POCATELLO — Chris Hunt — award-winning journalist, author, angler and national digital director for Trout Unlimited’s Trout Media — will be the featured presenter at Southeast Idaho Fly Fisher’s February meeting. The public is invited to attend this free presentation on Thursday at Goody’s Deli located at 905 South 5th Avenue in Pocatello. The program starts at 6:30 p.m.

Hunt will be sharing fish stories, fly patterns, and information from his latest book, “Catching Yellowstone’s Wild Trout: A Fly-Fishing History and Guide.”

When he is not out fishing his favorite streams or tying flies, he is responsible for in-house content crafted for TU’s blog and for content sent out over social media to TU’s members, supporters and followers. 

Hunt is a former newspaper editor and reporter who joined TU in 2005, where he worked for the organization’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. He served several years as the organization’s national communications director and assumed his present duties in late 2016.

Hunt is also an award-winning journalist, having received recognition from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association, the Idaho Press Club and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He has authored four books, the latest of which — “Catching Yellowstone’s Wild Trout: A Fly-Fishing History and Guide” — was published in June 2019.

This upcoming free event is not just a chance to hear from an expert angler and author from Idaho, it’s also an opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the Southeast Idaho Fly Fishers who have been involved in countless habitat and fish conservation projects in southeast Idaho since 1972.

Chris Hunt — award-winning journalist, author, angler and national digital director for Trout Unlimited’s Trout Media — will be the featured presenter at Southeast Idaho Fly Fisher’s February meeting. The public is invited to attend this free presentation on Feb. 13 at Goody’s Deli located at 905 South 5th Avenue in Pocatello. The program starts at 6:30 p.m.

Hunt will be sharing fish stories, fly patterns, and information from his latest book, “Catching Yellowstone’s Wild Trout: A Fly-Fishing History and Guide.”

When he is not out fishing his favorite streams or tying flies, he is responsible for in-house content crafted for TU’s blog and for content sent out over social media to TU’s members, supporters and followers. 

Hunt is a former newspaper editor and reporter who joined TU in 2005, where he worked for the organization’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. He served several years as the organization’s national communications director and assumed his present duties in late 2016.

Hunt is also an award-winning journalist, having received recognition from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association, the Idaho Press Club and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He has authored four books, the latest of which — “Catching Yellowstone’s Wild Trout: A Fly-Fishing History and Guide” — was published in June 2019.

This upcoming free event is not just a chance to hear from an expert angler and author from Idaho, it’s also an opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the Southeast Idaho Fly Fishers who have been involved in countless habitat and fish conservation projects in southeast Idaho since 1972.

CHUBBUCK — The 13th annual Sportsmen Against Hunger event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at C-A-L Ranch in Chubbuck’s Pine Ridge Mall.

Those who attend can help raise money for the Idaho Foodbank here in Southeast Idaho by playing a fun corn hole game made just for this event with some amazing prizes going to the high scorers.

Here’s how it works: Participants buy a game card to take to each of the booths stationed throughout the store. Once the game card has been stamped at each booth, participants can try their skills at the corn hole toss. Cost to play is $10 for one try and $20 for three tries. All proceeds will be donated to the Idaho Foodbank to benefit families in Southeast Idaho.

The event booths will be staffed by local sportsmen’s groups and community organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation and fighting community issues like hunger. Booths will share information and displays, offer raffles, and provide some fun items and activities for kids, including Idaho Fish and Game’s laser shot simulated hunting game

This event is a great way to have fun with the family, win some awesome prizes and make a difference for the Idaho Foodbank and those they serve in Southeast Idaho.

POCATELLO — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet in Pocatello on Nov. 13 and 14, with the public hearing starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Southeast Regional Office at 1345 Barton Road. People can address the commission on any matters related to Fish and Game at that time.

The meeting will continue at 8 a.m. Nov. 14 at the same location. Public comments will not be taken during this portion of the meeting.

