Unit 61 Elk Hunting, Idaho
Idaho hunting unit · Island Park Elk Zone · 792 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 61 is in the Island Park Elk Zone, whose A and B tags carry different seasons. Nonresident general tags are allocated by random draw. It also has 6 controlled hunts, drawn by pure random draw with no points — resident odds from good odds to long odds.
What hunting Unit 61 is like
Unit 61 sits across the Island Park country on rolling ground, with some steeper breaks toward its upper edge — the high point near 10,400 feet stands well above the typical hunting elevation of 6,800 feet. Timber dominates the mid and upper mountainsides, while sagebrush and riparian bottoms mix in lower down, giving elk cover to move through and edges to feed along. Most of the unit sits at gentle to moderate grades, so it hunts more on foot and glass than on ropes and crampons, though the steeper 6% fringes reward hunters willing to work for separation from easier ground. Targhee National Forest anchors much of the public backbone here, and where designated wilderness exists within it, motorized access is closed, keeping some pockets quiet all season.
About 81% of the unit, roughly 643 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across National Forest, BLM and Idaho state endowment ground — endowment parcels can be posted closed or leased, so it pays to check before setting up. That leaves around 18% in private hands, which requires written permission before stepping on it. There's no shortage of accessible country, but "open" doesn't mean easy; the terrain and cover still demand real scouting and effort to turn access into an opportunity.
Elk tags here run through the Island Park Elk Zone, which also covers Units 60, 60A, 62 and 62A. Residents buy the zone's general A tag over the counter with no application, while nonresidents enter a random draw and must apply for a specific tag — either the zone's A tag or its B tag — at the time of application, not after drawing. Beyond the general season, several controlled hunts open added opportunity in both Unit 60-1 and Unit 61, each drawn separately and each carrying its own odds and legal-animal rules.
General-season elk (2026)
General elk tags are sold by zone. Unit 61 is in the Island Park Elk Zone (Units 60, 60A, 61, 62 and 62A); 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 61. Residents buy the tag over the counter; nonresident general tags are allocated by random draw.
| Season | Dates | Legal elk | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| A tag · Archery Valid area: Island Park Zone | August 30 – September 30 | Any elk | Pre-Rut Transition, Rut Onset, Primary Rut |
| A tag · Muzzleloader Valid area: Unit 61 | November 15 – December 9 | Antlerless or spike bull | Migration Transition, Winter Range |
A tag · Archery · August 30 – September 30
Archery season opens right as bulls are finishing the pre-rut transition and pushing into rut onset and primary rut, which makes for some of the most vocal, predictable action of the fall. In the first week or two, bulls are still shedding velvet and holding close to their summer haunts, so sitting a water source or glassing the timber-sagebrush edges for a spot-and-stalk works well. The A tag archery season allows any elk, giving bowhunters a wide window to fill a tag on a bull or a cow. Because the season runs deep into primary rut by month's end, calling and decoying tactics can pay off as the days progress.
A tag · Muzzleloader · November 15 – December 9
By the time this muzzleloader season opens, elk have shifted into migration transition and are settling toward winter range, so still-hunting travel corridors between higher timber and lower sagebrush flats makes more sense than glassing summer haunts. Snowfall picks up through November and turns heavy by December, pushing elk down and concentrating them where accessible feed and cover overlap. The A tag here is limited to antlerless elk or a spike bull, so hunters need to be selective and confident in judging antler development at range. Deepening snow can also change how far a hunter can push into the unit on foot, so plan accordingly as the season progresses.
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 61 is valid only in its own hunt area.
| Season | Dates | Legal elk | Resident draw | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon | October 1 – October 14 | Antlered only | — | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut |
| Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon | October 10 – October 24 | Antlerless only | Good odds | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut, Post-Rut Recovery |
| Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon | October 25 – November 14 | Antlerless only | Good odds | Post-Rut Recovery, Migration Transition |
| Controlled hunt 61 · Any weapon | November 1 – November 10 | Antlered only | Long odds | Migration Transition |
| Controlled hunt 61 · Muzzleloader Either sex, Muzzleloader only | November 11 – December 9 | Antlered or antlerless | — | Migration Transition, Winter Range |
| Controlled hunt 61 · Muzzleloader | November 15 – December 9 | Antlered or antlerless | Good odds | Migration Transition, Winter Range |
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 60-1 · Any weapon · October 1 – October 14
This early-October hunt falls in the late rut and early post-rut phase, when bull activity is winding down but bulls are still recovering their energy and holding somewhat predictable patterns after weeks of breeding activity. Hunters do well working the timbered mid and upper elevations where bulls retreat to rest, using the unit's rolling terrain to glass draws and benches without a long, technical approach. Light early-season snowfall is generally not enough to change strategy much. The tag is antlered-only, so shooters need a clear look at headgear before committing.
Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon · October 10 – October 24
This hunt calls for working the transition zones between timber and sagebrush as cover, since elk drift between the tail end of post-rut recovery and the following weeks with less predictable daily patterns. It spans the late rut and post-rut recovery phases, so cows and calves are past the intensity of the rut and settling into more routine movement. Hunters filling this antlerless tag should focus on locating groups using cover and terrain rather than any rut-driven behavior, since none applies to this tag. Light October snowfall shouldn't disrupt access, but hunters should still plan routes across the unit's mix of gentle and moderate ground.
Controlled hunt 60-1 · Any weapon · October 25 – November 14
Running from late October into the middle of November, this hunt spans post-rut recovery and the start of migration transition, when elk begin drifting toward lower ground as conditions shift. Snowfall increases noticeably by November, and that combination of cover and weather starts nudging animals out of the high timber toward sagebrush flats and riparian corridors at lower elevations. Since this is an antlerless-only tag, hunters should concentrate on locating cow-calf groups moving with the season rather than tracking any bull activity. Access across the unit's gentle-to-moderate terrain stays workable, but building snow can start to affect route choices late in the season.
Controlled hunt 61 · Any weapon · November 1 – November 10
Set in November during the migration transition phase, this hunt offers a shot at elk as they begin shifting off summer and fall range toward lower country. Growing snowfall through the month helps push animals into more predictable travel routes between timber and sagebrush, and hunters can use the unit's rolling terrain to intercept those movements. This is an antlered-only hunt, so a clear look at horns is required before shooting. Draw odds for residents run long here, so a tag in hand is not something to count on, but the hunt rewards those who do draw with elk on the move.
Controlled hunt 61 · Muzzleloader · November 11 – December 9
Opening in mid-November and running into December, this muzzleloader hunt covers the migration transition and winter range phases, when elk are settling into their late-season patterns as snow accumulates. Snowfall builds steadily across these months, driving elk down toward lower-elevation cover where feed and shelter overlap, and hunters should focus effort along those lower timber and sagebrush edges. The tag allows either sex, so both antlered and antlerless elk are legal with a muzzleloader. Deepening snow through December can make for tougher travel but also concentrates elk in more predictable locations.
Controlled hunt 61 · Muzzleloader · November 15 – December 9
This late-season muzzleloader hunt spans the same migration transition and winter range phases, with elk pushed toward lower ground as snowfall builds heavily by December. Hunters should work the lower timber and sagebrush transition zones where animals concentrate once deep snow sets in on the higher country. The tag permits either antlered or antlerless elk, giving flexibility to fill a tag with what's available. Resident draw odds run good for this hunt, making it a more attainable controlled option than some of the unit's other late hunts.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,800–10,400 ft, typically around 6,800 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 66% gentle · 28% moderate · 6% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~643 sq mi
- National forests
- 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
- Conifer39%
- Sagebrush37%
- Riparian16%
- Other cover5%
- Grass and meadow2%
Mid elevations
- Conifer67%
- Sagebrush28%
- Riparian2%
- Grass and meadow2%
- Other cover1%
Higher elevations
- Conifer69%
- Sagebrush24%
- Grass and meadow6%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database. “Other cover” is the remainder — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land.
Land & access
About 81% of Unit 61 is public land a hunter can generally count on — National Forest, Idaho state endowment land and BLM.
- National Forest71%
- Idaho state endowment land6%
- BLM5%
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private18%
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 41°F
- September — highs around 65°F, lows around 34°F
- October — highs around 49°F, lows around 26°F, about 2.8 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 35°F, lows around 15°F, about 18.6 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 26°F, lows around 7°F, about 32.5 in of snowfall
Unit 61 elk hunting FAQ
Can a resident buy an elk tag for Unit 61 over the counter?
Yes. Residents buy the Island Park Elk Zone's general A tag over the counter with no application or draw required. Unit 61 falls within that zone, so the general A tag archery and muzzleloader seasons listed for the zone are valid here.
How do nonresidents get a general elk tag for this area?
Nonresidents enter a random draw for the Island Park Elk Zone's general tags, and they must apply for a specific tag — either the zone's A tag or its B tag — at the time they apply. The tag choice is locked in before the draw, not selected afterward.
How hard are the controlled hunts in Unit 61 to draw?
Odds vary by hunt. Controlled hunt 61 Any weapon in November draws at long odds for residents, while the Controlled hunt 61 Muzzleloader hunt running November 15 through December 9 draws at good odds; the earlier muzzleloader window from November 11 has no resident odds band listed.
Which elk zone covers Unit 61, and what other units share it?
Unit 61 is part of the Island Park Elk Zone, which also includes Units 60, 60A, 62 and 62A. General tags are sold by zone rather than by individual unit, so the same A and B tag structure applies across all of them, though season windows can differ by unit.
Which Unit 61 seasons fall during the rut?
Only the general A tag archery season, running August 30 through September 30, overlaps the September rut period. Every other season listed for Unit 61 — the muzzleloader hunts and the controlled hunts — falls outside the rut, in the late rut, post-rut, migration or winter range phases.
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.