Idaho controlled hunt 1079: antlered or antlerless mule deer or white-tailed deer, area 53-1

In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 216 hunters chose hunt 1079 first, for unlimited tags (463 issued): 198 of 198 residents drew (100%) and 18 of 18 nonresidents (100%). In 2025, 304 hunters on this hunt took 71 deer, a 23% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is August 30 to December 19, 2026: antlered or antlerless mule deer or white-tailed deer, archery only.

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.

Check your hunt in unit 53

How many applied for hunt 1079, 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 1079 had unlimited tags, and 216 were issued to first choices. The other 247 went to hunters who listed hunt 1079 second.

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 1079 changed?

IDFG's records go back to 2017 for this hunt: 102 first-choice applicants then, 216 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.

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 1079). IDFG rounds its success percentages.

What is the harvest success on hunt 1079?

In 2025, 304 hunters reported on hunt 1079 and 71 took an animal: 23% success, over 3,813 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 101 taken by 318 hunters (as hunt 1081), 32% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 5 most recent years in the table, 28% of hunters took an animal.

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 1079) and its harvest statistics.

Where is hunt area 53-1?

IDFG's description of hunt area 53-1: That portion of Unit 53 east of US Highway 93. Due to routing changes made to US Highway 93, the western boundary for Unit 53 is: Beginning at the junction of US Highway 93 and US Highway 30 (east of Filer), north along Hwy 93 turning east at the junction of Poleline Road, continuing east to Blue Lakes Blvd, then north across the Perrine Bridge following US Highway 93 to US Highway 26 in Shoshone. It covers 836,618 acres.

Towns IDFG lists in the area: Twin Falls (Interstate 84 US 93 US 30), Burley (Interstate 84 Idaho 27 US 30), Rupert (Interstate 84 Idaho 24), Heyburn (Interstate 84 US 30), Shoshone (US 26 US 93 Idaho 24) and Minidoka (Idaho 24).

Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 53-1; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.

What rules come with hunt 1079?

• Antlerless or Antlered Mule and White-tailed Deer. Either sex may be taken.
• Archery. Archery ONLY.
• Motorized Hunting Rule (MHR): Motorized vehicle use by all big game hunters is restricted to established roadways legally open to travel by full-sized automobiles. The motorized hunting rule applies only to big game animals, including moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats, in designated units from August 30 through December 31.

Questions hunters ask

How many people applied for Idaho hunt 1079 in 2026?

216 hunters listed hunt 1079 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for unlimited tags (463 issued). 198 of 198 resident first choices drew, and 18 of 18 nonresident first choices. Another 247 tags went to hunters who chose it second.

What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 1079?

IDFG reports 304 hunters took 71 deer on hunt 1079 in 2025, 23% success. Over the last 5 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 28% of hunters took an animal.

When is Idaho hunt 1079 in 2026?

August 30 to December 19, 2026. It is antlered or antlerless mule deer or white-tailed deer, archery only, in hunt area 53-1 (IDFG Hunt Planner).

Which units are in Idaho hunt area 53-1?

IDFG describes hunt area 53-1 as: "That portion of Unit 53 east of US Highway 93. Due to routing changes made to US Highway 93, the western boundary for Unit 53 is: Beginning at the junction of US Highway 93 and US Highway 30 (east of Filer), north along Hwy 93 turning east at the junction of Poleline Road, continuing east to Blue Lakes Blvd, then north across the Perrine Bridge following US Highway 93 to US Highway 26 in Shoshone." It covers 836,618 acres.

Where these numbers come from

• Drawing: IDFG controlled hunt drawing odds, 2025 and 2026.
• History, harvest and area: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt 1079 and hunt area 53-1; 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.

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