Extend your season

December is here, which means some hunters and anglers stash away their guns and rods until spring. But many savvy outdoors people know there’s still plenty of things to hunt and fish for during December and throughout winter. And don't forget that 2024 hunting, fishing and trapping licenses are now on sale. 

We got folks from our regions to come up with some popular, or overlooked, ways to make your hunting and fishing a 12-month pursuit.  

Boise River trout/whitefish fishing

You could don waders, grab a fishing rod and walk from Boise Capital through downtown to the river in minutes, and no one would probably give you a second glance. The river has countless access points along the Greenbelt, fairly easy wading, and as a bonus, Fish and Game stocked several hundred steelhead in the river during November. The river is also a magnet for wintering wildlife from beavers to bald eagles to mule deer. And if you get a little chilly, there’s probably a coffee shop nearby. You may have to change out of your waders, but hey, it’s Idaho, so maybe not. 

Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish and Game Public Information Supervisor

Upper Snake waterfowl hunting

Waterfowl hunting still continues to be good after the still water freezes for those willing to hunt fields or river systems in the Upper Snake Region. If you can find open water, chances are you will find ducks nearby.

Kootenai River burbot fishing

Burbot may be Idaho’s most unique fishery, although sturgeon anglers may have a credible counter argument. Considering burbot (AKA ling, lawyers, leopards and eelpout) are the only freshwater cod species in North America, it's a pretty accurate description. 

The Kootenai River in the Panhandle is the only waterbody in Idaho where burbot are native. After a successful restoration project between Idaho Fish and Game, the Kootenai Tribe and others, the Fish and Game Commission reopened burbot fishing in 2019. The best angling is during winter, and mid-February through mid-March tends to be the best period, but they start staging in the river in December and you can catch this unique, and tasty, Idaho fish. 

Andy Dux, Panhandle Region Fisheries Manager

Owyhees upland/small game hunting

The Owyhee Desert is big, big country that stretches across southern Idaho and has a diversity of wildlife. It’s best known for its big game and chukar hunting, but there’s a variety of hunting opportunity. The area has cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits. If you’re a predator hunter, lots of coyotes roam in the Owyhees. You could spend months exploring and only see a fraction of it. Beware of wet weather, that mud is super slick, and make sure your vehicle can withstand some rough terrain.