iDAHO wILDLIFE fEDERATION’S 2026 - 2028
sTRATEGIC pLAN
A Roadmap for Idaho’s Wildlife.
Idaho is still one of the last truly wild places in the country.
Idaho is blessed with some of the most remarkable landscapes, fish and wildlife resources, and outdoor opportunities in the country. From expansive public lands and working landscapes to world-class fisheries and migration corridors, these places are central to Idaho’s identity, economy, and way of life. But the future of Idaho’s wildlife and outdoor heritage faces growing challenges.
Rapid growth, expanding development, increased recreation pressure, habitat fragmentation, and political division around wildlife and public lands are placing increasing strain on the resources that define our state. Across Idaho, public lands face ongoing threats, migration corridors and winter range continue to lose connectivity, and confidence in science-based wildlife management is increasingly tested. At the same time, growing pressures on private lands, wildlife distribution challenges, and division within the sporting community make effective conservation work more difficult than ever.
Idaho has a proud history of conservation leadership rooted in the efforts of sportsmen and women who understood the importance of stewardship, public trust, and responsible wildlife management. The Idaho Wildlife Federation was founded in 1936 and helped lead the Citizen’s Initiative of 1938 that established Idaho’s independent Fish and Game Commission, a legacy that continues to shape conservation in our state today.
For nearly 90 years, IWF has worked to unite hunters, anglers, trappers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts around practical, science-based solutions that protect fish and wildlife while defending Idaho’s outdoor traditions and public lands.
The Idaho Wildlife Federation Strategic Plan for 2026–2028 provides a focused roadmap for the years ahead, guiding our work in conservation, advocacy, education, and community engagement as we work to keep Idaho wild for future generations.
Our Mission
The Idaho Wildlife Federation promotes the conservation of Idaho’s wildlife heritage and legacy of sporting opportunities for current and future generations.
Vision for Idaho Wildlife Federation
IWF strives to be the most respected state-based organization for sportsmen-led advocacy in Idaho, building and maintaining connectivity and community between a wide range of hunting and fishing organizations across the state to promote a shared and unified voice for conservation. Operated by professional staff and overseen by a fully engaged Board of Directors, we will be funded by a diversified range of foundations, individual donors, and values-aligned corporations that provide a strong base of sustainability for the organization.
With the support of sportsmen and women across Idaho as our core identity, we will partner with stakeholders in conservation across Idaho – we bring together hunters, anglers, landowners, policymakers, and community leaders to find practical solutions grounded in science and stewardship. Our approach prioritizes credibility, unity within the sporting community, and durable conservation outcomes.
Our community is the engine that fuels the strength of our voice. Through community engagement, education platforms that help Idahoans from all background learn to recreate safely and responsibly, and partnerships, we will build and maintain the lasting support that is needed for our advocacy voice to have the true impact that will be needed to ensure our wildlife abundance and outdoor heritage are treasured and conserved for future generations.
Vision for Idaho’s Conservation Landscape
We envision an Idaho with abundant populations of fish and wildlife. With healthy public lands that remain open and accessible, and flourishing working landscapes where private landowners are respected partners in conservation. Where fish and wildlife are managed through the best available science by qualified professionals. Where sportsmen and women have strong opportunities to hunt, fish, and trap, and where a robust community of conservation-minded sportsmen and women continues to endure.
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Public lands and waters are a cornerstone of our outdoor heritage in Idaho. Ensuring public lands remain public in the face of attempts to privatize them is a key priority, and this includes working to ensure those lands are well managed in order to maintain broad public support over the long-term. Likewise, private lands are integral to connected landscapes and provide critical habitat, and constructive collaboration between the sporting community and private landowners is essential. In addition, as the big game migrations that Idaho’s wildlife depend on continually face pressure in the face of our state’s rapid growth, our work will promote connectivity and the integrity of priority habitat. We will also work to promote durable funding solutions for these initiatives.
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Wildlife decisions in Idaho must remain grounded in science and transparency in order to maintain the abundance that Idaho has historically enjoyed. Dedicated education and advocacy efforts are necessary to ensure that political influences do not unduly influence science-based decision making over time. This will require coordination among the sporting community, consistent communication, and collaboration with decision makers. At the same time, we will reinforce the role that hunting and fishing have played in conservation and wildlife stewardship, ensuring that sportsmen and women are dedicated to the future of conservation.
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A unified and engaged sporting community that actively supports conservation is critical to ensuring the future of wildlife abundance, intact landscapes, and sporting opportunities in our rapidly growing state. While Idaho has a robust network of sporting groups, there is a clear need for connectivity between them. Community and educational events that celebrate our sporting heritage and culture are more durable mechanisms than policy discussions alone to ensure this lasting connectivity. With a connected voice among the sporting community, our values and conservation goals will be amplified.
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In order to achieve our conservation objectives, we must ensure our organization is professional, well-governed, and positioned for long-term growth. We must have a strong and diversified base of revenue, a motivated and professional staff, and an engaged Board that provides oversight as well as meaningful value add to the organization. Our effectiveness is dependent on our credibility as well as the value we generate to the sporting community and our conservation efforts, and a strong and durable organization is necessary to ensuring our values are meaningfully represented for the long-term.
Our
Commitment.
Idaho is at a critical moment in shaping the future of its wildlife, public lands, and sporting heritage. The decisions made today will determine whether future generations inherit connected landscapes, healthy fish and wildlife populations, and lasting outdoor opportunities.
The Idaho Wildlife Federation is committed to meeting that moment with clarity, persistence, and purpose. We will continue working to strengthen science-based wildlife management, protect and restore habitat, defend public access to public lands, and support policies that sustain Idaho’s hunting, fishing, trapping, and outdoor traditions.
We believe this future depends on a strong and united conservation community—one that brings together sportsmen and women, landowners, and partners across Idaho to solve challenges with practical, durable solutions.
Together, we will work to ensure Idaho’s wildlife, wild places, and sporting heritage endure for generations to come.