Idaho controlled hunt 2042: antlered elk, area 66A-1
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 2,431 hunters chose hunt 2042 first, for 350 tags: 315 of 1,778 residents drew (18%) and 35 of 653 nonresidents (5%). In 2025, 336 hunters on this hunt took 156 elk, a 46% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 15 to 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 24, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 350 (15 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 66A-1, 1,061,810 acres |
| Units | 66A, 76 |
| Elk zone | Diamond Creek |
| Public land in the area | 56% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Montpelier, Paris and Wayan |
How many applied for hunt 2042, 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, 350 of the 350 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 | 350 | 2,431 | 315 of 1,778 (18%) | 35 of 653 (5%) | 0 of 890 | 15 of 15 |
| 2025 | 350 | 2,087 | 315 of 1,580 (20%) | 35 of 507 (7%) | 0 of 778 | 11 of 11 |
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 2042 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2015 for this hunt: 1,991 first-choice applicants for 300 tags then, 2,431 for 350 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2042 | 350 | 2,431 | 350 (14%) | 1,778, 315 | 653, 35 |
| 2025 | 2042 | 350 | 2,087 | 350 (17%) | 1,580, 315 | 507, 35 |
| 2016 | 2042 | 300 | 2,009 | 300 (15%) | 1,587, 270 | 422, 30 |
| 2015 | 2042 | 300 | 1,991 | 300 (15%) | 1,620, 270 | 371, 30 |
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 2042). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2042?
In 2025, 336 hunters reported on hunt 2042 and 156 took an animal: 46% success, over 1,618 days of hunting. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 50% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2042 | 336 | 156 | 46% | 1,618 | 61% |
| 2016 | 2042 | 264 | 136 | 52% | 1,165 | 54% |
| 2015 | 2042 | 294 | 157 | 53% | 1,413 | 54.2% |
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 2042) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 66A-1?
IDFG's description of hunt area 66A-1: All of Units 66A and 76.
It covers 1,061,810 acres.
| Land manager in area 66A-1 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 46.66% |
| Private | 36.26% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 6.18% |
| State of Idaho | 3.54% |
| Other | 2.04% |
| U.S. National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) | 1.62% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: forest 39.23%, rangeland 32.3%, dryland agriculture 9.64%, irrigated-sprinkler 5.26%, irrigated-gravity flow 5.04%, riparian 4.74% and water 3.16%.
National forests: Caribou National Forest and Targhee National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Access Yes! properties IDFG lists here (private land open to hunters through the program): Fox Hills Ranch.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Montpelier (US 89 US 30), Paris (US 89) and Wayan (Idaho 34).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 66A-1; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2042?
- 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.
- 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.
Other 2026 controlled hunts in area 66A-1
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2041 | Antlered elk | Any weapon | Oct 1 to Oct 14 | 50 | 1,368 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in units 66A and 76: 2102 (66-2), 2103 (66-2), 2104 (66A), 2107 (76), 2108 (76-1), 2162 (66-2), 2174 (76-1X), 2286 (76-1X), 2287 (76-1X). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2042 in 2026?
2,431 hunters listed hunt 2042 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 350 tags. 315 of 1,778 resident first choices drew, and 35 of 653 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2042?
IDFG reports 336 hunters took 156 elk on hunt 2042 in 2025, 46% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 50% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2042 in 2026?
October 15 to 24, 2026. It is antlered elk, any weapon, in hunt area 66A-1 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 66A-1?
IDFG describes hunt area 66A-1 as: "All of Units 66A and 76." It covers 1,061,810 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 2042 and hunt area 66A-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.
Idaho elk draw results Unit 66A Unit 76 Diamond Creek Zone Idaho deadlines and fees