We want your bald eagle pictures!

December is prime time for bald eagle watching on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and we want to see the images you capture of these majestic creatures.

Enter our Bald Eagle Photo Contest for a chance to showcase your skills, highlight these beautiful birds and win prizes: 

First Prize: A free night at The Coeur d’Alene Resort

Second Prize: A two-hour boat rental

Third Prize: A $75 gift certificate for Hagadone companies

Whether you're a seasoned photographer or beginner, this contest is your time to shine and see eagles as they snare kokanee from Lake Coeur d'Alene. 

While you can take pictures from land, we suggest you join Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises for a ride to Wolf Lodge Bay and an up-close look and perhaps an even better shot of bald eagles in their winter habitat in North Idaho. The eagle cruises are known for bringing guests to where the eagles hang out and offering fresh perspectives. Info: www.cdacruises.com

Already, bald eagles are putting on good shows near Higgens Point and Mineral Ridge, kokanee are plentiful and the weather has been ideal, so opportunity awaits.

Mike Thomas, a regional fisheries biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, said the kokanee are larger this year.

"Usually when you see bigger kokanee, it means there’s less competition for food — fewer fish relative to last year," he wrote. "Overall, we’re in a good place with the kokanee fishery at the moment and I would expect to see a fair number of eagles out there taking advantage of it.

Carrie Hugo with the Bureau of Land Management is again counting eagles. Her numbers were 100 on Nov. 14, 118 on Nov. 19, and 294 on Nov. 26, nearly double the 154 counted on the same day last year.

"It's another great year," she wrote.

What traditionally has been a great time to see eagles is approaching. On Dec. 20, 2023, Hugo counted a record 409 eagles. The previous week, she counted 379 eagles. Last year, on Dec. 4, she counted 261 eagles, and on Dec. 12, 284.

Beauty Bay has been popular with the eagles. There were recently about 30 eagles sitting on the logs in the water at the farthest end of Wolf Lodge.

A few rules: The photo must be taken in December this year and at Lake Coeur d'Alene. A photographer is limited to one of the three prizes. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 5, 2026.

The Press will publish the winning photos in January. Send your digital images to [email protected]. Please include the date and place of the photograph. A few details, like conditions and equipment used, would be great.

Good luck!