Commissioners are scheduled to consider ratification of pending rules, a proposal to extend the fishery restrictions for steelhead, approval of Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation bonding for construction of a new headquarters office building in Boise, a discount for resident senior combination licenses for lifetime certificate holders, and more.

Other agenda topics include a review of the commission’s technical comment policy, an update on revision of the FY 21 budget, discussion of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2019, updates on the moose plan and other agenda items. See the full agenda.

Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director’s Office at 208-334-5159 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-368-6185 (TDD).

On Sept. 17, a nonresident (Montana) hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear that he mistook for a black bear. He was hunting in Idaho’s Panhandle near the Canadian border (Smith Creek). After identifying the bear as a grizzly at the scene, the hunter contacted Fish and Game and is cooperating with the investigation.

Grizzly bears are protected under state and federal law, and Fish and Game reminds hunters that grizzly bears may be encountered in northern Idaho and in the Greater Yellowstone area. Black bear hunters are responsible for proper identification of their target. Fish and Game’s website provides training to hone hunter’s bear identification skills: idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/bear-info/overview.

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is eager to announce a new partnership with the Idaho Fish and Game: The State Park Fishing Equipment Loaner Program.

The program, which will include six parks, is aimed to increase awareness of the many fishing opportunities within Idaho’s state parks. With fishing locations at, or near, most parks, IDPR and Fish and Game wanted to eliminate some of the barriers that might coincide with those interested in fishing — such as lack of equipment. Each of the participating parks will receive 16 rods and will have access to tackle and bait for park visitors.

The first six parks will be piloting the program for the season; both agencies hope to increase the number of participating parks in the coming years.

If you are interested in the State Park Fishing Equipment Loaner Program, visit idfg.idaho.gov or parksandrecreation.idaho.gov or stop by one of the following Idaho state parks:

• Round Lake State Park near Sagle
• Priest Lake State Park near Coolin
• Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park near Cataldo
• Winchester Lake State Park near Winchester
• Bruneau Dunes State Park near Bruneau
• Henrys Lake State Park near Island Park

“Idaho Fish and Game is excited to partner with Idaho Parks and Recreation on a project to help park visitors take advantage of the abundant fishing opportunities available in our state parks and surrounding areas,” said Ian Malepeai, Fish and Game marketing director. “We see a natural synergy to raise the awareness of the fantastic fishing in Idaho and providing park visitors with fishing equipment to enjoy additional activities on their visit.”

Participants over the age of 14 will need a fishing license while using the loaner rods. Licenses can be purchased online, by phone, at any Fish and Game office, or at various convenience stores and outdoor retailers across the state — $11.50 for a daily pass or $30.50 for an annual license.

The program is just in time for Free Fishing Day, which will be June 8 — during which you can fish anywhere in the state without a license. Keep in mind, all rules and catch limits still apply.

Recently approved big game hunting seasons and rules, which included expanding bear hunting opportunity in Southeast Idaho, take effect July 1.

In March, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission set big game hunting seasons and rules for 2019-2021, which included expanding bear hunting opportunity in the Southeast Region. With spring bear hunts upon us, hunters are reminded that bear hunting regulations this spring are the same as they were in spring 2018. The recent changes to bear hunting regulations in Southeast Idaho are not applicable until after the approved big game rules take effect July 1, 2019.

Specifically, harvest of black bears in Units 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, and 78 is illegal during the upcoming spring bear hunt. Harvest opportunities for black bears in those units will begin Fall 2019.

“We don’t want to see well-intentioned hunters inadvertently breaking the rules, ” says Jennifer Jackson, regional communications manager with Idaho Fish and Game’s Southeast Region. “Folks need to remember that the spring 2019 bear hunting season was set two years ago during the prior season setting process.”

The 2019-2021 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules brochure will be available online at idfg.idaho.gov sometime in early April and at Fish and Game license vendors soon thereafter.