Unit 28 Deer Hunting, Idaho
Idaho hunting unit · 1,309 sq mi
General season — resident tags over the counter
Residents buy general deer tags over the counter — no draw, no points. Nonresident general tags are allocated by random draw. It also has 4 controlled hunts, drawn by pure random draw with no points — resident odds from good odds to very long odds.
What hunting Unit 28 is like
Unit 28 sits within the Salmon-Challis National Forest, and about 14% of it falls inside the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness, where no motorized travel is allowed. The country runs from around 3,000 feet up to 10,000 feet, and the terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground — moderate slopes dominate but steep and rugged ground together make up a meaningful share of the unit, so this is largely foot-hunting country once a hunter gets off any road. Lower elevations lean sagebrush with pockets of conifer and open grass and meadow, mid elevations turn heavily to conifer timber, and higher elevations stay conifer-dominated with sagebrush and meadow mixed in — cover that rewards a hunter willing to glass open slopes and still-hunt through timber.
Public ground is generous here: about 96% of the unit, roughly 1,263 square miles of National Forest, BLM and Idaho state endowment land, is generally open to hunting, though endowment parcels can be posted closed or leased and access is never a given just because ground is public. Private land accounts for only about 3.5% of the unit and requires written permission. Two fires have reshaped parts of the unit in the past few years — the Moose fire of 2022 burned about 15% of the unit on the northeast side, and the Red Rock fire of 2024 burned about 9% of it through the middle of the unit — and both are now two to four years out, a stage when the open ground left behind can be some of the better glassing in the unit. Older burns from the Rabbit Foot fire (2018) on the south side and the Mud Lick fire (2021) on the northwest side are further along in regrowth and now hold thick brush and deadfall. Hunters should check for current fire closures before heading in.
Deer tags here split into general and controlled opportunity. Residents buy general regular deer or white-tailed deer tags over the counter, while nonresidents apply for one of those two tags by name in a random draw. Beyond the general seasons, several controlled hunts add antlered and antlerless opportunity, including youth-only and antlerless-only options built to manage white-tailed deer numbers.
General-season deer (2026)
The Regular Deer tag is valid for mule deer or white-tailed deer unless a season says otherwise; the White-tailed Deer tag is white-tailed deer only. Residents buy general deer tags over the counter; nonresident general tags are allocated by random draw.
| Season | Dates | Legal deer | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular deer tag · Any weapon | October 10 – October 24 | Antlered | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase |
| Regular deer tag · Any weapon | October 10 – October 31 | Antlerless: youth only | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon Very limited access | October 10 – October 31 | Antlered; antlerless: youth only | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| White-tailed deer tag · Short-range weapons Very limited access | November 1 – December 9 | Antlered | Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| White-tailed deer tag · Short-range weapons Very limited access | November 1 – December 31 | Antlerless | Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| Regular deer tag · Archery | December 1 – December 31 | Antlered or antlerless | Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery Very limited access | December 1 – December 31 | Antlered or antlerless | Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
Regular deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 24
This is the early general season, and by this point in October bucks are turning increasingly nocturnal, with most still holding near their summer range rather than pushing toward rut country. A regular deer tag covers mule deer or white-tailed deer here, but only an antlered animal is legal. Hunting works best by getting into the timbered mid and higher elevations early and late, since bucks moving mostly at night means a hunter has to intercept them near bedding cover rather than catch them out feeding in the open. The Moose and Red Rock burns, both a few years old now, are worth a look for the visibility they offer into country that would otherwise be solid timber.
White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
Running the same October dates as the general regular season into an extra week, this white-tailed deer season starts with bucks still nocturnal and holding on summer range, then shifts as October closes and deer begin drifting toward their rutting grounds. The tag is antlered, with an antlerless allowance for youth hunters only. Access into this unit's white-tailed range is very limited, so scouting travel corridors between summer cover and likely rut staging ground pays off, especially glassing timber edges where deer stage before pushing to lower, more open terrain. The late-October stretch is the better window to catch deer on the move rather than holed up.
White-tailed deer tag · Short-range weapons · November 1 – December 9
This short-range-weapons hunt opens with deer still staging toward rut country before sliding into the heart of the rut and on into its close, giving a hunter three distinct windows in one season. Only an antlered white-tailed deer is legal, and access to this hunt is very limited. Early on, glass the corridors between summer and rut range; once November's rut takes hold, weather can push deer down out of the high country onto ground that's easier to glass and reach, and fresh snow is a good time to cut buck tracks. Finding does concentrated on lower ground is usually the fastest way to find a rutting buck nearby.
