Idaho controlled hunt 2035: antlered elk, area 54
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 3,342 hunters chose hunt 2035 first, for 20 tags: 18 of 2,476 residents drew (1%) and 2 of 866 nonresidents (0%). In 2025, 20 hunters on this hunt took 17 elk, an 85% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 15 to November 10, 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 10, 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 2035, 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 | 3,342 | 18 of 2,476 (1%) | 2 of 866 (0%) | 0 of 1,287 | |
| 2025 | 20 | 3,012 | 18 of 2,355 (1%) | 2 of 657 (0%) | 0 of 1,224 | 1 of 1 |
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 2035 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2015 for this hunt: 993 first-choice applicants for 10 tags then, 3,342 for 20 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2035 | 20 | 3,342 | 20 (1%) | 2,476, 18 | 866, 2 |
| 2025 | 2035 | 20 | 3,012 | 20 (1%) | 2,355, 18 | 657, 2 |
| 2016 | 2035 | 10 | 1,005 | 10 (1%) | 846, 9 | 159, 1 |
| 2015 | 2035 | 10 | 993 | 10 (1%) | 879, 9 | 114, 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 2035). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2035?
In 2025, 20 hunters reported on hunt 2035 and 17 took an animal: 85% success, over 116 days of hunting. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 74% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2035 | 20 | 17 | 85% | 116 | 100% |
| 2016 | 2035 | 10 | 6 | 60% | 88 | 100% |
| 2015 | 2035 | 9 | 6 | 67% | 35 | 66.7% |
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 2035) 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 2035?
- 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 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 |
| 1043 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Any weapon | Nov 15 to Nov 30 | 20 | 1,243 |
| 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 |
| 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 2035 in 2026?
3,342 hunters listed hunt 2035 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 20 tags. 18 of 2,476 resident first choices drew, and 2 of 866 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2035?
IDFG reports 20 hunters took 17 elk on hunt 2035 in 2025, 85% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 74% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2035 in 2026?
October 15 to November 10, 2026. It is antlered elk, 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.
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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 2035 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.
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