Public Use of Hagerman WMA

A diverse and abundant assortment of wildlife awaits visitors to Hagerman WMA. Wildlife viewing and photography are accommodated in a variety of ways. A drive along the National Fish Hatchery Road offers a wonderful overview of Hagerman WMA. For a closer but casual look at waterfowl, drive to the U.S. Highway 30 rest area (see map) and walk a short distance to view ducks and geese on Anderson Pond. Picnic tables at the site allow visitors to view waterfowl while eating lunch.

West Pond, just north and across Highway 30 from the rest area, provides additional waterfowl and songbird viewing opportunities. A visitor parking area is located adjacent to the pond (west of the highway) to provide easy access.

For the more adventurous visitor, Hagerman WMA offers soft-surfaced walking trails. Just a short distance from the hatchery buildings, the Riley Creek Pond viewing blind offers the opportunity for an “up close” look at waterfowl. The trails winding around Oster Lakes allow visitors to view waterfowl, songbirds and other wildlife. The southern-most Oster Lake trail provides a panoramic view of the Snake River, Gridley Island and Hagerman Valley.

Upland game bird hunting is limited, with ring-necked pheasant, California quail and mourning dove providing infrequent hunting opportunities. Note that waterfowl hunting is prohibited near all hatchery residences and other WMA buildings.

A two-week late-winter trapping season is held each year to reduce muskrat populations and lessen damage to dikes, dams and spillways. Trapping is by controlled trapping permit only. Hagerman WMA is a popular site for anglers; rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bullheads and bluegill are common species found here. As many as 500 anglers can be seen casting a line in Hagerman WMA waters on opening day of general trout season. To help meet this demand, Hagerman State Fish Hatchery releases thousands of catchable-sized trout annually.

A visit to Haterman WMA would not be complete without a tour of Hagerman State Fish Hatcery, the Fish and Game’s largest resident trout production facility. Built in 1947 and funded through license monies, this hatchery produces more than four million fish each year. From March to October, rainbow trout of various strains and coho salmon are stocked in waters across the southern half of the state. Historically, tiger muskie, cutthroat trout, sturgeon, brown trout, largemouth bass, steelhead, and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids were reared at the hatchery and stocked throughout Idaho. A visitor information display provides more hatchery details and a show pond is available for viewing.

In addition, Hagerman National Hatchery, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is just up the road from Hagerman WMA. The USFWS hatchery’s viewing pools, visitor center and guided tour will enhance your visit to this special part of Idaho.