Unit 60A Deer Hunting, Idaho
Idaho hunting unit · 921 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 5 controlled hunts, drawn by pure random draw with no points — resident odds from good odds to fair odds.
What hunting Unit 60A is like
Unit 60A is gentle and rolling country, with almost none of it qualifying as steep or rugged ground. Elevations run from about 4,800 feet up to 6,600 feet, and the terrain stays open and walkable across nearly all of it, which makes for country a hunter can cover on foot without technical terrain slowing the pace. Cover is dominated by sagebrush at every elevation band, with grass and meadow mixed through and a small amount of riparian growth at the lower elevations. There's no wilderness component here; this is rolling shrub-steppe deer country rather than backcountry.
About 53 percent of the unit, roughly 491 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across BLM, Idaho state endowment land, and a State Wildlife Management Area. State endowment land is open unless a parcel is posted closed or under lease, so it pays to check before counting on a piece of ground. The remaining 47 percent is private and requires written permission. With gentle, open terrain and cover patterns that hold steady across the landscape, scouting time is best spent finding which specific pieces are open rather than fighting the terrain itself.
Both the regular deer tag and the white-tailed deer tag apply here, along with several controlled hunts layered on top of the general seasons. Residents buy general deer tags over the counter with no draw required; nonresidents go through a random draw in which they apply for either the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag as a specific choice at the time of application. Controlled hunts add extra antlerless opportunity and a youth hunt, all filled by pure random draw with no points involved.
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 · Archery | August 30 – September 30 | Antlered | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery | August 30 – September 30 | Antlered or antlerless | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| Regular deer tag · Any weapon | October 10 – October 24 | Antlered | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase |
| White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon | October 10 – October 31 | Antlered or antlerless | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery | November 1 – December 19 | Antlered or antlerless | Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| Regular deer tag · Archery White-tailed deer only | November 20 – December 19 | Antlered: white-tailed deer only; antlerless: white-tailed deer only | Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
Regular deer tag · Archery · August 30 – September 30
This archery season opens while bucks are still deep into their summer bachelor patterns and running in small groups, holding into early-to-mid September before they begin shedding velvet. Summer scouting pays off more than anything else here: glass at first light to find a buck, watch where he beds for the day, then close the distance at midday while he's bedded, since these gentle, open slopes make for good glassing across long distances. Bucks feed into the morning before bedding in shade, so shady pockets and north-facing slopes are worth working over. A buck that seems to vanish is usually still nearby in a small crevice or draw. This tag is valid for an antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, and the same watch-and-stalk approach holds right through late September.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · August 30 – September 30
This white-tailed deer archery season runs the same calendar as the regular archery season, opening on bucks still bachelored up and in velvet before the shift to early fall. Glassing is the tool that matters most, since deer are spread across open sagebrush country and can be picked apart from a distance rather than tracked blind. Bucks bed in shade through the heat of the day and feed into the morning and again in the evening, so working shady pockets and north-facing ground can turn up a bedded buck worth a midday stalk. This tag allows either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer, giving more flexibility than the regular tag during the same stretch. Into late September the pattern holds: work the same country where bucks were found through summer.
Regular deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 24
By the second week of October bucks are sliding into a more nocturnal pattern, and most haven't moved far from where they spent the summer. Cooling temperatures and the season's light snowfall don't change much yet, but they do signal the shift away from summer routines. This is a short two-week window on antlered deer only, so it rewards hunters who already know where bucks were holding earlier in the fall and can get back onto that same ground quickly. The open, gentle terrain here means covering that ground efficiently is the main advantage a hunter has.
White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
This white-tailed season opens with bucks going nocturnal in early October and extends through the point where deer start staging for the rut. Early on, the pattern is the same as the regular season — bucks holding near summer ground and moving mostly after dark — but by late October some deer begin drifting toward their rutting areas. That's the time to glass the country between summer range and where the rut will play out, watching for movement corridors across the open, rolling ground. This tag allows either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer, and the longer any-weapon season gives more days to catch that shift.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · November 1 – December 19
Running from November into late December, this white-tailed archery season covers the staging period, the primary rut, and its aftermath, making it the most rut-centered hunt on the calendar here. Deer that were staging in late October settle into full rut activity through mid-November, and snowfall building through November and December often pushes deer out of higher ground onto lower, easier-to-glass terrain. Glassing hard at first and last light pays off, and a fresh snow is a good time to check for tracks. The most reliable tactic is finding the does, since rutting bucks will be with them or close by, and this tag allows either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer.
Regular deer tag · Archery · November 20 – December 19
This late-season archery hunt is restricted to white-tailed deer only, covering the primary rut and its winter consolidation phase from late November through mid-December. Building snowfall through this stretch tends to push deer down out of higher terrain onto more open, glassable ground, which suits this unit's rolling landscape well. Early and late light are the times to be glassing, and a fresh snow layer makes it easier to cut fresh buck tracks. Since rutting bucks stay close to does, locating groups of does is usually the fastest way to find a buck, and both antlered and antlerless white-tailed deer are legal under this tag.
