Idaho controlled hunt 2139: antlered or antlerless elk, area 50-1
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 257 hunters chose hunt 2139 first, for 50 tags: 45 of 197 residents drew (23%) and 5 of 60 nonresidents (8%). In 2025, 47 hunters on this hunt took 24 elk, a 51% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is October 1 to 14, 2026: antlered or 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 | Antlered or antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader only |
| Season, 2026 | October 1 to 14, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 50 |
| Hunt area | 50-1, 898,113 acres |
| Unit | 50 |
| Elk zone | Pioneer |
| Public land in the area | 81% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Arco and Mackay |
How many applied for hunt 2139, 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, 50 of the 50 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 | 50 | 257 | 45 of 197 (23%) | 5 of 60 (8%) | 0 of 117 | |
| 2025 | 50 | 224 | 45 of 169 (27%) | 5 of 55 (9%) | 0 of 92 | 2 of 2 |
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 2139 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2021 for this hunt: 144 first-choice applicants for 100 tags then, 257 for 50 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2139 | 50 | 257 | 50 (19%) | 197, 45 | 60, 5 |
| 2025 | 2139 | 50 | 224 | 50 (22%) | 169, 45 | 55, 5 |
| 2022 | 2139 | 100 | 140 | 100 (71%) | 116, 90 | 24, 10 |
| 2021 | 2139 | 100 | 144 | 100 (69%) | 117, 90 | 27, 10 |
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 2139). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2139?
In 2025, 47 hunters reported on hunt 2139 and 24 took an animal: 51% success, over 265 days of hunting. Across the 3 most recent years in the table, 41% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2139 | 47 | 24 | 51% | 265 | 81% |
| 2022 | 2139 | 87 | 29 | 34% | 491 | 57.9% |
| 2021 | 2139 | 89 | 39 | 44% | 456 | 54.8% |
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 2139) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 50-1?
IDFG's description of hunt area 50-1: That portion of Unit 50 south of the Doublespring Pass Road east of U.S. Highway 93, and that portion south of the Trail Creek Road west of U.S. Highway 93.
It covers 898,113 acres.
| Land manager in area 50-1 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 50.92% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 27.74% |
| Private | 18.76% |
| State of Idaho | 1.43% |
| U.S. National Park Service (NPS) | 1.15% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: rangeland 73.15%, forest 11.24%, irrigated-sprinkler 7.08%, irrigated-gravity flow 5.06%, riparian 1.9% and rock 1.43%.
National forest: Salmon-Challis National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Arco (US 20-26 US 93) and Mackay (US 93).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 50-1; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2139?
- Antlerless or Antlered Elk. Either sex may be taken.
- Muzzleloader. Muzzleloader ONLY.
Other 2026 controlled hunts in area 50-1
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | Antlered elk | Any weapon | Oct 15 to Oct 31 | 60 | 999 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in unit 50: 2011 (36A-2), 2133 (36A-3). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2139 in 2026?
257 hunters listed hunt 2139 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 50 tags. 45 of 197 resident first choices drew, and 5 of 60 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2139?
IDFG reports 47 hunters took 24 elk on hunt 2139 in 2025, 51% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 41% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2139 in 2026?
October 1 to 14, 2026. It is antlered or antlerless elk, muzzleloader only, in hunt area 50-1 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 50-1?
IDFG describes hunt area 50-1 as: "That portion of Unit 50 south of the Doublespring Pass Road east of U.S. Highway 93, and that portion south of the Trail Creek Road west of U.S. Highway 93." It covers 898,113 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 2139 and hunt area 50-1; 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 50 Pioneer Zone Idaho deadlines and fees