Ironically, it may have been the opposite weather that contributed to the lowest elk harvest since 2013. Warm fall weather with little precipitation often creates poor hunting conditions, but weather or not, the statewide elk harvest dropped nearly 2,400 animals compared to the prior year. But not all deer and elk harvests were down. White-tailed deer harvest had a modest bump—and the first increase in four years—signaling herds may be recovering from a large disease die-off in 2021.
From tags sales to season openers, there’s a lot happening in Idaho next month 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. Be sure to stay up to date on all Fish and Game happenings. Here are some important dates to help you plan for the month.
We asked our Fish and Game hatchery staff to boil down some of the most notable stocking highlights coming to your local fishery this April. Approximately 225,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout will be stocked throughout the state this month.
There’s an important backstory that helps explain the wild swings in kokanee fishing. Fish and Game biologists are constantly working with anglers to provide good kokanee fishing within the limitations of the fish’s life cycle and environmental conditions that drive them.
The changes include deer and pronghorn controlled hunts and landowner appreciation (LAP) hunts and converts either-sex deer hunts to antlerless and removes doe/fawn option in pronghorn hunts.
While the decision restricts how Fish and Game manages wolf trapping seasons, it does not affect other state management authorities to address wolf predation on livestock and backcountry elk herds and other objectives identified in Fish and Game’s Gray Wolf Management Plan.