White-tailed deer tag · Short-range weapons · November 1 – December 31
This antlerless-only season runs from the start of November through the end of December, giving a hunter a long stretch to fill a white-tailed deer tag on any legal antlerless animal. Deer move through migration staging in early November, into the peak of the rut, and finally into late-rut winter consolidation by December, which generally means animals settle onto more accessible, lower ground as the season wears on. Access to this hunt is very limited, so still-hunting timber edges and glassing lower sagebrush and meadow openings near bedding cover is the practical approach. Snowfall builds through November and December, and fresh snow can help locate travel routes into the areas deer are using.
Regular deer tag · Archery · December 1 – December 31
Opening in December after the rut has run its course, this archery season finds deer in late-rut winter consolidation, with bucks still likely to be found near does even as breeding activity winds down. A regular deer tag allows either an antlered or antlerless animal, mule deer or white-tailed deer. Weather moving through in December can push deer out of higher country onto easier-to-glass ground, and looking for fresh tracks after a new snowfall is a good way to relocate does and the bucks traveling with them. Archery hunters willing to work lower-elevation sagebrush and meadow pockets near timber edges have the best shot at connecting.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · December 1 – December 31
This white-tailed deer archery season shares its December dates and late-rut winter consolidation phase with the general archery hunt, and either an antlered or antlerless deer is legal, though access remains very limited. Weather during the month tends to push deer down out of high country, concentrating them on lower, more glassable ground, and a fresh snowfall is a good cue to go looking for tracks. Since bucks are still likely traveling with does at this point, locating a group of does is often the quickest path to a buck. Working timber edges bordering open sagebrush or meadow at lower elevations is the practical strategy.
Controlled deer hunts (2026)
Controlled hunts have a limited number of tags and are drawn by pure random draw — Idaho uses no points, so years of applying do not improve the odds. First choices are drawn before second choices. A hunt marked as covering part of Unit 28 is valid only in its own hunt area.
| Season | Dates | Legal deer | Resident draw | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled hunt 21-1 · Archery | August 1 – September 30 | Antlered only | Long odds | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| Controlled hunt 21-1X · Any weapon Extra antlerless tag; White-tailed deer only | August 30 – October 31 | Antlerless only | Good odds | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition, Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| Controlled hunt 21-1X · Any weapon Youth only; White-tailed deer only | August 30 – December 31 | Antlerless only | Youth only | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition, Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| Controlled hunt 28-1 · Any weapon Covers only part of this unit; Youth only; Portion of Unit only | September 15 – October 31 | Antlered or antlerless | Youth only | Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition, Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| Controlled hunt 28 · Any weapon | October 10 – November 30 | Antlered only | Very long odds | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| Controlled hunt 21-1X · Any weapon Extra antlerless tag; White-tailed deer only | November 1 – December 31 | Antlerless only | Fair odds | Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
Resident draw is a band in words from the 2026 first-choice results: good, fair, long or very long odds. It is not a published percentage, and nonresident odds differ. Youth-only hunts are shown without a band.
Controlled hunt 21-1 · Archery · August 1 – September 30
Covering August and September, this archery-only controlled hunt catches bucks first in their summer bachelor-group pattern and then through the velvet-shed transition, and draw odds for residents run long. Early on, bucks feed heavily on forbs and browse, then bed in shade through the day, so glassing shaded, north-facing slopes at first light to locate a bedded buck and then stalking him at midday is the standard approach; water sources, even small seeps, can be worth watching since a buck needs little of it. Evening glassing often just pins a buck down for a return the next morning rather than producing an immediate stalk. Once velvet sheds, bucks hold similar patterns but may bed earlier and stay put later into the evening, and a buck that seems to vanish is usually still tucked into a nearby draw or crevice worth a closer look. Only an antlered deer is legal on this hunt.
Controlled hunt 21-1X · Any weapon · August 30 – October 31
This antlerless-only controlled hunt for white-tailed deer runs from late August through the end of October, spanning the summer bachelor pattern, the velvet-shed transition, the start of nocturnal fall movement, and the beginning of migration staging — and draw odds for residents are good, making it a reliable extra-tag option. Over this stretch deer shift from summer range gradually toward country they will use during the rut, tracking through mixed sagebrush, conifer and meadow depending on elevation. Snowfall picks up modestly by October, but the hunt is mostly a season of covering ground and glassing likely travel routes as deer relocate. Only antlerless white-tailed deer are legal, so hunters should focus effort on group sign rather than searching for antlered animals.
Controlled hunt 28 · Any weapon · October 10 – November 30
This antlered-only controlled hunt spans nearly two months, from early October through the end of November, carrying a hunter through nocturnal fall behavior, migration staging, and into the full rut, and draw odds for residents run very long. Early on, bucks stay nocturnal and close to summer range, then begin shifting toward rutting ground as October ends; by November, weather moving through the high country can push bucks down onto ground that's easier to glass and reach. Fresh snow is worth watching for tracks, and once the rut is underway, finding concentrations of does is the surest way to turn up a buck nearby. This hunt covers only part of Unit 28, so a hunter needs to confirm ground falls within its boundary before planning around it.
