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Idaho Hunting Unit 63A
Elk and deer in Unit 63A (Jefferson, Bonneville, Madison 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 63A
In the 2025 general season, 57 elk hunters took 3 elk: 5% success. Over the last five seasons, success averaged 10% (total harvest over total hunters, 2021–2025). Of the bulls taken, 0% had 6 or more points.
| Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | 6+ pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | 3 | 5% | 0% |
| 2024 | 52 | 0 | 0% | – |
| 2023 | 68 | 11 | 17% | 0% |
| 2022 | 78 | 7 | 9% | – |
| 2021 | 66 | 10 | 15% | – |
| 2020 | 38 | 14 | 37% | 0% |
| 2019 | 19 | 2 | 11% | – |
| 2018 | 211 | 28 | 13% | 0% |
| 2017 | 104 | 14 | 13% | 100% |
| 2016 | 132 | 12 | 9% | 0% |
| 2015 | 145 | 25 | 17% | 0% |
Deer hunting in Unit 63A
In the 2025 general season, 883 deer hunters took 197 deer: 22% success. Over the last five seasons, deer success averaged 27% (all deer, 2021–2025); whitetail were 98% of the harvest, so this is mostly a whitetail unit. Idaho Fish and Game counts all deer: 96% of the 2025 harvest was whitetail.
| Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Whitetail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 883 | 197 | 22% | 96% |
| 2024 | 938 | 283 | 30% | 97% |
| 2023 | 839 | 231 | 28% | 100% |
| 2022 | 927 | 258 | 28% | 98% |
| 2021 | 998 | 290 | 29% | 98% |
| 2020 | 775 | 248 | 32% | 93% |
| 2019 | 798 | 206 | 26% | 98% |
| 2018 | 810 | 238 | 29% | 95% |
| 2017 | 651 | 165 | 25% | 100% |
| 2016 | 566 | 198 | 35% | 89% |
| 2015 | 694 | 243 | 35% | 88% |
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 1068 | Short-range | 43 | 20 | 47% |
| Hunt 1145 area 63AX | Archery | 131 | 38 | 29% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
2026 elk and deer seasons in Unit 63A
General seasons (over the counter)
| Season | Dates | Sex | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk, short-range | Aug 1 – Aug 31 | either sex | Elk A Tag - Snake River Zone |
| Elk, short-range | Sep 1 – Nov 30 | antlerless | Elk A Tag - Snake River Zone |
| Deer, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | either sex | White-tailed Deer Tag |
| Deer, short-range | Oct 10 – Oct 20 | antlerless | White-tailed Deer Tag |
| Deer, short-range | Oct 21 – Oct 31 | antlered | White-tailed Deer Tag |
| Deer, archery | Nov 1 – Dec 19 | either sex | White-tailed Deer Tag |
Controlled hunts
| Hunt | Dates | Weapon | Sex | Tags | Drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer 1145 area 63AX | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | Archery | antlerless | 200 | 38% (200 tags, 524 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1068 area 63A | Oct 5 – Nov 15 | Short-range | either sex | 50 | 29% (50 tags, 171 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1145 area 63AX | Oct 10 – Oct 20 | Short-range | antlerless | 200 | 38% (200 tags, 524 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1145 area 63AX | Nov 1 – Dec 19 | Archery | antlerless | 200 | 38% (200 tags, 524 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 63A
19% public land. Ownership: Private 81%, BLM 14%, State 3%, Other 1.5%.
Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner. The map shows public land boundaries and Forest roads you can drive.
Rules to know
Chronic wasting disease testing required. Mule deer and white-tailed deer taken in Units 14, 18, 23, 63A, 64, 69 or the zone portion of Unit 1 must be tested: get the head or lymph nodes to Idaho Fish and Game within 10 days of harvest. Testing is free. Testing elk and moose from these units is recommended, not required.
Next to Unit 63A
Five-year general-season success in the units that border Unit 63A.
| Unit | Elk | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 63A (this unit) | 10% | 27%* |
| Unit 60A | 12% | 18% |
| Unit 63 | – | 12% |
| Unit 64 | 15% | 9% |
| Unit 67 | 12% | 7% |
| Unit 68A | 13% | 6% |
| Unit 69 | 19% | 16% |
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 63A.
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.