have received numerous calls about visitation hours and tours. Hatchery staff want to remind people that in response to COVID-19, all hatcheries remain closed to visitors for the safety of staff and the public, and they will remain closed to visitors until …
The backcountry lets you get off the beaten path and find great fishing.
Idaho Fish and Game has closed the Chinook salmon fishing season on the Lower Salmon River effective June 17, and the Little Salmon River effective at the end of fishing hours on June 20.
Results of the deer, elk, pronghorn, fall black bear and turkey controlled hunt drawings are available online and applicants who provided an email address will receive notification of their draw results. Hunters who drew a controlled hunt must purchase the tag by Aug. 1 or it will be forfeited.
Control actions are intended to boost elk herds, and have taken place in eight of the last nine years. Idaho Fish and Game has concluded wolf control actions done during February that removed 17 wolves in the Lolo elk zone north of Highway 12. Similar control actions have taken place in eigh…
After a relatively mild winter, statewide survival of radio-collared mule deer fawns and elk calves was above average through the end of May, the final month of Fish and Game’s monitoring period.
An expanding new partnership with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is increasing hunter and angler access on National Forest System lands in north-central Idaho.
Congratulations to Mark Randolph of Ahsahka, Idaho for reeling in the latest catch-and-release state record fish. He was fishing Deer Creek Reservoir when he landed the 21-inch tiger trout on May 9. The fish easily passed the previous record of 17 inches, set in 2017.
The Idaho migratory game bird hunting brochure for 2020 and 2021 seasons is now available online on Fish and Game’s website. This brochure contains seasons and rules information for waterfowl (ducks and geese) and also includes information for doves, crow, and sandhill crane.
Kokanee provide some great fishing opportunities across Idaho and can provide lots of action and a great-tasting fish, but they’re a little different than many other Idaho game fish.
Idaho Fish and Game is launching a negotiated rulemaking process and wants to hear from the public concerning nine proposed rule changes. The comment period opened on June 3, and runs through June 26.
Scott Turner of Boise with a 32-inch Channel Catfish from the Snake River, caught May 16.
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests officials will not be hosting any events this year for Idaho’s Free Fishing Day in compliance with the State of Idaho Stay Healthy Order and U.S. Department of Agriculture policies.
When people think of kokanee fishing, many envision big boats with state-of-the-art electronics and multiple downriggers. For anglers who haven’t fished for kokanee before, but are interested in trying, this perception can make the barrier to entry seem expensive.
Fish and Game is seeking to enroll new properties in its Access Yes! Program, which improves public access to private land or through private land by compensating willing landowners who provide access.
Spring is when rainbow trout spawn in Idaho’s rivers and streams, driven by increasing daylight and water temperatures.
Whitewater rafting and jet boating season is here on the Lower Salmon River! To help make the most of your river adventures, the Bureau of Land Management’s Cottonwood Field Office offers a boater guide for the 112-mile segment from Vinegar Creek to the confluence of the Snake River, as well…
First of two Super Hunt drawing deadlines is May 31.
Idaho Fish and Game has closed Chinook fishing in the Clearwater River system, and will end fishing on portions of the Salmon River and the Little Salmon River on May 17. Fishing days per week will also be reduced after May 17 on sections of Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers that remain open.
As the water heats up, so does the catch rates at most of our local lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Despite COVID-19, Idaho Fish and Game continues to stock the same locations in the Clearwater Region that have traditionally received fish. Check the historical fish stocking page for more infor…
Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved resuming sales of nonresident licenses, tags and permits, which will be available for sale at 10 a.m. M.D.T. on May 16. The decision was aligned with Governor Brad Little’s revised guidance for Stage 2 of Idaho Rebounds, which includes relaxing the 14-…
Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is a tool used to expand limited federal capacity to plan and implement forest, rangeland, and watershed projects by facilitating partnerships with state agencies. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests (NPCNF)…
While many things have changed in recent months as a result of COVID-19, one thing that has remained relatively unchanged is Idaho Fish and Game continues to stock fish throughout the state. Spring and early summer are typically when stocking peaks, and this year is no exception.
Spring is here, and so is the peak of baby wildlife season. People are bound to see young wildlife when they venture outdoors during the spring and early summer, and there is a pretty good chance that they will see a baby animal that appears to be alone, with mom nowhere in sight.
In 2019, Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) started a multi-year research project in north Idaho to better understand how different big game species influence each other and how wildlife management activities (like harvest levels) influence those interactions. White-tailed deer are the most abundant…
Due to COVID-19, nonresidents can only purchase nonresident Sawtooth Zone elk tags through F&G’s licensing website on May 11, beginning at 10 a.m online.
Offices may be able to reopen for some services after May 15.
A $300 reward is available for information that leads to a citation.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet via teleconference at 9 a.m. (MDT) Thursday, May 14.
Fresh grizzly bear tracks were confirmed by a Fish and Game conservation officer in the Fish Creek Meadows winter recreation area about seven miles south of Grangeville on April 18.
At its March 20 meeting, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission established a five-day waiting period to purchase capped elk zone tags for any resident who applies for a controlled elk hunt regardless of whether the person draws the controlled hunt tag. Capped elk zone tags go on sale in July.
Statewide winter survival of radio-collared mule deer fawns and elk calves was above average through the end of March, and Fish and Game officials are optimistic that those numbers will continue on their current trajectory through the end of the monitoring period on June 1.
As steelhead fishing begins to wrap up for this spring, we wanted to provide an update on the University of Idaho steelhead catch-and-release study. Like many things, the study has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tagging that was occurring at Lower Granite Dam had to end sooner tha…
The PIT (passive integrated transponders) tag is a wonderful little tool that allows fish managers and biologists to understand things about fish that were once very difficult to determine. By PIT tagging anadromous fishes such as salmon and steelhead early in their life, we can now easily a…
Taking the dangers of COVID-19 seriously and going fishing are not mutually exclusive, and in Idaho, most people can fish close to home. COVID-19 has created many challenges for Idahoans, but fortunately, we don’t have to stop fishing during beautiful spring weather.
Congratulations to Sawyer Livesey of Post Falls, Idaho on setting a new catch/release record for Bull Trout. Sawyer caught the monster while fishing the Kootenai River near Bonner’s Ferry on April 8.
Every year, a few hunters return and exchange their general season elk tag. Often the returned tags are highly sought-after tags, so Fish and Game has identified a more consistent and transparent way of handling them:
F&G Commission in March established a five-day wait period for capped elk tag buyers who applied for an elk controlled hunt
Hunters can get a chance to hunt big game in the spring with the opener of black bear hunting season on Wednesday, April 15 (some hunting units opened April 1).
A report from a concerned citizen prompted an investigation into several elk carcasses that were discovered within a Fish and Game stack yard in the Indian Fork portion of Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area this spring. It was determined that sometime during the winter months the elk busted …
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