Idaho controlled hunt 2044: antlered elk, area 70-1
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 1,275 hunters chose hunt 2044 first, for 250 tags: 225 of 1,049 residents drew (21%) and 25 of 226 nonresidents (11%). In 2025, 243 hunters on this hunt took 98 elk, a 40% 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 | 250 (8 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 70-1, 2,395,190 acres |
| Units | 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A, 74 |
| Elk zone | Bannock |
| Public land in the area | 31% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Pocatello, Preston, Soda Springs and Malad City |
How many applied for hunt 2044, 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, 250 of the 250 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 | 250 | 1,275 | 225 of 1,049 (21%) | 25 of 226 (11%) | 0 of 673 | 8 of 8 |
| 2025 | 250 | 1,054 | 225 of 874 (26%) | 25 of 180 (14%) | 0 of 597 | 8 of 8 |
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 2044 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2015 for this hunt: 413 first-choice applicants for 200 tags then, 1,275 for 250 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2044 | 250 | 1,275 | 250 (20%) | 1,049, 225 | 226, 25 |
| 2025 | 2044 | 250 | 1,054 | 250 (24%) | 874, 225 | 180, 25 |
| 2016 | 2044 | 200 | 503 | 200 (40%) | 455, 180 | 48, 20 |
| 2015 | 2044 | 200 | 413 | 200 (48%) | 365, 180 | 48, 20 |
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 2044). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2044?
In 2025, 243 hunters reported on hunt 2044 and 98 took an animal: 40% success, over 1,265 days of hunting. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 40% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2044 | 243 | 98 | 40% | 1,265 | 60% |
| 2016 | 2044 | 176 | 76 | 43% | 886 | 56.7% |
| 2015 | 2044 | 185 | 68 | 37% | 897 | 54% |
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 2044) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 70-1?
IDFG's description of hunt area 70-1: All of Units 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A and 74.
It covers 2,395,190 acres.
| Land manager in area 70-1 | Share |
|---|---|
| Private | 56.13% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 13.96% |
| Indian Reservation / Bureau of Indian Affairs | 11.25% |
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 10.88% |
| State of Idaho | 6.33% |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | 0.87% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: rangeland 35.87%, dryland agriculture 33.91%, forest 14.8%, irrigated-sprinkler 8.36%, irrigated-gravity flow 4.36% and urban 1.35%.
National forest: Caribou National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Pocatello (Interstate 86 Interstate 15 US 91), Preston (US 91 Idaho 36), Soda Springs (US 30), Malad City (Interstate 15), Grace (Idaho 34), Franklin (US 91), Downey (US 91), Lava Hot Springs (US 30) and Cambridge (US 95).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 70-1; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2044?
- 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 70-1
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2043 | Antlered elk | Any weapon | Oct 1 to Oct 14 | 25 | 919 |
| 2145 | Antlered or antlerless elk | Muzzleloader only | Nov 16 to Nov 30 | 125 | 119 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in units 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A and 74: 2172 (74X), 2173 (74X). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2044 in 2026?
1,275 hunters listed hunt 2044 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 250 tags. 225 of 1,049 resident first choices drew, and 25 of 226 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2044?
IDFG reports 243 hunters took 98 elk on hunt 2044 in 2025, 40% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 40% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2044 in 2026?
October 15 to 24, 2026. It is antlered elk, any weapon, in hunt area 70-1 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 70-1?
IDFG describes hunt area 70-1 as: "All of Units 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A and 74." It covers 2,395,190 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 2044 and hunt area 70-1; 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 70 Unit 71 Unit 72 Unit 73 Unit 73A Unit 74 Bannock Zone Idaho deadlines and fees