Idaho controlled hunt 2087: antlerless elk, area 48-1
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 279 hunters chose hunt 2087 first, for 175 tags: 158 of 245 residents drew (64%) and 17 of 34 nonresidents (50%). In 2025, 148 hunters on this hunt took 46 elk, a 31% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 15 to November 14, 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 15 to November 14, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 175 (3 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 48-1, 209,381 acres |
| Unit | 48 |
| Elk zone | Smoky-Bennett |
| Public land in the area | 98% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Sun Valley / Ketchum |
How many applied for hunt 2087, 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, 175 of the 175 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 | 175 | 279 | 158 of 245 (64%) | 17 of 34 (50%) | 0 of 157 | 3 of 3 |
| 2025 | 175 | 299 | 159 of 274 (58%) | 16 of 25 (64%) | 0 of 181 | 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 2087 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2023 for this hunt: 249 first-choice applicants for 200 tags then, 279 for 175 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2087 | 175 | 279 | 175 (63%) | 245, 158 | 34, 17 |
| 2025 | 2087 | 175 | 299 | 175 (59%) | 274, 159 | 25, 16 |
| 2024 | 2087 (area 48-2) | 200 | 206 | 200 (97%) | 194, 188 | 12, 12 |
| 2023 | 2087 (area 48-2) | 200 | 249 | 200 (80%) | 235, 192 | 14, 8 |
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 2087). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2087?
In 2025, 148 hunters reported on hunt 2087 and 46 took an animal: 31% success, over 833 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 41 taken by 176 hunters, 23% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 25% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2087 | 148 | 46 | 31% | 833 | |
| 2024 | 2087 (area 48-2) | 176 | 41 | 23% | 1,046 | |
| 2023 | 2087 (area 48-2) | 170 | 38 | 22% | 1,041 | 0% |
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 2087) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 48-1?
IDFG's description of hunt area 48-1: That portion of Unit 48 north of Trail Creek and the Ketchum-Warm Springs Creek-Dollarhide Summit Road.
It covers 209,381 acres.
| Land manager in area 48-1 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 96.82% |
| Private | 2.13% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 0.98% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: forest 60.62%, rangeland 36.92% and riparian 2.46%.
National forest: Sawtooth National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Sun Valley / Ketchum (Idaho 75).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 48-1; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2087?
- 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 unit 48: 2026 (48), 2027 (48), 2088 (48-2), 2089 (48-3), 2137 (48). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2087 in 2026?
279 hunters listed hunt 2087 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 175 tags. 158 of 245 resident first choices drew, and 17 of 34 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2087?
IDFG reports 148 hunters took 46 elk on hunt 2087 in 2025, 31% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 25% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2087 in 2026?
October 15 to November 14, 2026. It is antlerless elk, any weapon, in hunt area 48-1 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 48-1?
IDFG describes hunt area 48-1 as: "That portion of Unit 48 north of Trail Creek and the Ketchum-Warm Springs Creek-Dollarhide Summit Road." It covers 209,381 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 2087 and hunt area 48-1; 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 48 Smoky-Bennett Zone Idaho deadlines and fees