Idaho controlled hunt 2039: antlered elk, area 61
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 243 hunters chose hunt 2039 first, for 50 tags: 45 of 211 residents drew (21%) and 5 of 32 nonresidents (16%). In 2025, 46 hunters on this hunt took 13 elk, a 28% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is November 1 to 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 | November 1 to 10, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 50 (3 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 61, 507,046 acres |
| Unit | 61 |
| Elk zone | Island Park |
| Public land in the area | 82% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Island Park and Spencer |
How many applied for hunt 2039, 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, 50 of the 50 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 | 50 | 243 | 45 of 211 (21%) | 5 of 32 (16%) | 0 of 249 | 3 of 3 |
| 2025 | 50 | 184 | 45 of 152 (30%) | 5 of 32 (16%) | 0 of 235 | 6 of 6 |
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 2039 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2023 for this hunt: 170 first-choice applicants for 50 tags then, 243 for 50 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2039 | 50 | 243 | 50 (21%) | 211, 45 | 32, 5 |
| 2025 | 2039 | 50 | 184 | 50 (27%) | 152, 45 | 32, 5 |
| 2024 | 2039 | 50 | 187 | 50 (27%) | 160, 48 | 27, 2 |
| 2023 | 2039 | 50 | 170 | 50 (29%) | 155, 46 | 15, 4 |
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 2039). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2039?
In 2025, 46 hunters reported on hunt 2039 and 13 took an animal: 28% success, over 258 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 18 taken by 49 hunters, 38% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 28% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2039 | 46 | 13 | 28% | 258 | 27% |
| 2024 | 2039 | 49 | 18 | 38% | 246 | 46% |
| 2023 | 2039 | 45 | 8 | 18% | 284 | 17% |
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 2039) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 61?
IDFG's description of hunt area 61: All of Unit 61.
It covers 507,046 acres.
| Land manager in area 61 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 70.88% |
| Private | 17.4% |
| State of Idaho | 5.72% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 4.98% |
| Other | 0.86% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: forest 76.11%, rangeland 12.95%, irrigated-gravity flow 6.79%, riparian 1.86% and water 1.21%.
National forest: Targhee National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Island Park (US 20) and Spencer (Interstate 15).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 61; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2039?
- 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 61
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1094 | Antlered or antlerless mule deer or white-tailed deer | Muzzleloader only | Nov 11 to Dec 9 | unlimited (137 issued) | 34 |
| 2142 | Antlered or antlerless elk | Muzzleloader only | Nov 15 to Dec 9 | 200 | 63 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in unit 61: 2038 (60-1), 2096 (60-1), 2097 (60-1), 2161 (60-1). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2039 in 2026?
243 hunters listed hunt 2039 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 50 tags. 45 of 211 resident first choices drew, and 5 of 32 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2039?
IDFG reports 46 hunters took 13 elk on hunt 2039 in 2025, 28% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 28% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2039 in 2026?
November 1 to 10, 2026. It is antlered elk, any weapon, in hunt area 61 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 61?
IDFG describes hunt area 61 as: "All of Unit 61." It covers 507,046 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 2039 and hunt area 61; 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 61 Island Park Zone Idaho deadlines and fees