The Idaho Habitat Improvement Program

Habitat holds the key to the future of upland game and waterfowl in Idaho. Creating and improving habitat is the goal of Idaho Fish and Game's Habitat Improvement Program (HIP).

HIP applies to both public and private lands but Fish and Game recognizes the vital importance of private lands to Idaho's wildlife, especially to most upland game and many waterfowl populations. The program is designed primarily to help private landowners in their desire to improve their property to benefit game birds.

The HIP Objective
The HIP objective is to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners and public land managers who want to enhance upland game bird and waterfowl habitat.

Agriculture and Wildlife on Common Ground
When agriculture was pioneered in Idaho, farm communities wanted to enrich their lands and lives by bringing in non-native game birds, especially pheasant, gray partridge, and quail. Farming and these upland game populations grew up together. Early irrigation systems in arid areas often increased the numbers of native waterfowl as well.

But farming practices changed in the interest of greater efficiency in the last three decades and the quality of upland and waterfowl habitat has declined. Thousands of tracts including hedgerows, fencerows, windbreaks, and odd brushy areas were plowed for crop production. Wetlands that provided nesting for waterfowl and wintering areas for upland birds disappeared. Irrigation ditches providing weedy cover were lined with concrete, piped, or eliminated with the advent of sprinkler systems. Fortunately, landowner interest in creating or enhancing game bird habitat remains strong today and the HIP program can help them make the difference.