F&G staff hosting a variety of presentations at Idaho Sportsman Show in Boise

Idaho Fish and Game will be back at the Idaho Sportsman Show at Expo Idaho in Boise, from Feb. 29 to March 3 with a full schedule of seminars on Saturday, March 2 where people can hear straight from biologists about important hunting and fishing topics in the Southwest Region. 

 “This is an opportunity for folks to hear about some of the great work our biologists and enforcement staff are doing to make hunting and fishing better in Idaho,” said Brian Pearson, Regional Communications Manager. “But it’s also an opportunity for the public to engage directly with, and have their questions answered by, Fish and Game’s subject matter experts in a particular field.”

As in years past, Fish and Game staff will be available each day to talk to people and answer questions, and the booth will include a variety of literature (including the most current seasons and rules brochures – 2024 & 2025 Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer are hot off the presses) and pelt displays for kids. Fish and Game will not sell licenses at their booth this year.

People can also visit with enforcement officers at the Citizens Against Poaching trailer outside, and kids can stop by the Idaho Hunter Education Association shooting trailer and learn to shoot air rifles from Hunter Education volunteers.

On Saturday, March 2, there is a full slate of presentations and seminars scheduled, where people can learn about some of the work Fish and Game is doing in Idaho, straight from the biologists and enforcement officers. Presentations will run from 12-7 p.m. in the presentation area next to Fish and Game’s booth.

Biologists will also be on hand to provide information for two “Learn to Hunt” seminars, which will be held in the Western Town & Banquet Hall. Those include a turkey hunting seminar, held in partnership with the Gem State Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, and an elk hunting seminar, held in partnership with the Treasure Valley Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Staff will also be participating in an Air Gun Hunting in Idaho seminar, in partnership with Air Idaho Inc. and Varminter Magazine. 

Presentation and Seminar Schedule for March 2:

Idaho Fish and Game Presentation Area

12 p.m. – Let your voice be heard: How you can help shape the next several years of fisheries management in Idaho – Art Butts, Fisheries Manager, Southwest Region

12:45 p.m. – Southwest Idaho’s kokanee fisheries: Management and outlook for 2024 – Tim D’Amico, Fisheries Biologist, Southwest Region

1:30 p.m. – Fish and Game’s K9 Program: How dogs and officers work together to protect Idaho’s wildlife resources – Craig Mickelson, Conservation Officer, Southwest Region; Blue, K9 Officer, Southwest Region

2:45 p.m. – Making the Case – An enforcement highlight for the Southwest Region – Steve Ross, Conservation Officer, Southwest Region

3:30 p.m. – Chronic Wasting Disease in Idaho: Updates from Unit 14 and Unit 23 – Regan Berkley, Wildlife Manager, Southwest Region

4:15 p.m. – State of Deer and Elk in the Southwest Region – David Bernasconi, Wildlife Biologist, Southwest Region

5 p.m. – Elk in the Owyhees: Response of depredating elk to hunting pressure and changes to hunt structure – Rachel Curtis, Wildlife Biologist, Southwest Region

5:45 p.m. – Idaho Fish and Game’s statewide fisheries research program: Why they exist, and what they do – Will Lubenau, Fisheries Research Biologist, Nampa Research

6:30 p.m. – Southwest Idaho warmwater fisheries management and outlook for 2024 – Phil Branigan, Fisheries Biologist, Southwest Region

Western Town & Banquet Hall

Note: The seminars are free with paid entry into the Idaho Sportsman Show. Space for these seminars is limited, however. If you are interested in attending, it is recommended that you pre-register by clicking through the links below. 

11:30 a.m. – Learn to Hunt Seminar: Turkey – Gem State Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation and Idaho Fish and Game

1:30 p.m. – Learn to Hunt Seminar: Elk – Treasure Valley Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Idaho Fish and Game; Joe McCarthy – World Elk Calling Finalist

3:30 p.m. – Air Gun Hunting in Idaho – Air Idaho Inc. and Idaho Fish and Game; Varminter Magazine