Unit 66 Deer Hunting, Idaho
Idaho hunting unit · 350 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 fair odds to very long odds.
What hunting Unit 66 is like
Unit 66 covers 350 square miles of mixed country, with substantial steep ground, running from 5,200 feet up to 9,500 feet, and it hunts mostly on foot. Cover shifts with elevation: sagebrush and conifer dominate the lower and mid elevations with some riparian and aspen mixed in, while the higher country turns to conifer with sagebrush, aspen and small pockets of grass and meadow. The Caribou and Targhee National Forests make up the backbone of the unit, and any wilderness within them is closed to motorized travel, so the farther-in ground rewards hunters willing to walk.
About 91 percent of the unit, roughly 320 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, Idaho state endowment land, and BLM ground — the one figure a hunter can count on, though individual state parcels can be posted closed or leased. Private land accounts for about 5.9 percent and requires written permission, with a small unclassified share on top. The Commissary fire burned about 6,900 acres on the unit's west side, roughly 3 percent of the unit, and this fall it will be two to four years out — that stage often opens up glassing and puts good feed on the ground, so it is worth a look, though hunters should always check for current fire closures before heading in.
Deer tags here split by species and by weapon. Residents buy the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag over the counter with no draw, while nonresidents apply for one of those same tags through a random draw, choosing the specific tag when they apply rather than after. On top of the general seasons, three controlled hunts add antlerless white-tailed deer opportunity or an extended any-weapon buck season, each drawn separately with its own odds.
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 Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 66 | August 30 – September 30 | Antlered | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 66 | August 30 – September 30 | Antlered or antlerless | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| Regular deer tag · Any weapon Motorized Hunting Rule Applies | October 10 – October 24 | Antlered | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase |
| White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon Motorized Hunting Rule Applies | October 10 – October 31 | Antlered or antlerless | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 66 | 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; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 66 | 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 hunt opens while bucks are still in velvet through mid-September and bachelored in small groups, later settling into similar habits once velvet sheds. Glassing shady pockets and north-facing slopes in the morning turns up bedded bucks, and the plan is to spot one at first light, watch where he beds, then close the distance at midday while he's down. Evening glassing works too, though it's often more about marking a buck to return to the next morning than forcing a stalk that evening. The tag is valid for antlered deer only, taken with archery gear.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · August 30 – September 30
Running the same August 30 through September 30 window, this white-tailed deer archery season covers bucks still in velvet and then transitioning as they shed it. Glass shady cover and north-facing slopes through the morning to catch a buck before he beds, then use the middle of the day to stalk him in his bed or watch him again in the evening to set up a return. The white-tailed deer tag allows either an antlered or antlerless deer, so a hunter can fill the tag with a doe if the right buck doesn't show. Deer that seem to vanish are usually just tucked into a nearby draw or crevice.
Regular deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 24
By the second week of October, bucks are sliding into nocturnal habits, spending more time moving at night and less time visible in daylight. Most haven't moved far from their summer range yet, so the same drainages and slopes scouted earlier in the fall are still worth glassing hard at first and last light. October in Unit 66 brings modest snowfall and colder lows, which can start nudging deer around but hasn't triggered any migration yet. This any-weapon season is limited to antlered deer taken under the regular deer tag.
White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
This white-tailed deer any-weapon season spans the same nocturnal shift bucks go through in early October, then carries into the point late in the month when deer start staging toward their eventual rutting ground. Early in the season, focus glassing on the country deer used through summer; by the back half of October, start covering the ground between summer range and where the rut will unfold. Cooling temperatures and light October snowfall don't change tactics much yet, but they're a sign of what's coming. The tag allows either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · November 1 – December 19
Spanning nearly seven weeks from November 1 through December 19, this white-tailed deer archery season starts with deer still staging toward rut ground and then runs through the full primary rut into late-rut consolidation. Early on, glass the corridors between summer and rut range; once bucks are rutting in mid-to-late November, look for does since bucks will be nearby or with them. Weather moving through in November and December can push deer down out of the high country onto easier, more glassable ground, and fresh snow is a good time to cut fresh buck tracks. Either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer may be taken.
Regular deer tag · Archery · November 20 – December 19
Opening November 20 and running to December 19, this regular deer tag archery season falls entirely within the rut, but it's restricted to white-tailed deer only for both antlered and antlerless animals. With bucks rutting, the approach is to find does first, since bucks are likely to be nearby or traveling with them, and to glass early and late as heavier November and December snowfall can push deer down to lower, more visible ground. Fresh tracks in new snow are worth following. This is one of the better windows to catch a mature whitetail buck moving in daylight, but it does not carry a mule deer option.
