Idaho Department of Fish and Game

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. History The Idaho Department of Fish and Game was established by the Idaho Legislature in 1899. The department was previously managed by a warden. In 1973, the department was reorganized, dividing the state into six regions and creating the position of state supervisor to manage the department. On January 5, 1981, two IDFG officers, Bill Pogue and Conley Elms, were killed in remote Owyhee County. Wildlife trapper Claude Dallas was subsequently convicted of manslaughter in their deaths. Responsibilities IDFG manages 32 wildlife management areas, including several that are jointly managed with the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. In addition, IDFG manages 19 fish hatcheries across the state.