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 60A is valid only in its own hunt area.
| Season | Dates | Legal deer | Resident draw | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Archery Extra antlerless tag; Archery only, White-tailed deer only | August 30 – September 30 | Antlerless only | Fair odds | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Any weapon Extra antlerless tag; White-tailed deer only | October 10 – October 31 | Antlerless only | Fair odds | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon Covers only part of this unit | October 10 – November 30 | See the hunt's rules | — | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut, Late Rut / Winter Consolidation |
| Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon Covers only part of this unit; Youth only | October 10 – October 24 | Antlered or antlerless | Youth only | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase |
| Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon Covers only part of this unit | October 25 – November 15 | Antlerless only | Good odds | Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging, Primary Rut |
| Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Archery Extra antlerless tag; Archery only, White-tailed deer only | November 20 – December 19 | Antlerless only | Fair odds | 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 60A-1X · Archery · August 30 – September 30
This is an antlerless-only controlled hunt for white-tailed deer, run by archery only across the same summer-into-fall window as the general archery seasons. Deer at this time are still holding to summer patterns, using sagebrush and grass cover across the gentle terrain with a bit of riparian growth in the lower elevations offering additional cover. The open, rolling ground makes for good glassing to locate deer before closing the distance for a shot. Draw odds for Idaho residents on this hunt run fair, and the tag is valid only for an antlerless white-tailed deer.
Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
This antlerless-only controlled hunt runs any weapon through October, covering the period when deer are shifting from nocturnal fall patterns into early staging movement. The open, rolling terrain and light October snowfall make for workable glassing conditions across sagebrush and grass cover at all elevations. Because this hunt spans the same weeks deer may begin drifting toward rutting ground, covering more open ground can help locate animals. The tag is valid only for an antlerless white-tailed deer.
Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon · October 10 – November 30
Covering only part of the unit, this any-weapon controlled hunt runs from early October through the end of November and spans the full arc from nocturnal fall behavior through the primary rut and into its close. Early on, bucks are still holding near summer range and moving mostly after dark; by late October they begin staging toward rutting ground, and by mid-November they're in full rut. Snowfall builds through November, often pushing deer down onto lower, more open ground where they're easier to glass, and fresh snow is a good time to look for tracks. Finding does is the most direct route to a buck during the rut portion of this hunt, and hunters need to confirm which part of the unit this hunt area covers before heading out.
Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon · October 25 – November 15
This antlerless-only hunt covers only part of the unit and runs from late October through mid-November, spanning the staging period into the primary rut. Deer are moving between summer range and rutting areas during this stretch, and the open, gentle terrain makes for good glassing across sagebrush and grass cover. Resident draw odds here run good, better than the other controlled hunts in this unit. The tag is valid only for an antlerless deer, and hunters should confirm the boundaries of this hunt area before heading out.
Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Archery · November 20 – December 19
This late-season archery hunt is antlerless-only, white-tailed deer only, and runs from late November through mid-December, covering the primary rut and its winter consolidation phase. Snowfall builds heavily through this stretch, tending to push deer out of higher terrain onto lower, more open ground that suits this unit's rolling landscape. The open sagebrush and grass cover across all elevation bands makes for workable glassing once deer concentrate on that lower ground. Draw odds for Idaho residents run fair, and the tag is valid only for an antlerless white-tailed deer.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,800–6,600 ft, typically around 5,300 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 98% gentle · 2% moderate · 0% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~491 sq mi
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
- Other cover45%
- Sagebrush40%
- Grass and meadow12%
- Riparian3%
Mid elevations
- Sagebrush63%
- Grass and meadow28%
- Other cover9%
Higher elevations
- Sagebrush70%
- Grass and meadow28%
- Other cover1%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database. “Other cover” is the remainder — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land.
Land & access
About 53% of Unit 60A is public land a hunter can generally count on — BLM, Idaho state endowment land and State Wildlife Management Area.
- BLM35%
- Idaho state endowment land16%
- State Wildlife Management Area3%
- Private47%
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 83°F, lows around 47°F
- September — highs around 72°F, lows around 40°F
- October — highs around 57°F, lows around 30°F, about 0.4 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 41°F, lows around 20°F, about 4.4 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 29°F, lows around 12°F, about 12.9 in of snowfall
Unit 60A deer hunting FAQ
Can a resident buy a deer tag for Unit 60A over the counter
Yes. Idaho residents can buy a general regular deer tag or a white-tailed deer tag over the counter with no draw or application required. Nonresidents go through a random draw process instead.
How do nonresidents get a general deer tag for Unit 60A
Nonresidents apply through a random draw and must choose a specific tag when applying, either the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag. The tag is selected at the time of application, not after the draw results are known.
How hard are the controlled hunts in Unit 60A to draw
Draw difficulty varies by hunt. Controlled hunt 60-1's antlerless any-weapon hunt from October 25 to November 15 carries good odds for residents, while the three 60A-1X antlerless controlled hunts each carry fair odds for residents.
Which deer tags are valid in Unit 60A
The regular deer tag covers either mule deer or white-tailed deer except where a season restricts it, such as the late archery season which is white-tailed deer only. The white-tailed deer tag is valid for white-tailed deer exclusively across its own set of seasons.
How much of Unit 60A is public land a hunter can count on
About 53 percent of the unit, roughly 491 square miles, is generally open to public hunting through BLM, Idaho state endowment land, and a State Wildlife Management Area. The remaining 47 percent is private and requires written permission to access.
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.