Member News

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries have finalized a rule rescinding the 50-year-old regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, effective September 14, 2026. Previously, "harm" covered habitat modification that indirectly injured wildlife. Now, take liability applies only to direct, intentional acts against a specific animal. For outfitters: your permit's section 7 consultation requirements are unchanged, and existing permits aren't reopened. But routine field work — trail maintenance, camp upkeep, chainsaw or vegetation work near sensitive habitat — now carries lower section 9 liability exposure on its own. Litigation is likely before the effective date, so treat this as the current floor, not a settled outcome.

USFS has proposed making Forest Service Handbooks advisory rather than binding — a change that could let permit administrators deviate from fee, renewal, and operational standards without explanation, and IOGA is pushing back before the July 31 comment deadline.

A new lawsuit in Oregon arguing a resource management plan is invalid now that congress has declared RMP's are subject to the congressional review act has placed the entire legal framework underpinning the system of permits outfitters operate under in jeopardy.

Almost one year ago, a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill would have authorized the sale of 2 to 3 million acres of federal public land with a simple majority, no hearings, no public input. Fortunately, Idaho’s Senator Risch, Senator Crapo, and Congressman Simpson were among those who pushed back, and their opposition killed that part of the bill. However, the procedural gap that made it possible is still there, and as Congress moves ahead with another reconciliation bill, concerns have resurfaced about the reconciliation process allowing for public lands sales to fund partisan priorities...

What the Forest Service Reorganization Means for Idaho Outfitters and Guides April 2026 The U.S. Forest Service is undergoing its most significant structural overhaul in decades, and if you operate on National Forest lands in Idaho, you have a stake in how this plays out. IOGA has been tracking the reorganization closely and wants to give members a clear-eyed summary of what's changing, what's uncertain, and what it could mean for your operation. To read the press release from the Forest Service, click here.  What's Actually Changing The Forest Service ...

As part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of the Hells Canyon Project, staff have released a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, detailing the measures that FERC will include in the final license, to be issued in the next year. That license directly affects river flows and recreational navigation on the Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam for the next 50 years. Because of the value of Hells Canyon as a recreational and economic resource to Idaho, and the long term commitments of the license, it is imperative that the whitewater community, outfitter...

Idaho Outfitters and Guides Take Salmon and Steelhead Advocacy to Washington, D.C. From left to right: Mark Martin, Roy Akins, Dustin Aherin, Congressman Mike Simpson, Jack Hurty, and Lauren McCullough Last week, I had the honor of leading a group of Idaho outfitters and guides to Washington, D.C. to advocate for salmon and steelhead recovery and the rural businesses and communities that depend on healthy, fishable rivers. We arrived on Monday, January 12, and spent three full days meeting with members of Congress and their staff. We met in person with Idaho’s entire congressional delega...

Idaho is a public-lands state. Our famed landscapes – the Sawtooths, the Owyhees, the Selkirks – are the foundation of our quality of life, economy, and culture. Places like the Frank Church and the Middle Fork of the Salmon represent the pinnacle of the Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers systems. However, while these places are worth protecting and fighting for, that doesn't mean they are without their challenges. One such challenges is the effect that large swaths of public lands have on the budgets of local governments and counties. Because it’s owned by the American people and man...

  Jack and Erik break down the results of the survey.  Summary in Brief:  Health insurance isn’t just a personal issue for Idaho’s guides and outfitters — it’s a business one. The rising cost of health insurance coverage threatens the stability of small operations, seasonal workers, and the rural hospitals that serve them. Over the last few weeks, the team here at IOGA surveyed more than 80 outfitters, guides, and small business owners across Idaho about healthcare access. The results are informative – nearly 1 in 5 are uninsured—more than double the state average—and most rely on Afford...

Outfitters, here is what you need to know about operating during a government closure.

Idaho Hunting guides, it's important to know the rules of surroundings states when it comes to wild game so you make sure you send your clients home with meat that is legal in their state.

Quick Take: In May 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly known as the "Public Lands Rule", to clarify conservation as part of “multiple use,” standardize a land-health framework, and create new restoration/mitigation leasing tools. On September 11, 2025, BLM proposed to rescind the rule in full, arguing it is unnecessary, constrains agency flexibility, redefines “use,” and could increase litigation and delay. While we understand some of these concerns, IOGA sees value in many of the provisions and principles of the rule, and su...