ID Elk Hunting

Idaho Elk GMUs & Season 2026

Elk season in Idaho runs Aug 1 – Sep 30 across 128 GMUs.

286 Seasons9 Weapon Types

Controlled Hunt General

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone controlled-hunt-area-1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 10 — Dec 1	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-10A–1	Controlled Hunt General	Aug 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-11	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-11	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 20 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-13	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-13	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-16–1	Controlled Hunt General	Dec 10 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-18	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 1 — Oct 24	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-18	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 20 — Nov 10	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-19A	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 1 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-19A	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 15 — Nov 8	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-19A–1	Controlled Hunt General	Aug 30 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-1–1	Controlled Hunt General	Aug 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-1–2	Controlled Hunt General	Aug 30 — Dec 1	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-2	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 10 — Dec 1	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-21	Controlled Hunt General	Nov 15 — Dec 15	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-22–1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 1 — Oct 24	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-22–1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 1 — Oct 24	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-22–1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 25 — Nov 10	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-22–1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 25 — Nov 10	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-22–1	Controlled Hunt General	Nov 11 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-23	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 1 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-23–1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 1 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-23–1	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 15 — Nov 8	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-23–2	Controlled Hunt General	Oct 5 — Nov 5	—	—	—

+ 113 more

General

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone Bannock	General	Oct 25 — Nov 15	—	—	—
Zone Bear-River	General	Oct 15 — Oct 24	—	—	—
Zone Bear-River	General	Oct 25 — Nov 15	—	—	—
Zone Beaverhead	General	Aug 1 — Aug 29	—	—	—
Zone Beaverhead	General	Aug 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone Big-Desert	General	Nov 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone Boise-River	General	Aug 1 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Boise-River	General	Oct 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone Boise-River	General	Oct 27 — Nov 9	—	—	—
Zone Brownlee	General	Aug 15 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Brownlee	General	Nov 15 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone Diamond-Creek	General	Oct 1 — Oct 15	—	—	—
Zone Dworshak	General	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone Elk-City	General	Oct 10 — Oct 24	—	—	—
Zone Lemhi	General	Aug 1 — Aug 29	—	—	—
Zone Lemhi	General	Aug 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone Lolo	General	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone McCall	General	Oct 5 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone McCall	General	Oct 15 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone Middle-Fork	General	Sep 15 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Middle-Fork	General	Oct 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone Middle-Fork	General	Nov 1 — Nov 18	—	—	—
Zone Palisades	General	Oct 15 — Oct 21	—	—	—
Zone Palouse	General	Aug 1 — Sep 15	—	—	—
Zone Palouse	General	Oct 10 — Oct 24	—	—	—

+ 20 more

Archery

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone Bannock	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Bear-River	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 14	—	—	—
Zone Bear-River	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Beaverhead	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Big-Desert	Archery	Aug 1 — Aug 30	—	—	—
Zone Big-Desert	Archery	Aug 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone Big-Desert	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Boise-River	Archery	Nov 10 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone Brownlee	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Diamond-Creek	Archery	Aug 1 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Diamond-Creek	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Dworshak	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Elk-City	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Island-Park	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Lemhi	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Lolo	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone McCall	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Palisades	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Palouse	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Archery	Sep 6 — Sep 12	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Archery	Sep 15 — Sep 21	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Archery	Dec 10 — Dec 16	—	—	—
Zone Pioneer	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone Salmon	Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—

+ 7 more

Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone controlled-hunt-area-10A	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Dec 2 — Dec 5	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-22	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Dec 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-30A	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 1 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-33–1	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 10 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-33–2	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 10 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-36A–3	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 1 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-39	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-39	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Sep 8 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-46–1	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Oct 1 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-48	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 15 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-49	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 1 — Nov 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-50–1	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Oct 1 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-54	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Sep 25 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-55–2	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 1 — Nov 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-61	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 15 — Dec 9	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-64–1	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Oct 1 — Oct 9	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-66–1	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Oct 1 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-70–1	Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader	Nov 16 — Nov 30	—	—	—

Muzzleloader

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone Bannock	Muzzleloader	Dec 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone Bear-River	Muzzleloader	Dec 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone Beaverhead	Muzzleloader	Oct 15 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone Dworshak	Muzzleloader	Dec 2 — Dec 14	—	—	—
Zone Elk-City	Muzzleloader	Nov 21 — Dec 5	—	—	—
Zone Island-Park	Muzzleloader	Nov 15 — Dec 9	—	—	—
Zone Lemhi	Muzzleloader	Nov 25 — Dec 9	—	—	—
Zone Palouse	Muzzleloader	Dec 2 — Dec 5	—	—	—
Zone Palouse	Muzzleloader	Dec 2 — Dec 14	—	—	—
Zone Palouse	Muzzleloader	Dec 6 — Dec 14	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Muzzleloader	Nov 15 — Dec 1	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Muzzleloader	Dec 2 — Dec 8	—	—	—
Zone Panhandle	Muzzleloader	Dec 2 — Dec 8	—	—	—
Zone Pioneer	Muzzleloader	Nov 1 — Nov 9	—	—	—

Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone controlled-hunt-area-10A	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Dec 2 — Dec 5	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-11	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-13	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-13	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 10 — Nov 3	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-18	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 1 — Oct 24	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-29	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-36A–1	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-36A–2	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-36A–3	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Nov 1 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-36–1	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 1 — Oct 9	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-37	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Oct 1 — Oct 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-37	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Nov 1 — Nov 20	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-37	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Nov 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-37	Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation	Dec 10 — Dec 31	—	—	—

Controlled Hunt Archery

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone controlled-hunt-area-1	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-18	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-2	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-3	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-39	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-4	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-40–1	Controlled Hunt Archery	Sep 15 — Oct 14	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-44	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-45–1	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-46–1	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-5	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-54	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 24	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-6	Controlled Hunt Archery	Aug 30 — Sep 30	—	—	—

Controlled Hunt Short Range

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone controlled-hunt-area-24X	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Dec 1 — Dec 20	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-32–1Xb	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Nov 16 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-32–2Xb	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Dec 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-63	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Aug 1 — Aug 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-63	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Aug 31 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-63	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Sep 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone controlled-hunt-area-69–1Xb	Controlled Hunt Short Range	Dec 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—

Short Range Weapon

GMU	Type	Dates	Harvest	Pressure	Public
Zone Big-Desert	Short Range Weapon	Aug 1 — Dec 31	—	—	—
Zone McCall	Short Range Weapon	Aug 15 — Sep 30	—	—	—
Zone McCall	Short Range Weapon	Nov 10 — Nov 30	—	—	—
Zone Snake-River	Short Range Weapon	Aug 1 — Aug 31	—	—	—
Zone Snake-River	Short Range Weapon	Sep 1 — Nov 30	—	—	—

Elk in Idaho: FAQ

When is elk season in Idaho?

Elk season in Idaho currently runs Aug 1 to Sep 30, across 286 season rows and 128 GMUs, split by weapon (Archery, General, Muzzleloader, Short Range Weapon, Controlled Hunt Archery, Controlled Hunt General, Controlled Hunt Muzzleloader, Controlled Hunt Outfitter Allocation, Controlled Hunt Short Range).

Where is the best place to hunt elk in Idaho?

The best GMUs for elk in Idaho depend on harvest success and public-land access, both shown per GMU above. Compare units before you apply for a tag or plan your hunt.

Plan your Elk hunt in Idaho

View GMU boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas on our interactive map.

Also see Idaho seasons, public land, and license.

Elk in Idaho: parcels + public land

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