In 1973, the department was reorganized, dividing the state into six regions and creating the position of state supervisor to manage the department.

The department was previously managed by a warden. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game was established by the Idaho Legislature in 1899. Due to COVID-19 related delays, $2 million that had been planned to be spent on that this year was shifted into next year’s work, increasing next year’s amount.The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is the Idaho state department which is responsible for preserving and managing Idaho's wildlife, including mammals, fish, birds, plants, and invertebrates. The increase includes the lease payoffs and $6 million in mitigation work related to the Albeni Falls Dam in North Idaho, funded by a negotiated settlement between the Bonneville Power Administration and the state of Idaho. The governor’s proposed budget for Fish & Game for next year reflects a 3.7% increase in total funds, with no general funds. “We’ll put all of our headquarters staff under the same roof for the first time in over 20 years, and demonstrate to sportsmen our commitment to fiscal responsibility.” When it opens in December, Fish & Game will have dropped from five locations in the Treasure Valley to two, Kline said. As a result, the agency’s Garden City location is no longer needed and is currently on the market for sale plans call to use the proceeds to pay off remaining leases of five regional offices, resulting in an ongoing budget savings of $500,000 a year into the future.įish & Game also is currently constructing a new headquarters building in Boise. I told them if they want to hunt Idaho game, they’d better move to Idaho.”įish & Game officials also noted substantial changes in the agency’s “footprint” in the Treasure Valley, with a new regional office that opened in Nampa consolidating an array of services previously located elsewhere with a “new facility more centrally located to better serve the people of the Treasure Valley,” Kline said. “And this year, I loved the complaints that I got, because I got a lot of complaints from friends of mine that live out of the state and were frustrated, because they couldn’t get online to get a tag, and they were very frustrated by the limited number of tags. “We get a lot of complaints about things that are happening in Fish & Game I think it’s a topic that raises the blood pressure for a lot of folks,” she said. Caroline Nilsson Troy, R-Genesee, praised the moves. “So far, revenue is coming in close to that original forecast,” he said. The nonresident fee increase was designed to be revenue-neutral, Kline said, selling fewer permits and tags at higher prices. The response by nonresidents demonstrated the fact that Idaho remains a destination for hunters due to the diversity and quality of opportunity that our resources provide.” “For the first time in our history, the department issued over 13,000 items, and sold almost $10 million in license permits and tags in one day. 1, when over 20,000 nonresidents logged into our new system to purchase a license and tag for the 2021 deer and elk hunting seasons,” Kline said. “The culmination of these efforts occurred on Dec. Also funded was a shift to a new license vendor. Last year, the Legislature approved a substantial nonresident fee increase for hunting and fishing.

Licensed outfitters in Idaho still were allocated a portion of nonresident tags, he said, equal to their historic use in each elk zone. “It will make a meaningful difference in hunter numbers and relieve crowding.” “The actions taken by the commission to limit nonresident participation to 10 or 15% of the total number of hunters will reduce nonresident participation in some of our general elk hunts by up to 50%,” Kline said. The way the state Fish & Game Commission has been dealing with that, he said, is to limit nonresidents, particularly in general deer and elk hunts. These concerns are larger than the reaction to short-term shelter in place orders, and related to Idaho’s population growth and the general popularity of hunting and fishing in our great state.” “However … it’s a balancing act, and the increased recreational use and participation presented challenges relating to crowding and congestion. “Fishing and hunting generally lend themselves to social distancing,” Kline said.

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