Controlled hunt 21-1X · Any weapon · November 1 – December 31
Spanning November and December, this antlerless-only white-tailed deer hunt covers migration staging, the peak rut, and the late-rut consolidation period, with resident draw odds rated fair. As the season progresses, deer tend to move down out of higher country onto more accessible ground, especially once weather turns in November and again in December. Antlerless-only hunters should concentrate on lower-elevation sagebrush and meadow pockets bordering timber, since that's where deer settle as the season wears on. Fresh snowfall through these months can help reveal the routes deer are using to reach lower ground.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 3,000–10,000 ft, typically around 6,900 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 14% gentle · 45% moderate · 38% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~1,263 sq mi
- National forests
- Salmon-Challis National Forest
- Designated wilderness
- Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness (14%) — closed to motorized vehicles
Habitat & cover
What grows here, by elevation. Each band adds to 100% on its own — these are shares of that band, not of the unit.
Lower elevations
- Sagebrush58%
- Conifer31%
- Grass and meadow8%
- Other cover3%
Mid elevations
- Conifer67%
- Sagebrush30%
- Grass and meadow3%
Higher elevations
- Conifer62%
- Sagebrush26%
- Grass and meadow12%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database. “Other cover” is the remainder — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land.
Recent fires
Wildfires in the last several seasons that burned a meaningful share of Unit 28. Fire perimeters show where a fire burned, not how hot — and closures change through the year, so check current fire closures and restrictions before you go.
- Moose fire, 2022 — about 123,000 acres in the unit (15%), mostly on its northeast side.
- Red Rock fire, 2024 — about 71,000 acres in the unit (9%), toward the middle of the unit.
- Rabbit Foot fire, 2018 — about 27,000 acres in the unit (3%), mostly on its south side.
- Mud Lick fire, 2021 — about 21,000 acres in the unit (3%), mostly on its northwest side.
Fire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center.
Land & access
About 96% of Unit 28 is public land a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, BLM and Idaho state endowment land.
- National Forest88%
- BLM8%
- Idaho state endowment land<1%
- Private4%
Idaho state endowment land is generally open to hunting unless posted closed or leased — check the parcel before planning around it.
Fall weather
- August — highs around 75°F, lows around 48°F
- September — highs around 65°F, lows around 41°F
- October — highs around 50°F, lows around 31°F, about 1.4 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 36°F, lows around 21°F, about 8.4 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 28°F, lows around 14°F, about 16.4 in of snowfall
Unit 28 deer hunting FAQ
Can a resident buy a deer tag for Unit 28 over the counter?
Yes. Residents can buy either a general regular deer tag or a general white-tailed deer tag over the counter with no draw or application required. Nonresidents, by contrast, must apply for one of those two tags by name through a random draw.
How do nonresidents get a general tag in Unit 28?
Nonresidents enter a random draw and must choose either the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag when they apply, not after they draw. There is no point system involved, since Idaho does not use preference or bonus points for deer.
How hard are the controlled hunts in Unit 28 to draw?
Odds vary widely by hunt. Controlled hunt 21-1 archery carries long odds for residents, controlled hunt 28 any-weapon carries very long odds, and the antlerless-only 21-1X hunts range from good odds to fair odds depending on the specific season.
Which deer tags work in Unit 28?
The regular deer tag is valid for either mule deer or white-tailed deer unless a specific season restricts it further. The white-tailed deer tag is valid only for white-tailed deer, and several seasons on that tag carry very limited access or antlerless-only restrictions.
How much of Unit 28 is public land?
About 96% of the unit, roughly 1,263 square miles, is National Forest, BLM or Idaho state endowment land generally open to hunting. Only about 3.5% is private and requires written permission, though public land access still depends on terrain, road access and whether individual endowment parcels are posted closed.
Data sources & methodology
- Idaho Fish and Game — Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons & Rules — general and controlled season dates, legal animals and the brochure's unit notes
- Idaho Fish and Game — Idaho Hunt Planner — unit boundaries, the national forests and wilderness areas in each unit, and controlled-hunt drawing results behind the odds bands
- Idaho Fish and Game — 2026 Nonresident General Tags and Tags Allocated to Outfitters — which general elk zone tags are capped
- USGS / MRLC — National Land Cover Database — habitat and cover classes by elevation band
- USGS PAD-US — Protected Areas Database of the United States — land ownership and access
- Daymet daily climate, 1991–2020 (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) — fall weather
- National Interagency Fire Center — wildfire perimeters — recent fires, their size and where they burned
Controlled-hunt draw difficulty is a qualitative band from resident first-choice results, not published odds. Land shares are separate, non-overlapping categories. Confirm current dates and rules in the Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules brochure before you hunt. Unit data last updated September 29, 2026.