Idaho controlled hunt 1017: antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, area 26
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 106 hunters chose hunt 1017 first, for unlimited tags (114 issued) with nonresidents limited to 13: 49 of 49 residents drew (100%) and 13 of 57 nonresidents (23%). In 2025, 80 hunters on this hunt took 35 deer, a 44% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is November 1 to 18, 2026: antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, any weapon.
Data updated October 2026. Draws: IDFG's 2026 and 2025 controlled hunt drawing results. Harvest: IDFG's harvest statistics through 2025. Season: IDFG Hunt Planner, 2026.
| Species and take | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any weapon |
| Season, 2026 | November 1 to 18, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | unlimited (114 issued); nonresident limit 13 |
| Hunt area | 26, 381,055 acres |
| Unit | 26 |
| Elk zone | Middle Fork |
| Public land in the area | 100% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Wilderness | Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness 339,140 acres (89% of hunt area) |
How many applied for hunt 1017, and how many drew?
Idaho draws controlled hunt tags at random, with no points: each application gets a random number, and tags go to first choices in that order before any second choice is looked at. In 2026, hunt 1017 had unlimited tags (nonresidents limited to 13, brochure page 109), and 62 were issued to first choices. The other 52 went to hunters who listed hunt 1017 second.
| Drawing year | Tags issued (unlimited hunt) | First-choice applicants | Residents who drew | Nonresidents who drew | Second choices: drew of applied | Second drawing: tags issued of offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 114 issued | 106 | 49 of 49 (100%) | 13 of 57 (23%) | 52 of 125 | |
| 2025 | 157 issued | 136 | 75 of 76 (99%) | 13 of 60 (22%) | 69 of 125 |
Source: IDFG, deer controlled hunt drawing odds, 2026 and 2025, first and second drawings. "Drew" is IDFG's count of tags issued to that group's first choices; the percentage is worked out from IDFG's two figures.
How has the draw for hunt 1017 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2023 for this hunt: 141 first-choice applicants then, 106 in 2026. It is an unlimited hunt now; a figure marked "issued" is the tags issued in an unlimited year, and a plain figure is a year with a set number of tags.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1017 | 114 issued | 106 | 62 (58%) | 49, 49 | 57, 13 |
| 2025 | 1017 | 157 issued | 136 | 88 (65%) | 76, 75 | 60, 13 |
| 2024 | 1017 | 144 | 147 | 85 (58%) | 72, 72 | 75, 13 |
| 2023 | 1017 | 131 | 141 | 88 (62%) | 75, 75 | 66, 13 |
First drawing only. IDFG's Hunt Planner lists these years for this hunt, under the hunt number (and, where it differs, the area) used that year (Hunt Planner, hunt 1017). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 1017?
In 2025, 80 hunters reported on hunt 1017 and 35 took an animal: 44% success, over 510 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 35 taken by 67 hunters, 52% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 49% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1017 | 80 | 35 | 44% | 510 |
| 2024 | 1017 | 67 | 35 | 52% | 403 |
| 2023 | 1017 | 72 | 38 | 53% | 423 |
IDFG's success percentages are its own and can differ slightly from harvest divided by hunters. From IDFG's mandatory hunter reports and check stations, as its Hunt Planner prints them for this hunt (hunt 1017) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 26?
IDFG's description of hunt area 26: All of Unit 26.
It covers 381,055 acres.
| Land manager in area 26 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 99.29% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: forest 100%.
National forests: Payette National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Wilderness in the area: Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness 339,140 acres (89% of hunt area). No motorized vehicles are allowed in wilderness.
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 26; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 1017?
- Antlered Mule and White-tailed Deer. Only deer with at least one antler longer than 3 inches may be taken in any season which is open for antlered deer only. In antlered-only seasons, antlers must accompany the carcass while in transit.
Other 2026 controlled hunts in area 26
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5007 | Rams only, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | Any weapon | Aug 30 to Oct 13 | 4 | 81 |
| 5024 | Rams only, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | Any weapon | Oct 14 to Oct 31 | 3 | 40 |
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 1017 in 2026?
106 hunters listed hunt 1017 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for unlimited tags (114 issued). 49 of 49 resident first choices drew, and 13 of 57 nonresident first choices. Another 52 tags went to hunters who chose it second.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 1017?
IDFG reports 80 hunters took 35 deer on hunt 1017 in 2025, 44% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 49% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 1017 in 2026?
November 1 to 18, 2026. It is antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, any weapon, in hunt area 26 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 26?
IDFG describes hunt area 26 as: "All of Unit 26." It covers 381,055 acres.
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Where these numbers come from
- Drawing: IDFG controlled hunt drawing odds, 2025 and 2026.
- History, harvest and area: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt 1017 and hunt area 26; IDFG harvest statistics.
- Season and rules: IDFG, Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules and the Hunt Planner; nonresident limit from the big game brochure, page 109.
FilledTag is not part of Idaho Fish and Game. Hunt numbers change from year to year: use the current brochure when you apply. Nothing on this page predicts a future draw.
Idaho deer draw results Unit 26 Middle Fork Zone Idaho deadlines and fees