Unit 69 Deer Hunting, Idaho
Idaho hunting unit · 1,446 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 69 is like
Unit 69 is rolling country, with some steeper breaks, running from about 4,400 feet up to 7,700 feet. Most of the ground is gentle to moderate, the kind of terrain a hunter can cover on foot through sagebrush flats and grass meadows, with pockets of conifer timber and aspen for shade and cover, and a thin ribbon of riparian growth where water shows up. There's no wilderness designation here, but the low steep-and-rugged share means most of the unit is walkable rather than technical, and glassing from a rise into the flats or breaks is a workable way to hunt it.
Only about 23 percent of the unit — roughly 334 square miles of Idaho state endowment land, BLM, a State Wildlife Management Area, and National Forest — is generally open to public hunting, and even endowment parcels can be posted closed or under lease, so that access has to be treated as conditional rather than guaranteed. The remaining 77 percent is private and requires written permission. The Garden Creek fire burned about 5,500 acres on the unit's west side, roughly 1 percent of the total, and is within its first year after the fire this fall; hunters working that ground should expect a changed landscape and check for current fire closures before heading out.
The tag structure separates by species and by weapon more than by simple timing: a regular deer tag covers mule deer or white-tailed deer except where a season restricts it, while the white-tailed deer tag is limited to whitetails but runs across a wider stretch of the calendar, including well into December. Layered on top are controlled hunts — an either-sex opportunity in Controlled Hunt 69, and three antlerless-only white-tailed hunts in 60A-1X — that add extra chances for hunters willing to enter the random draw.
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 Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 69 | August 30 – September 30 | Antlered | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 69 | August 30 – September 30 | Antlered or antlerless | Summer Range / Bachelor Pattern, Velvet Shed / Early Fall Transition |
| Regular deer tag · Any weapon Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies | October 10 – October 24 | Antlered | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase |
| White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 69 | October 10 – October 31 | Antlered or antlerless | Early Fall Migration / Nocturnal Buck Phase, Early Pre-Rut / Migration Corridor Staging |
| White-tailed deer tag · Archery Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 69 | 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; Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 69 | 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 early season catches bucks still in their summer routine, bachelored up and carrying velvet into mid-September before shedding it. The gentle-to-moderate terrain here rewards patient glassing over hard hiking — find shady pockets and north-facing slopes where a buck beds through the heat of the day, then plan a stalk while he's down rather than trying to catch him on his feet. Mornings and evenings are for finding deer; midday is for closing the distance on one already bedded. This tag is valid for an antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, and CWD testing is required.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · August 30 – September 30
Through late summer and into mid-September, whitetail bucks here are still bachelored and in velvet, following the same predictable pattern of morning feeding and long midday beds in shade. Glassing shady draws and north-facing slopes is the way to locate a buck, then use the bedded hours to close in rather than pushing him off his feet. A buck that seems to vanish from where he was glassed is usually still nearby in a small crevice or draw. This tag allows either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer, with CWD testing required.
Regular deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 24
By this point in October bucks are turning increasingly nocturnal, spending more daylight hours bedded and moving mostly after dark. Most deer are still holding near the same ground they used through summer, so the effort shifts to covering that country methodically rather than expecting deer to be moving in daylight. This tag is for an antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer taken with any weapon, and CWD testing is required.
White-tailed deer tag · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
Bucks are increasingly nocturnal through this stretch, and most whitetails are still on or near their summer range early on, but toward the tail end of October some deer begin drifting toward the ground they'll use during the rut. Glassing the country between summer haunts and likely rutting ground can pay off as that shift gets underway. This any-weapon tag covers either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer, with CWD testing required.
White-tailed deer tag · Archery · November 1 – December 19
This long season opens with deer still staging toward rutting ground in late October, then runs through the full rut and into its aftermath. Once November hits, bucks are actively rutting and tracking does, so finding concentrations of does is the surest way to find a buck nearby. Incoming weather and accumulating snowfall — November and December both bring measurable totals with lows well below freezing — can push deer down out of the highest ground onto flatter, more glassable terrain, and fresh snow makes for good buck-track reading. This tag allows either an antlered or antlerless white-tailed deer clear through late December.
Regular deer tag · Archery · November 20 – December 19
Running from late November into late December, this archery season falls entirely within the rut and its aftermath, when bucks are tied closely to does. Cold weather with real snowfall in both months tends to push whitetails down off the highest ground onto more open, easier-to-glass terrain, and fresh snow is worth checking for tracks. This tag is restricted to white-tailed deer only, antlered or antlerless, with CWD testing required.
