F&G Commission closes fishing, hunting and trapping along portion of Snake River due to recent detection of quagga mussel larvae
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission met via conference call on Friday morning, Sept. 29 and voted to close fishing, hunting and trapping below the high-water mark of the Snake River around Twin Falls where quagga mussel larvae were detected. The closure will span approximately 23 miles of the Snake River, from the waterfall known as Twin Falls to the Highway 46 bridge, also known as Ken Curtis Bridge.
(VIDEO): Here’s what deer and elk hunting will look like in 2023
With general archery seasons wrapping up in most parts of the state and deer and elk rifle seasons just around the corner, here is some helpful information to help temper hunters’ expectations.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/video-heres-what-deer-and-elk-hunting-will-look-2023
Important dates to help plan your October
From tags sales to season openers, there’s a lot happening in Idaho during October that you should be aware of. Staying in the loop can be the difference between applying for that coveted controlled hunt tag and watching from the sidelines.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/important-dates-help-plan-your-october
Pheasant season opens Oct. 14 or Oct. 21 depending on the area
Pheasant season opens Oct. 14 in North Idaho and Oct. 21 in South and East Idaho. See area maps for opening dates on page 11 of the Idaho Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer seasons and rules. Fish and Game will stock nearly 30,000 pheasants this year at locations in every region of the state.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/pheasant-season-opens-oct-14-or-oct-21-depending-area
Statewide trout stocking highlights for October 2023
Many of Idaho’s lakes and ponds are soon going to be bolstered with Idaho Fish and Game stocking roughly 320,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout this October. Wondering if the stocking trucks are going to be backing up to your favorite fishing hole? We asked our Fish and Game hatchery staff to boil down some of the most notable stocking highlights coming to your local fishery this month.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/statewide-trout-stocking-highlights-october-2023
Hunters: Remember to allow up to 10 business days delivery time when ordering tags online or by phone
Fish and Game recommends allowing 10 business days for hunting tags to arrive. Licenses can be printed at home immediately after purchase, or synced to your GoOutdoorsIdaho mobile app.
Reminder about important changes to waterfowl seasons in the Panhandle
Hunters are reminded that season dates for Canada geese in Area 3 now include a split season. It is important for hunters to remember the Canada goose season will be closed for a 12-day period from Oct. 23–Nov. 3, opening again on Nov. 4. For more information, see page 9 in the 2023-24 Idaho Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Rules.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/reminder-about-important-changes-waterfowl-seasons-panhandle
F&G cancels Oct. 5 returned nonresident tag sale due to few tags and licensing system upgrades
Idaho Fish and Game has cancelled its returned nonresident tag sale scheduled for Oct. 5 due to few tags available and scheduled upgrades to the licensing system. The plan is to resume the returned tag sale scheduled for Oct. 19 and roll those few tags into that sale.
F&G provides millions of acres of access for hunting
Idaho Fish and Game provides a lot of access for sportsmen and women. Hunting season is here, and a question we commonly get is, “Where can I go hunting?” There’s a lot of good answers to that question in Idaho, starting with nearly two-thirds of the state is public land — and most of it is open for hunting.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/fg-provides-millions-acres-access-hunting
Sportsmen can enjoy vast amounts of cleared trails on Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area in North Idaho
During summer 2023 and in partnership with Idaho Panhandle National Forests and Montana Conservation Corp., Idaho Fish and Game successfully cleared 39 of the 50 miles of trails on the 32,000-acre Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area. The work was made possible by a grant from the Recreational Trails Program through Idaho Parks and Recreation.
Fishery biologists are being trained to see redd
This year, as in most others, Fish and Game fisheries biologists all met at Marsh Creek near Stanley for redd count training. These trainings are often a collaboration between state, tribal and federal agencies that are involved in protecting and managing threatened populations of Chinook salmon that return to Idaho to spawn.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/fishery-biologists-are-being-trained-see-redd
Fish and Game looking to collect teeth and jaws of white-tailed deer in units 1, 6, 8A and 10A
With archery seasons already underway and rifle seasons right around the corner, Idaho Fish and Game would like white-tailed deer hunters in Units 1, 6, 8A and 10A to consider donating the front teeth, or incisors, of their harvests. Teeth from harvested deer will provide information to help Fish and Game learn more about the age structure of white-tailed deer in northern Idaho.
Idaho, Utah fish and wildlife agencies to provide updates on Bear Lake fishery at public meeting on Oct. 17
Fisheries biologists from Idaho Fish and Game and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will share updates on the Bear Lake fishery, as well as work plans for 2024, at an upcoming public meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Garden City Convention Center’s Lakeside Room at 69 N. Parkway in Garden City, Utah.
Wolf trapper education class coming to Pocatello Oct. 7
Idaho Fish and Game is hosting a wolf trapper education class in Pocatello on Saturday, Oct. 7, and there is still space available. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Idaho Fish and Game Regional Office located at 1345 Barton Road in Pocatello.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/wolf-trapper-education-class-coming-pocatello-oct-7
Hunters: Be aware of possible prescribed burn in a portion of Unit 73 in October
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District in cooperation with Idaho Fish and Game will conduct a 264-acre prescribed burn in John Evans Canyon, 8 miles west of Malad in October.
Full story: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/hunters-be-aware-possible-prescribed-burn-portion-unit-73-october