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Idaho Hunting Unit 61
Elk and deer in Unit 61 (Fremont, Clark counties): 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 61
In the 2025 general season, 1,505 elk hunters took 221 elk: 15% success. Over the last five seasons, success averaged 14% (total harvest over total hunters, 2021–2025). Of the bulls taken, 35% had 6 or more points.
| Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | 6+ pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,505 | 221 | 15% | 35% |
| 2024 | 1,452 | 218 | 15% | 36% |
| 2023 | 1,409 | 170 | 12% | 29% |
| 2022 | 1,341 | 189 | 14% | 39% |
| 2021 | 1,591 | 201 | 13% | 22% |
| 2020 | 2,102 | 298 | 14% | 43% |
| 2019 | 1,938 | 220 | 11% | 14% |
| 2018 | 1,729 | 233 | 13% | 32% |
| 2017 | 1,791 | 222 | 12% | 34% |
| 2016 | 1,634 | 168 | 10% | 12% |
| 2015 | 2,130 | 274 | 13% | 50% |
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 2038 area 60-1 | Any weapon | 97 | 50 | 52% |
| Hunt 2039 | Any weapon | 46 | 13 | 28% |
| Hunt 2096 area 60-1 | Any weapon | 357 | 126 | 35% |
| Hunt 2097 area 60-1 | Any weapon | 894 | 235 | 26% |
| Hunt 2142 | Muzzleloader | 163 | 20 | 12% |
| Hunt 2161 area 60-1 youth only | Any weapon | 163 | 27 | 17% |
| Hunt 2203 area 60-1 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Hunt 2204 area 60-1 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Hunt 2207 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Hunt 2208 outfitter tags | Muzzleloader | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
Deer hunting in Unit 61
In the 2025 general season, 1,500 deer hunters took 296 deer: 20% success. Over the last five seasons, mule deer success averaged 13% (mule deer taken per deer hunter, 2021–2025). Idaho Fish and Game counts all deer: 9% of the 2025 harvest was whitetail.
| Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Whitetail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,500 | 296 | 20% | 9% |
| 2024 | 1,364 | 245 | 18% | 8% |
| 2023 | 1,386 | 101 | 7% | 16% |
| 2022 | 1,396 | 224 | 16% | 4% |
| 2021 | 1,370 | 179 | 13% | 19% |
| 2020 | 1,716 | 271 | 16% | 13% |
| 2019 | 1,452 | 169 | 12% | 14% |
| 2018 | 1,478 | 261 | 18% | 9% |
| 2017 | 1,753 | 253 | 14% | 20% |
| 2016 | 1,459 | 233 | 16% | 12% |
| 2015 | 1,778 | 310 | 17% | 9.3% |
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 1049 area 60-1 | Any weapon | 40 | 39 | 98% |
| Hunt 1063 area 60-1 | Any weapon | 258 | 191 | 74% |
| Hunt 1066 area 60-2 | Any weapon | 281 | 175 | 62% |
| Hunt 1094 | Muzzleloader | 57 | 3 | 5% |
| Hunt 1109 area 60-1 youth only | Any weapon | 223 | 138 | 62% |
| Hunt 1143 area 60-1X | Any weapon | 190 | 39 | 21% |
| Hunt 1185 area 60-2 outfitter tags | Any weapon | 2 | 2 | 100% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
2026 elk and deer seasons in Unit 61
General seasons (over the counter)
| Season | Dates | Sex | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | either sex | Elk A Tag - Island Park Zone |
| Elk, muzzleloader | Nov 15 – Dec 9 | antlerless or spike | Elk A Tag - Island Park Zone |
| Deer, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | antlered | Regular Deer Tag |
| Deer, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | either sex | White-tailed Deer Tag |
| Deer, any weapon | Oct 10 – Oct 24 | antlered | Regular Deer Tag |
| Deer, any weapon | Oct 10 – Oct 31 | either sex | White-tailed Deer Tag |
| Deer, any weapon | Nov 10 – Dec 9 | either sex | White-tailed Deer Tag |
Controlled hunts
| Hunt | Dates | Weapon | Sex | Tags | Drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk 2038 area 60-1 | Oct 1 – Oct 14 | Any weapon | antlered | 100 | 6% (100 tags, 1,601 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2203 area 60-1 outfitter tags | Oct 1 – Oct 14 | Any weapon | antlered | 1 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Elk 2096 area 60-1 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 | Any weapon | antlerless | 400 | 100% (400 tags, 350 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2097 area 60-1 | Oct 25 – Nov 14 | Any weapon | antlerless | 1,000 | 100% (1,000 tags, 887 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2204 area 60-1 outfitter tags | Oct 25 – Nov 14 | Any weapon | antlerless | 2 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Elk 2161 area 60-1 youth only | Oct 25 – Nov 14 | Any weapon | antlerless | 200 | 100% (190 tags, 152 1st choice, youth applicants, 2026) |
| Elk 2039 area 61 | Nov 1 – Nov 10 | Any weapon | antlered | 50 | 21% (50 tags, 243 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2207 area 61 outfitter tags | Nov 1 – Nov 10 | Any weapon | antlered | 2 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Elk 2208 area 61 outfitter tags | Nov 11 – Dec 9 | Muzzleloader | either sex | 3 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Elk 2142 area 61 | Nov 15 – Dec 9 | Muzzleloader | either sex | 200 | 95% (145 tags, 63 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1143 area 60-1X | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | Archery | antlerless | 300 | 70% (300 tags, 428 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1066 area 60-2 | Oct 5 – Nov 8 | Any weapon | either sex | 300 | 14% (300 tags, 2,080 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1185 area 60-2 outfitter tags | Oct 5 – Nov 8 | Any weapon | either sex | 2 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Deer 1049 area 60-1 | Oct 10 – Nov 30 | Any weapon | antlered | 40 | 1% (40 tags, 3,430 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1143 area 60-1X | Oct 10 – Oct 31 | Any weapon | antlerless | 300 | 70% (300 tags, 428 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1184 area 60-1 outfitter tags | Oct 10 – Nov 30 | Any weapon | antlered | 1 | outfitter-allocated, not in the public draw |
| Deer 1109 area 60-1 youth only | Oct 10 – Oct 24 | Any weapon | either sex | 250 | 100% (250 tags, 242 1st choice, youth applicants, 2026) |
| Deer 1063 area 60-1 | Oct 25 – Nov 15 | Any weapon | antlerless | 300 | 99% (300 tags, 304 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1094 area 61 | Nov 11 – Dec 9 | Muzzleloader | either sex | – | 100% (137 tags, 34 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1143 area 60-1X | Nov 20 – Dec 19 | Any weapon | antlerless | 300 | 70% (300 tags, 428 1st choice, 2026) |
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 61
83% public land. Ownership: USFS 71%, Private 17%, State 5.7%, BLM 5%, Other 0.9%.
Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner. The map shows public land boundaries and Forest roads you can drive.
Rules to know
Grizzly country. Grizzly bears are federally listed as threatened; killing one is illegal except in self-defense. North Idaho: most often seen in the Selkirk and Cabinet ranges in Unit 1, infrequently in Units 2, 3, 4, 4A, 6, 7 and 9, and IDFG says they can occupy any Panhandle unit. Eastern Idaho (Yellowstone / Island Park): expect them in Units 60, 61, 62, 62A, 65, 67 and parts of 64; IDFG also confirmed a grizzly in Unit 59 in 2023. Carry bear spray and be sure of your target before shooting a bear.
Next to Unit 61
Five-year general-season success in the units that border Unit 61.
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 61.
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.