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 69 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; Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required in Units 64 and 69; 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; Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required in Units 64 and 69; 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 69 · Any weapon Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required; 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; Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Required in Units 64 and 69 | 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 opportunity for white-tailed deer taken by archery tackle, running through the tail end of summer patterns and into the early fall transition. The gentle, walkable terrain and mix of sagebrush, grass, and pockets of timber and aspen make for good glassing and stalking conditions on flats and in shaded draws. It draws under fair odds in the resident controlled-hunt draw, and CWD testing is required.
Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Any weapon · October 10 – October 31
This antlerless-only, any-weapon hunt for white-tailed deer runs as bucks are going increasingly nocturnal and deer begin easing toward their rutting ground later in the period. It's a straightforward stalk-and-glass proposition on the unit's gentle terrain, working sagebrush flats, grass meadows, and the timber and aspen pockets deer use for cover. Draw odds for residents are listed as fair, and CWD testing is required.
Controlled hunt 69 · Any weapon · October 10 – November 30
This long any-weapon season for an antlered deer runs from the nocturnal phase of October through the full rut and into its winter consolidation, giving a drawn hunter time to work the shift from summer patterns to rutting behavior. Early on, bucks are hard to catch moving in daylight, but by November they're tied to does, and glassing for concentrations of does is the best way to find a buck nearby. November snowfall and cold can push deer down onto lower, more open ground that's easier to glass. This is a very-long-odds draw in the controlled hunt, and CWD testing is required.
Controlled hunt 60A-1X · Archery · November 20 – December 19
This late-season antlerless-only archery hunt for white-tailed deer runs through the primary rut and into its winter consolidation phase, with real snowfall and cold settling into both November and December. The gentle terrain and mix of sagebrush, grass, and timber pockets stay walkable even as snow accumulates, and it's worth watching how deep, wet snow may concentrate deer onto lower, easier ground. This hunt draws under fair odds for residents, and CWD testing is required in the relevant units.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,400–7,700 ft, typically around 6,000 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 70% gentle · 27% moderate · 3% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~334 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.
Across the unit
- Sagebrush54%
- Other cover23%
- Grass and meadow9%
- Conifer8%
- Aspen4%
- Riparian2%
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 69. 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.
- Garden Creek fire, 2025 — about 5,500 acres in the unit, mostly on its west side.
Fire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center.
Land & access
About 23% of Unit 69 is public land a hunter can generally count on — Idaho state endowment land, BLM, State Wildlife Management Area and National Forest.
- Idaho state endowment land14%
- BLM4%
- State Wildlife Management Area4%
- National Forest2%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private77%
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 50°F
- September — highs around 67°F, lows around 41°F
- October — highs around 52°F, lows around 31°F, about 0.6 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 39°F, lows around 22°F, about 8.6 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 29°F, lows around 14°F, about 18.1 in of snowfall
Unit 69 deer hunting FAQ
Can a resident buy a deer tag for Unit 69 over the counter?
Yes. Residents can buy a general regular deer tag or a general white-tailed deer tag over the counter without applying or entering a draw. Those tags are valid for the general seasons listed for Unit 69, each with its own dates and legal-animal rules.
How do nonresidents get a general tag in Unit 69?
Nonresidents enter a random draw and apply for a specific tag — either the regular deer tag or the white-tailed deer tag — choosing which one when they submit their application. The tag is not chosen after the draw; whichever tag was applied for is the one that can be drawn.
How hard are the controlled hunts in Unit 69 to draw?
Draw difficulty varies by hunt. Controlled hunt 60A-1X, an antlerless white-tailed deer opportunity offered in three different season formats, carries fair odds for residents, while Controlled hunt 69, an antlered any-weapon hunt, carries very long odds for residents.
Which deer tags are valid in Unit 69?
The regular deer tag is valid for mule deer or white-tailed deer except where a specific season restricts it to whitetails only, such as the late archery season. The white-tailed deer tag is valid only for white-tailed deer across its own set of seasons, and controlled hunt tags in 60A-1X are also restricted to white-tailed deer.
How much of Unit 69 is public land a hunter can count on?
About 23 percent of the unit, roughly 334 square miles, is generally open to public hunting through a mix of Idaho state endowment land, BLM, a State Wildlife Management Area, and National Forest. The remaining 77 percent is private and requires written permission, and even the endowment parcels can be posted closed or leased, so access should not be assumed.
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.