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Idaho Hunting Unit 72
Elk and deer in Unit 72 (Caribou, Bingham 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 72
In the 2025 general season, 605 elk hunters took 71 elk: 12% success. Over the last five seasons, success averaged 16% (total harvest over total hunters, 2021–2025). Of the bulls taken, 76% had 6 or more points.
| Year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | 6+ pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 605 | 71 | 12% | 76% |
| 2024 | 650 | 86 | 13% | 35% |
| 2023 | 640 | 90 | 14% | 24% |
| 2022 | 490 | 138 | 28% | 66% |
| 2021 | 550 | 93 | 17% | 28% |
| 2020 | 558 | 73 | 13% | 36% |
| 2019 | 730 | 83 | 11% | 33% |
| 2018 | 663 | 96 | 14% | 30% |
| 2017 | 572 | 142 | 25% | 30% |
| 2016 | 518 | 82 | 16% | 17% |
| 2015 | 517 | 95 | 18% | 25% |
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 2043 area 70-1 | Any weapon | 24 | 17 | 71% |
| Hunt 2044 area 70-1 | Any weapon | 243 | 98 | 40% |
| Hunt 2145 area 70-1 | Muzzleloader | 111 | 17 | 15% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
Deer hunting in Unit 72
In the 2025 general season, 749 deer hunters took 202 deer: 27% success. Over the last five seasons, mule deer success averaged 21% (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 | 749 | 202 | 27% | 0% |
| 2024 | 759 | 146 | 19% | 2% |
| 2023 | 649 | 78 | 12% | 0% |
| 2022 | 789 | 165 | 21% | 6% |
| 2021 | 792 | 201 | 25% | 2% |
| 2020 | 799 | 141 | 18% | 1% |
| 2019 | 986 | 142 | 14% | 0% |
| 2018 | 1,031 | 178 | 17% | 2% |
| 2017 | 1,038 | 153 | 15% | 0% |
| 2016 | 1,155 | 371 | 32% | 0% |
| 2015 | 1,202 | 323 | 27% | 0% |
Controlled hunt results, 2025
| Hunt | Weapon | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt 1082 area 72-1 | Archery | 204 | 33 | 16% |
| Hunt 1146 area 66A-1X | Any weapon | 53 | 14 | 26% |
Results are for the whole hunt area, which can reach beyond this unit.
2026 elk and deer seasons in Unit 72
General seasons (over the counter)
| Season | Dates | Sex | Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | either sex | Elk A Tag - Bannock Zone |
| Elk, any weapon | Oct 25 – Nov 15 | antlerless | Elk A Tag - Bannock Zone |
| Elk, muzzleloader | Dec 1 – Dec 31 | antlerless | Elk A Tag - Bannock Zone |
| Deer, archery | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | antlered | Regular Deer Tag |
| Deer, any weapon | Oct 10 – Oct 24 | antlered | Regular Deer Tag |
Controlled hunts
| Hunt | Dates | Weapon | Sex | Tags | Drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk 2043 area 70-1 | Oct 1 – Oct 14 | Any weapon | antlered | 25 | 3% (25 tags, 919 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2044 area 70-1 | Oct 15 – Oct 24 | Any weapon | antlered | 250 | 20% (250 tags, 1,275 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2145 area 70-1 | Nov 16 – Nov 30 | Muzzleloader | either sex | 125 | 92% (125 tags, 119 1st choice, 2026) |
| Elk 2145 area 70-1 | Dec 1 – Dec 31 | Muzzleloader | antlerless | 125 | 92% (125 tags, 119 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1146 area 66A-1X | Oct 1 – Nov 30 | Any weapon | antlerless | 100 | 78% (100 tags, 128 1st choice, 2026) |
| Deer 1082 area 72-1 | Nov 16 – Dec 5 | Archery | antlered | – | 100% (259 tags, 259 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 72
33% public land. Ownership: Private 57%, State 22%, Tribal 10%, BLM 9.3%, Other 1.8%.
Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planner. The map shows public land boundaries and Forest roads you can drive.
Next to Unit 72
Five-year general-season success in the units that border Unit 72.
| Unit | Elk | Deer |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 72 (this unit) | 16% | 21% |
| Unit 69 | 19% | 16% |
| Unit 71 | 8% | 20% |
| Unit 74 | 18% | 31% |
| Unit 75 | 15% | 19% |
| Unit 76 | 22% | 24% |
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 72.
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.