Idaho controlled hunt 2142: antlered or antlerless elk, area 61
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 63 hunters chose hunt 2142 first, for 200 tags: 40 of 41 residents drew (98%) and 20 of 22 nonresidents (91%). In 2025, 163 hunters on this hunt took 20 elk, a 12% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is November 15 to December 9, 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 | November 15 to December 9, 2026 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 200 (91 more offered in the second drawing) |
| Hunt area | 61, 507,046 acres |
| Unit | 61 |
| Elk zone | Island Park |
| Public land in the area | 82% (IDFG's land manager figures) |
| Towns in the area | Island Park and Spencer |
How many applied for hunt 2142, 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, 60 of the 200 tags went to first choices. The other 85 went to hunters who listed hunt 2142 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 | 200 | 63 | 40 of 41 (98%) | 20 of 22 (91%) | 85 of 136 | 83 of 91 |
| 2025 | 200 | 60 | 47 of 47 (100%) | 13 of 13 (100%) | 79 of 113 | 62 of 90 |
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 2142 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2021 for this hunt: 87 first-choice applicants for 200 tags then, 63 for 200 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2142 | 200 | 63 | 60 (95%) | 41, 40 | 22, 20 |
| 2025 | 2142 | 200 | 60 | 60 (100%) | 47, 47 | 13, 13 |
| 2022 | 2142 | 200 | 65 | 65 (100%) | 50, 50 | 15, 15 |
| 2021 | 2142 | 200 | 87 | 87 (100%) | 69, 69 | 18, 18 |
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 2142). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2142?
In 2025, 163 hunters reported on hunt 2142 and 20 took an animal: 12% success, over 1,017 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 | Bulls with 6+ points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2142 | 163 | 20 | 12% | 1,017 | 0% |
| 2022 | 2142 | 147 | 13 | 9% | 816 | |
| 2021 | 2142 | 173 | 38 | 22% | 1,000 | 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 2142) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 61?
IDFG's description of hunt area 61: All of Unit 61.
It covers 507,046 acres.
| Land manager in area 61 | Share |
|---|---|
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS) | 70.88% |
| Private | 17.4% |
| State of Idaho | 5.72% |
| U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | 4.98% |
| Other | 0.86% |
Land cover, by IDFG's figures for the area: forest 76.11%, rangeland 12.95%, irrigated-gravity flow 6.79%, riparian 1.86% and water 1.21%.
National forest: Targhee National Forest. Check the forest's road and area closures before you go.
Towns IDFG lists in the area: Island Park (US 20) and Spencer (Interstate 15).
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 61; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2142?
- Antlerless or Antlered Elk. Either sex may be taken.
- Muzzleloader. Muzzleloader ONLY.
Other 2026 controlled hunts in area 61
| Hunt | Species and take | Weapon | Season | Tags | First-choice applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1094 | Antlered or antlerless mule deer or white-tailed deer | Muzzleloader only | Nov 11 to Dec 9 | unlimited (137 issued) | 34 |
| 2039 | Antlered elk | Any weapon | Nov 1 to Nov 10 | 50 | 243 |
Other 2026 elk hunts in unit 61: 2038 (60-1), 2096 (60-1), 2097 (60-1), 2161 (60-1). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2142 in 2026?
63 hunters listed hunt 2142 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 200 tags. 40 of 41 resident first choices drew, and 20 of 22 nonresident first choices. Another 85 tags went to hunters who chose it second.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2142?
IDFG reports 163 hunters took 20 elk on hunt 2142 in 2025, 12% success. Over the last 3 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 15% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2142 in 2026?
November 15 to December 9, 2026. It is antlered or antlerless elk, muzzleloader only, in hunt area 61 (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 61?
IDFG describes hunt area 61 as: "All of Unit 61." It covers 507,046 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 2142 and hunt area 61; 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 61 Island Park Zone Idaho deadlines and fees