Unit 50 Elk Hunting, Idaho
Idaho hunting unit · Pioneer Elk Zone · 1,637 sq mi
General season — resident tags over the counter
Residents buy general elk tags over the counter — no draw, no points. General elk is sold by zone: Unit 50 is in the Pioneer Elk Zone, whose A and B tags carry different seasons. 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. The zone's B tag is capped: a limited number, sold first-come, first-served.
What hunting Unit 50 is like
Unit 50 sits within the Salmon-Challis National Forest, with elevations running from around 5,200 feet up to 12,600 feet and a typical hunt closer to 7,400 feet. The terrain is mixed, with substantial steep ground mixed among gentler benches and slopes, and most of it is foot country once a hunter leaves whatever road access exists. Lower elevations run heavily to sagebrush with only scattered riparian and grass pockets, while conifer cover builds through the mid elevations and becomes a real factor — better than a third of the cover — up high, where sagebrush, timber and open grass and meadow all mix together. Designated wilderness within the unit is closed to motorized travel, which pushes hunters willing to go deep into quieter country.
About 82 percent of Unit 50, roughly 1,339 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, BLM, Idaho state endowment land and a State Wildlife Management Area — the only figure a hunter should count on, since endowment parcels can be posted closed or leased even though they are usually open. A sliver, about 1 percent, is National Park Service ground where hunting is only allowed in certain designated areas, so that ground needs to be checked case by case rather than assumed open. The remaining 17 percent is private land requiring written permission before setting foot on it.
Unit 50 falls in the Pioneer Elk Zone along with Units 36A and 49, and general tags here are sold by zone rather than by unit. Residents buy the zone's A tag or B tag over the counter with no draw, while nonresidents apply for one specific tag — A or B — through a random draw at the time of application, never choosing after the fact. The B tag is capped, sold first-come, first-served until it sells out. Beyond the general zone tags, several controlled hunts overlap parts of Unit 50, each a pure random draw with a limited number of tags and no points system involved anywhere in Idaho elk hunting.
General-season elk (2026)
General elk tags are sold by zone. Unit 50 is in the Pioneer Elk Zone (Units 36A, 49 and 50); a hunter chooses its A tag or its B tag, and each carries its own seasons. The windows below are the ones valid in Unit 50. Residents buy the tag over the counter; nonresident general tags are allocated by random draw.
| Season | Dates | Legal elk | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| A tag · Any weapon Valid area: Portion of Unit 50 | August 1 – August 29 | Antlerless only | Late Summer / Velvet, Pre-Rut Transition |
| A tag · Archery Valid area: Units 36A, 49 and 50 | August 30 – September 30 | Any elk | Pre-Rut Transition, Rut Onset, Primary Rut |
| A tag · Muzzleloader Valid area: Units 36A, 49 and 50 | November 1 – November 9 | Antlerless only | Migration Transition |
| B tag · Any weapon Valid area: Units 36A, 49 and 50 | November 10 – November 30 | Antlerless only | Migration Transition |
A tag · Any weapon · August 1 – August 29
This early season runs while elk are still in the Late Summer/Velvet and Pre-Rut Transition phases, and it's an antlerless-only hunt, so the goal is finding cow and calf groups rather than working bulls. Sagebrush dominates the lower elevations where this portion of the unit lies, with only thin riparian and grass pockets breaking it up, so glassing open sage flats for groups moving between cover is the practical approach. Access into this part of Unit 50 is on foot for most hunters, and the season's any-weapon designation simply means any legal weapon may be used to take antlerless elk within the valid area.
A tag · Archery · August 30 – September 30
Archery season opens in the Pre-Rut Transition phase and runs through Rut Onset and into the heart of the Primary Rut, making it the one general season that lines up with the September rut. In the first week or two, bulls are still shedding velvet and hanging close to the same country they used all summer, so sitting water sources or glassing from a vantage point for a spot-and-stalk works well before things heat up. As the season progresses into rut onset and the primary rut, hunters can work the mix of sagebrush, timber and grass across elevation bands, since this tag is valid across Units 36A, 49 and 50 and allows taking any elk. Cover shifts with elevation here, so still-hunting timber edges at higher country can pay off as bulls become more active.
A tag · Muzzleloader · November 1 – November 9
By the time the muzzleloader season opens, elk have shifted into the Migration Transition phase, and this is another antlerless-only tag, so the focus stays on cows and calves rather than bulls. Snowfall picks up in November and lows drop into the teens, which starts pushing animals out of the high country and into more accessible mid and lower elevations where sagebrush and timber mix. Hunters can use that seasonal movement to their advantage by watching travel routes between higher timbered ground and the open sagebrush flats below. The tag is valid across Units 36A, 49 and 50 and permits only antlerless elk.
B tag · Any weapon · November 10 – November 30
The B tag season falls in the same Migration Transition phase as the muzzleloader hunt, with the same snowy, cold conditions settling over the unit and elk continuing to filter down out of the high country. This is an antlerless-only, any-weapon tag, so hunters should focus on locating cow and calf groups working the transition zones between timber and sagebrush as animals move toward lower ground. The capped nature of this tag means fewer hunters are competing for the same late-season movement, but the cold and snow still make for demanding conditions on foot. It covers Units 36A, 49 and 50 and allows only antlerless elk.