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 66 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; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Units 66 and 69 | 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; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Units 66 and 69 | October 10 – October 31 | Antlerless only | Fair odds | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| Controlled hunt 66 · Any weapon Motorized Hunting Rule Applies | 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 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 archery hunt for white-tailed deer, running the same August 30 to September 30 window as the general archery seasons and covering the summer bachelor period into early fall transition. Focus effort on the sagebrush, conifer and riparian mix at lower and mid elevations where whitetail does concentrate, and use morning and evening light to locate animals before they settle into cover for the day. Access is on foot in country that ranges from gentle to steep, with National Forest ground making up most of the unit. This extra antlerless tag is archery-only and limited to white-tailed deer.
Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
Running October 10 through October 31, this controlled antlerless hunt for white-tailed deer spans the period when deer are shifting toward more nocturnal patterns and beginning to stage toward rutting ground. Cover ground methodically at first and last light, working the lower and mid-elevation sagebrush and conifer mix where whitetail groups hold, and expect modest October snowfall and colder mornings to start pushing activity earlier and later in the day. This is an extra antlerless tag valid for any weapon, restricted to white-tailed deer only, and it also applies in neighboring Unit 69.
Controlled hunt 66 · Any weapon · October 10 – November 30
This any-weapon controlled hunt for antlered deer runs an unusually long stretch, October 10 through November 30, covering the nocturnal shift of early October, the staging period, and the full primary and late rut. Early on, hunt the same summer-range country bucks haven't yet left; by late October start working the corridors toward rut range, and once the rut hits in November, find does and expect bucks close by. Snowfall picks up through the period and can push deer down to more accessible ground, with fresh snow a good time to cut tracks. Draw odds for Controlled hunt 66 run very long, so it's a hunt to enter with realistic expectations even though the extended season length is a real advantage for the tag holder.
Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Archery · November 20 – December 19
This late controlled antlerless hunt for white-tailed deer runs November 20 through December 19, covering the primary rut and into late-rut consolidation. Focus on lower-elevation sagebrush, conifer and riparian cover where whitetail does hold up, and plan around the heavier snowfall typical of late November and December, which tends to concentrate deer on lower, more accessible ground. This is an archery-only, white-tailed-only antlerless tag, and Controlled hunt 60A-1X draws at fair odds in the resident first-choice draw.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,200–9,500 ft, typically around 6,600 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 24% gentle · 47% moderate · 28% steep · 1% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~320 sq mi
- National forests
- Caribou National Forest and Targhee National Forest
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
- Sagebrush43%
- Conifer40%
- Other cover13%
- Riparian3%
- Aspen2%
Mid elevations
- Sagebrush46%
- Conifer45%
- Aspen4%
- Riparian3%
- Other cover1%
Higher elevations
- Conifer59%
- Sagebrush36%
- Aspen3%
- Grass and meadow2%
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 66. 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.
- Commissary fire, 2024 — about 6,900 acres in the unit (3%), mostly on its west side.
Fire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center.
Land & access
About 91% of Unit 66 is public land a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, Idaho state endowment land and BLM.
- National Forest90%
- Idaho state endowment land2%
- BLM<1%
- Unclassified ownership3%
- Private6%
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 78°F, lows around 46°F
- September — highs around 68°F, lows around 38°F
- October — highs around 53°F, lows around 29°F, about 1.6 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 39°F, lows around 20°F, about 10.7 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 29°F, lows around 12°F, about 21.7 in of snowfall
Unit 66 deer hunting FAQ
Can a resident buy a deer tag for Unit 66 over the counter?
Yes. Residents can buy either the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag over the counter with no draw and no application required. Nonresidents, by contrast, must apply for one of those tags through a random draw.
How do nonresidents get a general deer tag in Unit 66?
Nonresidents enter a random draw and must choose the specific tag — either the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag — at the time they apply, not after they draw. There is no point system involved; every applicant is treated the same each year in the random draw.
How hard is it to draw one of the controlled hunts in Unit 66?
Controlled hunt 60A-1X, which offers an extra antlerless white-tailed deer tag across three separate season windows, carries fair odds in the resident first-choice draw. Controlled hunt 66, an any-weapon antlered hunt running October 10 through November 30, carries very long odds for residents.
Which deer tags are valid in Unit 66?
The regular deer tag covers mule deer or white-tailed deer in most seasons, though its late archery season is restricted to white-tailed deer only. The white-tailed deer tag is valid only for white-tailed deer, in seasons that allow either antlered or antlerless animals.
How much of Unit 66 is public land a hunter can count on?
About 91 percent of the unit, roughly 320 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, Idaho state endowment land, and BLM ground. Private land makes up only about 5.9 percent, and written permission is required to hunt it.
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.