Idaho controlled hunt 2018: antlered elk, area 42
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 893 hunters chose hunt 2018 first, for 15 tags: 14 of 679 residents drew (2%) and 1 of 214 nonresidents (0%). In 2025, 15 hunters on this hunt took 11 elk, a 73% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 15 to November 24, 2026: antlered elk, 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 elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any weapon |
| Season, 2026 | October 15 to November 24, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 15 (1 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 42, 859,602 acres |
| Unit | 42 |
| Elk zone | Owyhee |
| Public land in the area | 96% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Wilderness | Owyhee River Wilderness 259,774 acres (30.22% of hunt area) and Pole Creek Wilderness 13,405 acres (1.56% of hunt area) |
How many applied for hunt 2018, 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, 15 of the 15 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 | 15 | 893 | 14 of 679 (2%) | 1 of 214 (0%) | 0 of 427 | 1 of 1 |
| 2025 | 15 | 776 | 14 of 634 (2%) | 1 of 142 (1%) | 0 of 325 |
Source: IDFG, elk 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 2018 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2015 for this hunt: 289 first-choice applicants for 15 tags then, 893 for 15 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2018 | 15 | 893 | 15 (2%) | 679, 14 | 214, 1 |
| 2025 | 2018 | 15 | 776 | 15 (2%) | 634, 14 | 142, 1 |
| 2016 | 2018 | 15 | 334 | 15 (4%) | 283, 14 | 51, 1 |
| 2015 | 2018 | 15 | 289 | 15 (5%) | 228, 14 | 61, 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 2018). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2018?
In 2025, 15 hunters reported on hunt 2018 and 11 took an animal: 73% success, over 132 days of hunting. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 77% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2018 | 15 | 11 | 73% | 132 | 100% |
| 2016 | 2018 | 14 | 12 | 85% | 88 | 90.4% |
| 2015 | 2018 | 14 | 10 | 70% | 108 | 71.4% |
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 2018) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 42?
IDFG's description of hunt area 42: All of Unit 42.
It covers 859,602 acres.
| Land manager in area 42 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 92.3% |
| Private | 4.27% |
| State of Idaho | 3.42% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: rangeland 80.98%, forest 11.14% and riparian 7.63%.
Wilderness in the area: Owyhee River Wilderness 259,774 acres (30.22% of hunt area) and Pole Creek Wilderness 13,405 acres (1.56% of hunt area). No motorized vehicles are allowed in wilderness.
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 42; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2018?
- Antlered Elk. Only elk with at least one antler longer than 6 inches may be taken in any season which is open for antlered elk only. In antlered or spike-only seasons, antlers much accompany the carcass while in transit.
Other 2026 controlled hunts in area 42
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1033 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Any weapon | Nov 1 to Nov 24 | 50 | 696 |
| 7003 | Rams only, California bighorn sheep | Any weapon | Aug 30 to Oct 8 | 3 | 227 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in unit 42: 2015 (40-1), 2083 (40-1), 2123 (40-1). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2018 in 2026?
893 hunters listed hunt 2018 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 15 tags. 14 of 679 resident first choices drew, and 1 of 214 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2018?
IDFG reports 15 hunters took 11 elk on hunt 2018 in 2025, 73% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 77% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2018 in 2026?
October 15 to November 24, 2026. It is antlered elk, any weapon, in hunt area 42 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 42?
IDFG describes hunt area 42 as: "All of Unit 42." It covers 859,602 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 2018 and hunt area 42; 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 elk draw results Unit 42 Owyhee Zone Idaho deadlines and fees