Controlled elk 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 50 is valid only in its own hunt area.
| Season | Dates | Legal elk | Resident draw | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled hunt 36A-2 · Any weapon Covers only part of this unit; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 50 | October 1 – October 31 | Antlered only | Long odds | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut, Post-Rut Recovery |
| Controlled hunt 50-1 · Muzzleloader Covers only part of this unit; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies | October 1 – October 14 | Antlered or antlerless | Long odds | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut |
| Controlled hunt 50-1 · Any weapon Covers only part of this unit; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies | October 15 – October 31 | Antlered only | Very long odds | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut, Post-Rut Recovery |
| Controlled hunt 36A-3 · Muzzleloader Covers only part of this unit; Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 50 | November 1 – November 30 | Antlered or antlerless | Good odds | Migration Transition |
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 36A-2 · Any weapon · October 1 – October 31
Controlled hunt 36A-2 opens as the rut winds down, spanning the Late Rut/Early Post-Rut and Post-Rut Recovery phases, with light October snowfall and lows in the mid-20s. This is an antlered-only, any-weapon hunt that covers only part of Unit 50, and the motorized hunting rule applies, so hunters need to know where that restriction falls before planning routes. With the rut fading, working the mixed timber and sagebrush country methodically, rather than relying on rut behavior, is the more realistic approach. Draw odds for residents applying first choice run long, so this is not a hunt to count on drawing.
Controlled hunt 50-1 · Muzzleloader · October 1 – October 14
This early muzzleloader controlled hunt falls in the Late Rut/Early Post-Rut phase, with the same light October snow and mid-20s lows as the rest of the month. It allows either antlered or antlerless elk, giving more flexibility than the any-weapon controlled hunts nearby, and it covers only part of Unit 50 under the motorized hunting rule. Hunting the fringes of the rut means elk may still respond to typical rutting-season patterns even as things begin to settle down. Resident first-choice odds are long, so it's a hunt worth trying but not banking on.
Controlled hunt 50-1 · Any weapon · October 15 – October 31
Running into the back half of October, this any-weapon controlled hunt spans both the Late Rut/Early Post-Rut and Post-Rut Recovery phases, with the same cool, lightly snowy conditions typical of the month. It's antlered-only and covers just part of Unit 50, with the motorized hunting rule in effect, so foot access matters in planning where to hunt. By this point the rut has largely wound down, so covering ground through the timber and sagebrush mix and looking for bulls settling into post-rut patterns is the more dependable strategy. Draw odds here are the longest of the unit's controlled hunts, very long for residents on a first choice.
Controlled hunt 36A-3 · Muzzleloader · November 1 – November 30
This muzzleloader controlled hunt runs the entire month of November, landing squarely in the Migration Transition phase alongside the colder, snowier conditions that push elk toward lower ground. It allows either antlered or antlerless elk and covers only part of Unit 50, with the motorized hunting rule applying throughout. The extended season length combined with the migration movement gives hunters more chances to intercept elk shifting between higher timber and lower sagebrush country. Of the unit's controlled hunts, this one carries the best resident first-choice odds, good odds, making it the more attainable draw option.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,200–12,600 ft, typically around 7,400 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 35% gentle · 37% moderate · 26% steep · 2% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~1,339 sq mi
- National forests
- Salmon-Challis 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
- Sagebrush78%
- Other cover14%
- Riparian3%
- Grass and meadow3%
- Conifer2%
Mid elevations
- Sagebrush76%
- Conifer21%
- Grass and meadow2%
- Riparian1%
Higher elevations
- Sagebrush54%
- Conifer33%
- Grass and meadow11%
- Other cover2%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database. “Other cover” is the remainder — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land.
Land & access
About 82% of Unit 50 is public land a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, BLM, Idaho state endowment land and State Wildlife Management Area.
- National Forest51%
- BLM29%
- Idaho state endowment land2%
- State Wildlife Management Area<1%
- National Park Service1%
- Private17%
Idaho state endowment land is generally open to hunting unless posted closed or leased — check the parcel before planning around it.
Hunting is allowed on some National Park Service land (a national preserve, for example) but not in national monuments or historical parks — check where it is allowed.
Fall weather
- August — highs around 74°F, lows around 42°F
- September — highs around 64°F, lows around 35°F
- October — highs around 51°F, lows around 26°F, about 2.2 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 38°F, lows around 15°F, about 10 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 29°F, lows around 7°F, about 18.9 in of snowfall
Unit 50 elk hunting FAQ
Can a resident buy an elk tag for Unit 50 over the counter?
Yes. Residents can buy a general elk tag for the Pioneer Elk Zone, which covers Unit 50 along with Units 36A and 49, over the counter with no draw or application required. They choose between the zone's A tag and B tag, which carry different seasons and weapons.
How do nonresidents get a general elk tag for Unit 50?
Nonresidents go through a random draw rather than buying over the counter. When applying, they must apply for a specific tag — either the Pioneer Elk Zone's A tag or its B tag — since the tag choice happens at the time of application and cannot be changed after the draw.
How hard are the controlled hunts in Unit 50 to draw?
Odds vary by hunt. Controlled hunt 36A-2 and the muzzleloader portion of controlled hunt 50-1 both carry long odds for residents on a first choice, the any-weapon portion of controlled hunt 50-1 carries very long odds, and controlled hunt 36A-3 carries good odds, the most attainable of the four.
Which elk zone and tags cover Unit 50?
Unit 50 falls within the Pioneer Elk Zone, shared with Units 36A and 49. General tags in this zone come as an A tag or a B tag, each with its own season and legal weapons, and the B tag is capped with a limited number sold first-come, first-served.
Which Unit 50 elk season falls during the rut?
The A tag archery season, running from August 30 through September 30, is the general season that overlaps the rut, spanning the Pre-Rut Transition, Rut Onset and Primary Rut phases. The other general and controlled seasons in Unit 50 fall outside that window.
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.