Idaho controlled hunt 2135: antlerless elk, area 39
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 286 hunters chose hunt 2135 first, for 550 tags: 266 of 266 residents drew (100%) and 20 of 20 nonresidents (100%). In 2025, 508 hunters on this hunt took 77 elk, a 15% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is September 8 to 30, 2026: antlerless elk, muzzleloader only.
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 | Muzzleloader only |
| Season, 2026 | September 8 to 30, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 550 (89 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 39, 1,564,124 acres |
| Unit | 39 |
| Elk zone | Boise River |
| Public land in the area | 76% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Wilderness | Sawtooth Wilderness 89,011 acres (5.69% of hunt area) |
| Towns in the area | Boise, Garden City, Horseshoe Bend and Idaho City |
How many applied for hunt 2135, 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, 286 of the 550 tags went to first choices. The other 264 went to hunters who listed hunt 2135 second. 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 | 550 | 286 | 266 of 266 (100%) | 20 of 20 (100%) | 264 of 442 | 89 of 89 |
| 2025 | 550 | 300 | 278 of 278 (100%) | 22 of 22 (100%) | 250 of 437 | 81 of 81 |
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 2135 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2021 for this hunt: 334 first-choice applicants for 550 tags then, 286 for 550 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2135 | 550 | 286 | 286 (100%) | 266, 266 | 20, 20 |
| 2025 | 2135 | 550 | 300 | 300 (100%) | 278, 278 | 22, 22 |
| 2022 | 2135 | 550 | 274 | 274 (100%) | 265, 265 | 9, 9 |
| 2021 | 2135 | 550 | 334 | 334 (100%) | 321, 321 | 13, 13 |
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 2135). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2135?
In 2025, 508 hunters reported on hunt 2135 and 77 took an animal: 15% success, over 3,663 days of hunting. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 15% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2135 | 508 | 77 | 15% | 3,663 |
| 2022 | 2135 | 468 | 70 | 15% | 2,933 |
| 2021 | 2135 | 470 | 76 | 16% | 3,449 |
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 2135) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 39?
IDFG's description of hunt area 39: All of Unit 39.
It covers 1,564,124 acres.
| Land manager in area 39 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 58.53% |
| Private | 23.22% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 9.15% |
| State of Idaho | 7.05% |
| U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) | 1.58% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: forest 60.89% and rangeland 36.71%.
National forests: Boise National Forest and Sawtooth National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Wilderness in the area: Sawtooth Wilderness 89,011 acres (5.69% of hunt area). No motorized vehicles are allowed in wilderness.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Boise (Interstate 84 Idaho 55 Idaho 21), Garden City (Idaho 55 Interstate 84), Horseshoe Bend (Idaho 55 Idaho 52), Idaho City (Idaho 21) and Atlanta (Idaho 21).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 39; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2135?
- 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.
- Muzzleloader. Muzzleloader ONLY.
- CAUTION - Archers and Muzzleloaders: "Any weapon" elk hunts will be open during the archery or muzzleloader season in all or parts of this hunt. Please use appropriate caution.
Other 2026 controlled hunts in area 39
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1030 | Antlered mule deer or white-tailed deer | Any weapon | Aug 15 to Sep 30 | 200 | 1,248 |
| 2122 | Antlered elk | Archery only | Aug 30 to Sep 30 | 50 | 574 |
| 2134 | Antlered elk | Muzzleloader only | Aug 30 to Sep 30 | 50 | 645 |
| 4007 | Pronghorn of either sex | Any weapon | Sep 25 to Oct 24 | 40 | 1,794 |
| 4051 | Pronghorn of either sex | Archery only | Aug 15 to Sep 15 | 5 | 15 |
| 4052 | Doe or fawn pronghorn | Any weapon | Oct 25 to Dec 31 | 25 | 171 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in unit 39: 2081 (39-1), 2082 (39-2), 2113 (39-3). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2135 in 2026?
286 hunters listed hunt 2135 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 550 tags. 266 of 266 resident first choices drew, and 20 of 20 nonresident first choices. Another 264 tags went to hunters who chose it second.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2135?
IDFG reports 508 hunters took 77 elk on hunt 2135 in 2025, 15% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 15% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2135 in 2026?
September 8 to 30, 2026. It is antlerless elk, muzzleloader only, in hunt area 39 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 39?
IDFG describes hunt area 39 as: "All of Unit 39." It covers 1,564,124 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 2135 and hunt area 39; 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 39 Boise River Zone Idaho deadlines and fees