Idaho controlled hunt 1043: antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, area 54
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 1,243 hunters chose hunt 1043 first, for 20 tags: 18 of 1,000 residents drew (2%) and 2 of 243 nonresidents (1%). In 2025, 20 hunters on this hunt took 19 deer, a 95% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is November 15 to 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 | November 15 to 30, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 20 |
| Hunt area | 54, 873,344 acres |
| Unit | 54 |
| Elk zone | South Hills |
| Public land in the area | 59% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Burley, Oakley, Hollister and Rogerson |
How many applied for hunt 1043, 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, 20 of the 20 tags went to first choices. In a hunt with more than 19 tags, no more than 10 percent may go to nonresidents; with 19 or fewer, no more than one (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 | 20 | 1,243 | 18 of 1,000 (2%) | 2 of 243 (1%) | 0 of 1,159 | |
| 2025 | 20 | 1,190 | 18 of 971 (2%) | 2 of 219 (1%) | 0 of 1,075 |
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 1043 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2023 for this hunt: 974 first-choice applicants for 20 tags then, 1,243 for 20 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1043 | 20 | 1,243 | 20 (2%) | 1,000, 18 | 243, 2 |
| 2025 | 1043 | 20 | 1,190 | 20 (2%) | 971, 18 | 219, 2 |
| 2024 | 1043 | 20 | 1,032 | 20 (2%) | 863, 18 | 169, 2 |
| 2023 | 1043 | 20 | 974 | 20 (2%) | 840, 18 | 134, 2 |
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 1043). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 1043?
In 2025, 20 hunters reported on hunt 1043 and 19 took an animal: 95% success, over 82 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 18 taken by 20 hunters, 90% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 92% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1043 | 20 | 19 | 95% | 82 |
| 2024 | 1043 | 20 | 18 | 90% | 102 |
| 2023 | 1043 | 20 | 18 | 89% | 93 |
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 1043) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 54?
IDFG's description of hunt area 54: All of Unit 54
It covers 873,344 acres.
| Land manager in area 54 | Share |
|---|---|
| Private | 40.72% |
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 34.59% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 22.79% |
| State of Idaho | 1.85% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: rangeland 55.03%, irrigated-gravity flow 23.63%, forest 11.58%, urban 4.59%, irrigated-sprinkler 2.86% and dryland agriculture 1.76%.
National forest: Sawtooth National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Burley (Interstate 84 Idaho 27 US 30), Oakley (Idaho 27), Hollister (US 93) and Rogerson (US 93).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 54; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 1043?
- 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 54
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1042 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Any weapon | Oct 5 to Oct 31 | 300 | 3,794 |
| 1080 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Archery only | Aug 30 to Sep 30 | unlimited (534 issued) | 289 |
| 1106 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Any weapon | Oct 5 to Oct 31 | 90 | 626 |
| 2035 | Antlered elk | Any weapon | Oct 15 to Nov 10 | 20 | 3,342 |
| 2092 | Antlerless elk | Any weapon | Oct 15 to Nov 10 | 125 | 1,028 |
| 2127 | Antlered elk | Archery only | Aug 30 to Sep 24 | 20 | 1,253 |
| 2140 | Antlered elk | Muzzleloader only | Sep 25 to Oct 14 | 20 | 1,020 |
| 2160 | Antlerless elk | Any weapon | Aug 1 to Aug 29 | 50 | 236 |
| 3056 | Antlered moose | Any weapon | Aug 30 to Nov 23 | 3 | 574 |
| 3094 | Antlerless moose | Any weapon | Oct 15 to Nov 23 | 3 | 75 |
| 4018 | Pronghorn of either sex | Any weapon | Sep 25 to Oct 24 | 25 | 1,635 |
| 4038 | Pronghorn of either sex | Archery only | Aug 15 to Sep 15 | 25 | 147 |
| 4053 | Doe or fawn pronghorn | Any weapon | Aug 15 to Oct 24 | 25 | 162 |
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 1043 in 2026?
1,243 hunters listed hunt 1043 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 20 tags. 18 of 1,000 resident first choices drew, and 2 of 243 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 1043?
IDFG reports 20 hunters took 19 deer on hunt 1043 in 2025, 95% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 92% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 1043 in 2026?
November 15 to 30, 2026. It is antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer, any weapon, in hunt area 54 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 54?
IDFG describes hunt area 54 as: "All of Unit 54" It covers 873,344 acres.
Get your free Idaho plan
FilledTag plans Idaho's general elk and deer seasons: a specific, legal place to park, camp and sit for your tag and your dates, with the walks between them, checked against land records. The first 50 Idaho plans are free, one per hunter, for hunters who hold or will hold an Idaho general elk or deer tag. Every Idaho plan is looked over by a person before it is sent.
Get your free Idaho plan for unit 54 See a real plan
Not ready to order yet? Leave your email and you get one email when paid Idaho plans open, if the free ones have gone by then.
Where these numbers come from
- Drawing: IDFG controlled hunt drawing odds, 2025 and 2026.
- History, harvest and area: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt 1043 and hunt area 54; 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 South Hills Zone Idaho deadlines and fees