Idaho controlled hunt 1026: antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, area 36A
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 364 hunters chose hunt 1026 first, for 5 tags: 4 of 247 residents drew (2%) and 1 of 117 nonresidents (1%). In 2025, 5 hunters on this hunt took 4 deer, an 80% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 10 to November 30, 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 | October 10 to November 30, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 5 |
| Hunt area | 36A, 493,901 acres |
| Unit | 36A |
| Elk zone | Pioneer |
| Public land in the area | 97% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
How many applied for hunt 1026, 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, 5 of the 5 tags went to first choices. In a hunt with 19 or fewer tags, no more than one tag may go to a nonresident (brochure page 109).
| Drawing year | Tags | First-choice applicants | Residents who drew | Nonresidents who drew | Second choices: drew of applied | Second drawing: tags issued of offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 364 | 4 of 247 (2%) | 1 of 117 (1%) | 0 of 221 | |
| 2025 | 5 | 273 | 4 of 199 (2%) | 1 of 74 (1%) | 0 of 193 |
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 1026 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2023 for this hunt: 259 first-choice applicants for 5 tags then, 364 for 5 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1026 | 5 | 364 | 5 (1%) | 247, 4 | 117, 1 |
| 2025 | 1026 | 5 | 273 | 5 (2%) | 199, 4 | 74, 1 |
| 2024 | 1026 | 5 | 279 | 5 (2%) | 192, 4 | 87, 1 |
| 2023 | 1026 | 5 | 259 | 5 (2%) | 207, 4 | 52, 1 |
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 1026). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 1026?
In 2025, 5 hunters reported on hunt 1026 and 4 took an animal: 80% success, over 44 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 5 taken by 5 hunters, 100% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 87% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1026 | 5 | 4 | 80% | 44 |
| 2024 | 1026 | 5 | 5 | 100% | 51 |
| 2023 | 1026 | 5 | 4 | 80% | 51 |
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 1026) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 36A?
IDFG's description of hunt area 36A: All of Unit 36A.
It covers 493,901 acres.
| Land manager in area 36A | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 51.45% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 42.37% |
| State of Idaho | 3.27% |
| Private | 2.8% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: rangeland 69.96%, forest 27.73% and irrigated-sprinkler 1.08%.
National forests: Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 36A; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 1026?
- 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 36A
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2167 | Antlerless elk | Any weapon | Dec 1 to Dec 31 | 250 | 2,271 |
| 3051 | Antlered moose | Any weapon | Aug 30 to Nov 23 | 1 | 14 |
Other 2026 deer hunts in unit 36A: 1070 (21-1), 1112 (36A-1X), 1136 (36A-1X), 1137 (36A-1X). All deer draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 1026 in 2026?
364 hunters listed hunt 1026 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 5 tags. 4 of 247 resident first choices drew, and 1 of 117 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 1026?
IDFG reports 5 hunters took 4 deer on hunt 1026 in 2025, 80% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 87% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 1026 in 2026?
October 10 to November 30, 2026. It is antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, any weapon, in hunt area 36A (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 36A?
IDFG describes hunt area 36A as: "All of Unit 36A." It covers 493,901 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 1026 and hunt area 36A; 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 36A Pioneer Zone Idaho deadlines and fees