Idaho controlled hunt 2029: antlered elk, area 49
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 1,054 hunters chose hunt 2029 first, for 175 tags: 158 of 848 residents drew (19%) and 17 of 206 nonresidents (8%). In 2025, 171 hunters on this hunt took 85 elk, a 50% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 15 to 31, 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 31, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 175 (3 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 49, 499,166 acres |
| Unit | 49 |
| Elk zone | Pioneer |
| Public land in the area | 65% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Hailey, Sun Valley / Ketchum, Bellevue and Picabo |
How many applied for hunt 2029, 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, 175 of the 175 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 | 175 | 1,054 | 158 of 848 (19%) | 17 of 206 (8%) | 0 of 668 | 3 of 3 |
| 2025 | 175 | 1,031 | 157 of 854 (18%) | 18 of 177 (10%) | 0 of 618 |
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 2029 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2015 for this hunt: 1,686 first-choice applicants for 200 tags then, 1,054 for 175 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2029 | 175 | 1,054 | 175 (17%) | 848, 158 | 206, 17 |
| 2025 | 2029 | 175 | 1,031 | 175 (17%) | 854, 157 | 177, 18 |
| 2022 | 2029 | 25 | 322 | 25 (8%) | 277, 23 | 45, 2 |
| 2021 | 2029 | 25 | 332 | 25 (8%) | 281, 23 | 51, 2 |
| 2020 | 2029 | 200 | 1,235 | 200 (16%) | 1,024, 180 | 211, 20 |
| 2019 | 2029 | 200 | 1,449 | 200 (14%) | 1,257, 180 | 192, 20 |
| 2016 | 2029 | 200 | 1,646 | 200 (12%) | 1,419, 180 | 227, 20 |
| 2015 | 2029 | 200 | 1,686 | 200 (12%) | 1,489, 184 | 197, 16 |
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 2029). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2029?
In 2025, 171 hunters reported on hunt 2029 and 85 took an animal: 50% success, over 883 days of hunting. Across the 5 most recent years in the table, 45% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2029 | 171 | 85 | 50% | 883 | 65% |
| 2022 | 2029 | 25 | 10 | 40% | 124 | 90% |
| 2021 | 2029 | 26 | 16 | 63% | 150 | 67.5% |
| 2020 | 2029 | 183 | 93 | 51% | 1,014 | 56.5% |
| 2019 | 2029 | 192 | 62 | 32% | 1,149 | 64% |
| 2016 | 2029 | 183 | 106 | 58% | 1,042 | 54.4% |
| 2015 | 2029 | 193 | 104 | 54% | 1,082 | 60.3% |
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 2029) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 49?
IDFG's description of hunt area 49: All of Unit 49.
It covers 499,166 acres.
| Land manager in area 49 | Share |
|---|---|
| Private | 34.62% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 30.52% |
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 27.8% |
| State of Idaho | 6.89% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: rangeland 78.96%, irrigated-gravity flow 9.55%, forest 8.23% and irrigated-sprinkler 2.82%.
National forests: Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Hailey (Idaho 75), Sun Valley / Ketchum (Idaho 75), Bellevue (Idaho 75) and Picabo (US 20).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 49; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2029?
- 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 49
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1039 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Any weapon | Nov 10 to Nov 24 | 10 | 213 |
| 2028 | Antlered elk | Any weapon | Oct 1 to Oct 14 | 20 | 305 |
| 2138 | Antlered or antlerless elk | Muzzleloader only | Nov 1 to Nov 14 | 75 | 60 |
| 2159 | Antlerless elk | Any weapon | Oct 10 to Oct 31 | 50 | 75 |
| 4013 | Pronghorn of either sex | Any weapon | Sep 25 to Oct 24 | 25 | 324 |
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2029 in 2026?
1,054 hunters listed hunt 2029 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 175 tags. 158 of 848 resident first choices drew, and 17 of 206 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2029?
IDFG reports 171 hunters took 85 elk on hunt 2029 in 2025, 50% success. Over the last 5 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 45% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2029 in 2026?
October 15 to 31, 2026. It is antlered elk, any weapon, in hunt area 49 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 49?
IDFG describes hunt area 49 as: "All of Unit 49." It covers 499,166 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 2029 and hunt area 49; 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 49 Pioneer Zone Idaho deadlines and fees