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Idaho

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Idaho Unit Finder

Answer six questions and get Idaho game management units ranked by habitat fit, 2026 hunt dates, public land and IDFG harvest history.

How the Idaho finder works

Idaho Fish and Game manages hunting by game management unit (GMU), and elk tags are sold by elk zone. This tool scores all 98 units for the species you pick using IDFG harvest statistics from 2021–2025 (mandatory hunter reports), every 2026 general and controlled hunt listed for the unit in the IDFG Hunt Planner, USGS land-cover and elevation data, and the share of public land plus Access Yes! properties.

Results show each unit's own hunts: general archery, any-weapon, muzzleloader and short-range seasons, elk A and B tag seasons for the zone, and controlled hunts with tag numbers. Bear and lion results also show when hound hunting is allowed.

Species covered

  • Mule deer
  • White-tailed deer
  • Elk
  • Pronghorn antelope
  • Moose
  • Bighorn sheep
  • Mountain goat
  • Black bear
  • Mountain lion
  • Gray wolf
  • Wild turkey

Upland birds (ranked by county)

  • Ring-necked pheasant
  • Sharp-tailed grouse
  • Sage grouse
  • Gray (Hungarian) partridge
  • Chukar
  • Forest grouse
  • Quail

Waterfowl and migratory birds (ranked by county)

  • Ducks
  • Canada and dark geese
  • Snow and Ross's geese
  • Mourning dove
  • Sandhill crane
  • Tundra swan

About every species on the species page →

Data sources

Idaho hunting FAQ

Which Idaho units can I hunt with a general deer or elk tag?

Each result says whether a general season is listed for that unit in 2026. Units marked "Controlled hunts only" have no general season, so you need to draw a tag.

Are mule deer and white-tailed deer ranked separately?

Yes. IDFG reports deer harvest per unit with the share that were white-tailed deer, so each species is ranked on its own share of the harvest.

What is the difference between Idaho elk A and B tags?

Each elk zone offers an A tag and a B tag with different season types, such as more archery or muzzleloader days on one and a longer any-weapon season on the other. The tool lists both tags' seasons for the unit's zone.

Can I use hounds for bear and lion in Idaho?

Yes, outside each unit's dog-closure dates. The tool reads those closures from the 2026 rule book and only counts hound-legal days when you choose hounds.

Idaho harvest leaders

The game management units with the highest average reported harvest for each species. High totals often reflect large areas and many hunters; the tool above also weighs harvest per square mile, hunter success, habitat and access.

Mule deer (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 39: 2,380 per year, 20% success
  2. Unit 43: 1,141 per year, 28% success
  3. Unit 32: 804 per year, 29% success
  4. Unit 40: 801 per year, 32% success
  5. Unit 76: 691 per year, 24% success

White-tailed deer (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 1: 3,273 per year, 40% success
  2. Unit 10A: 2,377 per year, 42% success
  3. Unit 8A: 1,690 per year, 36% success
  4. Unit 2: 1,341 per year, 34% success
  5. Unit 6: 1,199 per year, 37% success

Elk (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 39 Boise River elk zone: 776 per year, 15% success
  2. Unit 10A Dworshak elk zone: 623 per year, 18% success
  3. Unit 76 Diamond Creek elk zone: 600 per year, 33% success
  4. Unit 6 Panhandle elk zone: 580 per year, 16% success
  5. Unit 22 Weiser River elk zone: 554 per year, 19% success

Pronghorn antelope (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 46: 134 per year, 32% success
  2. Unit 45: 118 per year, 50% success
  3. Unit 63: 104 per year, 38% success
  4. Unit 40: 86 per year, 32% success
  5. Unit 50: 80 per year, 53% success

Moose (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 2: 32 per year, 89% success
  2. Unit 1: 32 per year, 76% success
  3. Unit 69: 22 per year, 94% success
  4. Unit 6: 22 per year, 87% success
  5. Unit 10A: 19 per year, 83% success

Bighorn sheep (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 27: 17 per year, 64% success
  2. Unit 28: 9 per year, 90% success
  3. Unit 37A: 5 per year, 100% success
  4. Unit 21: 5 per year, 94% success
  5. Unit 50: 5 per year, 89% success

Mountain goat (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 36: 6 per year, 93% success
  2. Unit 50: 4 per year, 94% success
  3. Unit 27: 3 per year, 84% success
  4. Unit 51: 3 per year, 86% success
  5. Unit 22: 3 per year, 93% success

Black bear (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 39: 214 per year
  2. Unit 4: 172 per year
  3. Unit 1: 158 per year
  4. Unit 12: 155 per year
  5. Unit 10: 142 per year

Mountain lion (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 10A: 38 per year
  2. Unit 1: 36 per year
  3. Unit 39: 23 per year
  4. Unit 6: 22 per year
  5. Unit 4: 22 per year

Gray wolf (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 4: 36 per year
  2. Unit 1: 34 per year
  3. Unit 15: 20 per year
  4. Unit 10A: 17 per year
  5. Unit 6: 17 per year

Wild turkey (2021–2025 average)

  1. Unit 10A: 883 per year, 57% success
  2. Unit 8A: 550 per year, 43% success
  3. Unit 2: 520 per year, 49% success
  4. Unit 39: 476 per year, 28% success
  5. Unit 1: 426 per year, 55% success

Ducks (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Canyon County: 39,494 per year
  2. Owyhee County: 32,614 per year
  3. Gooding County: 23,991 per year
  4. Elmore County: 18,344 per year
  5. Bonner County: 14,160 per year

Canada and dark geese (USFWS 10-year average)

  1. Ada County: 11,876 per year
  2. Canyon County: 9,189 per year
  3. Gooding County: 4,893 per year
  4. Power County: 3,562 per year
  5. Owyhee County: 3,470 per year