Idaho controlled hunt 2051: antlerless elk, area 8-2
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 368 hunters chose hunt 2051 first, for 100 tags: 99 of 348 residents drew (28%) and 1 of 20 nonresidents (5%). In 2025, 92 hunters on this hunt took 35 elk, a 38% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 20 to December 1, 2026: antlerless 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 | Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any weapon |
| Season, 2026 | October 20 to December 1, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 100 (8 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 8-2, 440,998 acres |
| Units | 8, 8A |
| Elk zone | Palouse |
| Public land in the area | 5% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Lewiston, Moscow, Troy and Deary |
How many applied for hunt 2051, 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, 100 of the 100 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 | 100 | 368 | 99 of 348 (28%) | 1 of 20 (5%) | 0 of 189 | 8 of 8 |
| 2025 | 100 | 378 | 90 of 358 (25%) | 10 of 20 (50%) | 0 of 174 | 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 2051 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2015 for this hunt: 601 first-choice applicants for 250 tags then, 368 for 100 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2051 | 100 | 368 | 100 (27%) | 348, 99 | 20, 1 |
| 2025 | 2051 | 100 | 378 | 100 (26%) | 358, 90 | 20, 10 |
| 2024 | 2051 | 100 | 385 | 100 (26%) | 369, 96 | 16, 4 |
| 2023 | 2051 | 100 | 380 | 100 (26%) | 370, 98 | 10, 2 |
| 2016 | 2051 | 250 | 469 | 250 (53%) | 456, 242 | 13, 8 |
| 2015 | 2051 | 250 | 601 | 250 (42%) | 592, 245 | 9, 5 |
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 2051). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2051?
In 2025, 92 hunters reported on hunt 2051 and 35 took an animal: 38% success, over 809 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 35 taken by 89 hunters, 39% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 5 most recent years in the table, 31% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2051 | 92 | 35 | 38% | 809 |
| 2024 | 2051 | 89 | 35 | 39% | 604 |
| 2023 | 2051 | 95 | 31 | 33% | 829 |
| 2016 | 2051 | 191 | 41 | 22% | 1,963 |
| 2015 | 2051 | 221 | 72 | 33% | 2,036 |
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 2051) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 8-2?
IDFG's description of hunt area 8-2: That portion of Units 8 and 8A south of the following line: Beginning at the western boundary of Unit 8 at its junction with State Highway 8, then east on Highway 8 to Forest Service Road 1963 at Helmer, then south and east on Forest Service Road 1963 to Long Meadow Creek, then southeast along Long Meadow Creek to Dworshak Reservoir, then east along the shoreline of Dworshak Reservoir to the Unit 8A boundary at Dent Bridge.
It covers 440,998 acres.
| Land manager in area 8-2 | Share |
|---|---|
| Private | 90.47% |
| State of Idaho | 4.38% |
| Indian Reservation / Bureau of Indian Affairs | 3.18% |
| Other | 0.83% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: dryland agriculture 84.03%, forest 13.64% and water 1.87%.
National forest: Clearwater National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Lewiston (US 95 US 12), Moscow (US 95), Troy (Idaho 8) and Deary (Idaho 8).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 8-2; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2051?
- Antlerless Elk. Only elk without antlers or with antlers shorter than 6 inches may be taken in any season which is open for antlerless elk only.
Other 2026 elk hunts in units 8 and 8A: 2050 (8-1). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2051 in 2026?
368 hunters listed hunt 2051 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 100 tags. 99 of 348 resident first choices drew, and 1 of 20 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2051?
IDFG reports 92 hunters took 35 elk on hunt 2051 in 2025, 38% success. Over the last 5 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 31% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2051 in 2026?
October 20 to December 1, 2026. It is antlerless elk, any weapon, in hunt area 8-2 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 8-2?
IDFG describes hunt area 8-2 as: "That portion of Units 8 and 8A south of the following line: Beginning at the western boundary of Unit 8 at its junction with State Highway 8, then east on Highway 8 to Forest Service Road 1963 at Helmer, then south and east on Forest Service Road 1963 to Long Meadow Creek, then southeast along Long Meadow Creek to Dworshak Reservoir, then east along the shoreline of Dworshak Reservoir to the Unit 8A boundary at Dent Bridge." It covers 440,998 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 2051 and hunt area 8-2; 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 8 Unit 8A Palouse Zone Idaho deadlines and fees