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Idaho Hunting Unit 42
Elk and deer in Unit 42 (Owyhee County): hunter success by year, 2026 seasons and draw odds, public land and rules, from Idaho Fish and Game records.
Hunter success by year
General season success as Idaho Fish and Game reports it. Year-by-year numbers are in the tables below.
Elk hunting in Unit 42
Idaho Fish and Game reports no general-season elk results for Unit 42 in recent years. Controlled hunt results are below.
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 2015 area 40-1 | Any weapon | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| Hunt 2018 | Any weapon | 15 | 11 | 73% |
| Hunt 2083 area 40-1 | Any weapon | 122 | 19 | 16% |
| Hunt 2123 area 40-1 | Archery | 25 | 14 | 56% |
| Hunt 2190 area 40-1 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Hunt 2191 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 1 | 1 | 100% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
Deer hunting in Unit 42
In the 2025 general season, 251 deer hunters took 33 deer: 13% success. Over the last five seasons, mule deer success averaged 18% (mule deer taken per deer hunter, 2021–2025). Idaho Fish and Game counts all deer: 0% of the 2025 harvest was whitetail.
| Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Whitetail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 251 | 33 | 13% | 0% |
| 2024 | 264 | 53 | 20% | 0% |
| 2023 | 222 | 34 | 15% | 0% |
| 2022 | 303 | 63 | 21% | 0% |
| 2021 | 248 | 54 | 22% | 0% |
| 2020 | 361 | 56 | 16% | 0% |
| 2019 | 362 | 71 | 20% | 8% |
| 2018 | 347 | 57 | 16% | 0% |
| 2017 | 384 | 45 | 12% | 0% |
| 2016 | 322 | 91 | 28% | 0% |
| 2015 | 430 | 177 | 41% | 0% |
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 1033 | Any weapon | 46 | 29 | 63% |
| Hunt 1074 area 41-2 | Archery | 19 | 2 | 11% |
| Hunt 1170 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
2026 elk and deer seasons in Unit 42
General seasons (over the counter)
| Season | Dates | Sex | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | two-point | Regular Deer Tag |
| Deer, any weapon | Oct 10 – Oct 24 | two-point | Regular Deer Tag |
Controlled hunts
| Hunt | Dates | Weapon | Sex | Tags | Drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk 2015 area 40-1 | Sep 15 – Oct 14 | Any weapon | antlered | 5 | 0% (5 tags, 1,251 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2123 area 40-1 | Sep 15 – Oct 14 | Archery | antlered | 25 | 3% (25 tags, 945 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2190 area 40-1 outfitter tags | Sep 15 – Oct 14 | Any weapon | antlered | 1 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Elk 2018 area 42 | Oct 15 – Nov 24 | Any weapon | antlered | 15 | 2% (15 tags, 893 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2083 area 40-1 | Oct 15 – Nov 24 | Any weapon | antlerless | 150 | 21% (150 tags, 729 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2191 area 42 outfitter tags | Oct 15 – Nov 24 | Any weapon | antlered | 1 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Deer 1074 area 41-2 | Aug 15 – Sep 30 | Archery | antlered | 25 | 75% (25 tags, 32 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1033 area 42 | Nov 1 – Nov 24 | Any weapon | antlered | 50 | 7% (50 tags, 696 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1170 area 42 outfitter tags | Nov 1 – Nov 24 | Any weapon | antlered | 1 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
Drew: share of first-choice applicants who drew a tag in the latest draw (for youth-only hunts, youth applicants). Outfitter tags go to licensed outfitters and are not drawn. A controlled hunt area can reach beyond this unit.
From the Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner, checked Oct 16, 2026. Seasons and rules change: confirm in the current regulations before you hunt.
Land in Unit 42
96% public land. Ownership: BLM 92%, Private 4.3%, State 3.4%.
Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner. The map shows public land boundaries and Forest roads you can drive.
Next to Unit 42
Five-year general-season success in the units that border Unit 42.
Deer: mule deer success; * mostly whitetail, so all deer. – means no recent general season or too few seasons or hunters for a 5-year figure.
Sources
- Harvest, hunters and success: Idaho Fish and Game harvest statistics (survey estimates, checked Oct 16, 2026).
- Seasons and draw odds: Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner (checked Oct 16, 2026).
- Land and unit details: Idaho Fish and Game page for Unit 42.
Five-year success is the total harvest divided by the total hunters over the last five seasons (at least 100 hunters); for deer, the whitetail share is taken out, except in mostly-whitetail units, where it is all deer. Everything else is shown as published. Data checked Oct 16, 2026.