The daily limits, effective October 2 until further notice, for steelhead trout is five, of which no more than three may be 32 or more inches in total length. The possession limit is 15, no more than nine may be 32 or more inches long.

The statewide limits in the fall and spring seasons is 40 steelhead in each, but no more than 20 of those may be caught in the Clearwater River drainage in each season. Anglers who have a permit with reported harvest from the spring 2009 season may purchase a second permit to catch their fall season limit of 40 fish.

Fishery managers estimate the return of steelhead over Lower Granite Dam this fall will be considerably larger than the previous high return of about 250,000 fish in 2001. More than 155,000 fish in this large return will return are A-run hatchery fish destined for the Snake River, the Little Salmon River and in the Upper Salmon River.

Affected waters are:

· Snake River

o Washington-Idaho border to the Salmon River.

o Salmon River to Hells Canyon Dam.

· Salmon River

o Downstream from Whitebird Creek.

o Whitebird Creek to Little Salmon River.

o Little Salmon River to Vinegar Creek.

o Vinegar Creek to South Fork Salmon River.

o South Fork Salmon River to Middle Fork Salmon River.

o Middle Fork Salmon River to North Fork Salmon River.

o North Fork Salmon River to Lemhi River.

o Lemhi River to Pahsimeroi River.

o Pahsimeroi River to East Fork Salmon River.

o East Fork Salmon to Sawtooth Weir.

· Little Salmon River

In contrast to the abundant A-run returns, B-run steelhead returns to Idaho are lower than forecasted. Most of the harvestable hatchery B-run fish are destined for the Clearwater River drainage. The fall season limit in the Clearwater drainage will remain at 20 fish. The daily bag limit is two fish and the possession limit six.

All anglers must have a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit. Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar. All other steelhead must be released unharmed immediately.

Pheasant Hunt Opens in Southern and Eastern Idaho

The regular pheasant season opens in southern and eastern Idaho Areas 2 and 3 on Saturday, October 17.

The season opens in northern Idaho Area 1 on Saturday, October 10.

Waterfowl Season Opens Saturday

The waterfowl season opens Saturday October 10 in southwestern Idaho and the Magic Valley.

The season opened October 3 in northern and eastern Idaho.

This year, a 107-day fall season will open for Canada and greater white-fronted geese with a four-goose daily limit. In addition a two-part season for snow and Ross’ geese opens in the Southwest, Magic Valley and Southeast regions, with a 10-goose daily limit.

Waterfowl seasons are:

§ A 107-day season for Canada and white-fronted geese runs from October 3 through January 15, 2010, in northern and eastern Idaho; and runs from October 10 through January 22, 2010, in the southwestern part of the state.

o The daily bag limit is four geese and a possession limit of eight after the first day of the season.

§ A two-part season for snow and Ross’ geese runs from October 23 through January 15 and February 20 through March 10 in the Southeast Region and a portion of the Magic Valley Region; from October 30 through January 22 and from February 20 through March 10, 2010, in the Southwest and the majority of the Magic Valley regions.

o The daily bag limit is 10 geese, and a possession limit of 20 after the first day.

§ For most ducks, the season is 107 days, running from October 3 through January 15, 2010, in northern and eastern Idaho; and from October 10 through January 23, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.

§ For scaup, the shorter season runs from October 24 through January 15 in northern and eastern Idaho; and from October 31 through January 22, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.

§ The season re-opens for canvasbacks in 2009.

§ The daily bag limit is seven ducks; but no more than two female mallards, two redheads, three scaup, two pintails and one canvasback. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.

For the spring light goose season, some areas may be closed because of conflicts with wintering trumpeter swans and nesting Canada geese. Closures would be announced before the seasons open.

Hunters must have a valid 2009 Idaho hunting license, and any person 16 or older who hunts migratory game birds, such as ducks, geese or brant, must have in their possession a federal migratory bird stamp, at $17.75 and good from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. All waterfowl hunters also need a federal migratory game bird harvest information program validation, at $1.75, or $4.75 for nonresidents, and good from January 1 through December 31 of each year.

Only nontoxic shot may be used to hunt waterfowl. For additional details contact Idaho Fish and Game, the 2009 waterfowl brochure or visit the Web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/.

On opening day, shooting hours start one-half hour before sunrise in Area 1 and at noon in Areas 2 and 3 and end one-half hour after sunset. For the remaining season shooting hours start one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset in all three areas, except on Fort Boise, C.J. Strike, Montour and Payette River wildlife management areas, where shooting hours start at 10 a.m.

The daily bag limit is three cocks, and the possession limit is six after the first day, except on wildlife management areas where pheasants are stocked, in which case the daily limit is two cocks and four in possession.

Hunters 17 and older need a wildlife management area pheasant permit to hunt pheasants on the nine Idaho Fish and Game wildlife management areas where pheasants are released, including the Fort Boise, C.J. Strike, Payette River, Montour, Sterling, Market Lake, Mud Lake, Cartier Slough and Niagara Springs wildlife management areas.

The WMA permit cost is $23.75 for residents and $51.75 for nonresidents.

All upland game bird and upland game animal hunters are required to wear hunter orange on wildlife management areas where pheasants are stocked. And all hunters must have a valid 2009 Idaho hunting license.

News Source: Idaho F&G - Oct. 06, 2009