Idaho controlled hunt 2280: antlerless elk, area 36A-1X
In Idaho Fish and Game's 2026 drawing, 432 hunters chose hunt 2280 first, for 50 tags: 47 of 418 residents drew (11%) and 3 of 14 nonresidents (21%). In 2025, 31 hunters on this hunt took 21 elk, a 68% harvest success by IDFG's count. The 2026 season is January 1 to 31, 2027: 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 | January 1 to 31, 2027 |
| Tags in the 2026 drawing | 50 |
| Hunt area | 36A-1X, 122,808 acres |
| Units | 36A, 37 |
| Elk zones | Pioneer, Lemhi |
How many applied for hunt 2280, 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 | 432 | 47 of 418 (11%) | 3 of 14 (21%) | 0 of 13 | |
| 2025 | Not in IDFG's 2025 drawing under this number | |||||
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 2280 changed?
IDFG's records go back to 2017 for this hunt: 954 first-choice applicants for 250 tags then, 432 for 50 in 2026.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Tags | First-choice applicants | First choices who drew | Residents: applied, drew | Nonresidents: applied, drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2280 | 50 | 432 | 50 (12%) | 418, 47 | 14, 3 |
| 2024 | 2280 | 50 | 296 | 50 (17%) | 293, 49 | 3, 1 |
| 2022 | 2162 (area 36AX) | 125 | 1,008 | 125 (12%) | 994, 124 | 14, 1 |
| 2018 | 2199 (area 36AX) | 250 | 1,290 | 250 (19%) | 1,260, 246 | 30, 4 |
| 2017 | 2199 (area 36AX) | 250 | 954 | 250 (26%) | 919, 236 | 35, 14 |
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 2280). IDFG rounds its success percentages.
What is the harvest success on hunt 2280?
In 2025, 31 hunters reported on hunt 2280 and 21 took an animal: 68% success, over 75 days of hunting. In 2024 it was 101 taken by 144 hunters (as hunt 2159), 70% success in IDFG's figures. Across the 5 most recent years in the table, 57% of hunters took an animal.
| Year | Hunt number that year | Hunters | Harvest | Success | Days hunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2280 | 31 | 21 | 68% | 75 |
| 2024 | 2159 (area 36AX) | 144 | 101 | 70% | 343 |
| 2023 | 2159 (area 36AX) | 173 | 75 | 44% | 652 |
| 2022 | 2162 (area 36AX) | 106 | 75 | 70% | 346 |
| 2018 | 2199 (area 36AX) | 192 | 98 | 51% | 770 |
| 2017 | 2199 (area 36AX) | 195 | 129 | 66% | 799 |
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 2280) and its harvest statistics.
Where is hunt area 36A-1X?
IDFG's description of hunt area 36A-1X: That portion of Unit 36A north of the following boundary. Starting at the junction of Highway 93 and Spar Canyon Road. West on Spar Canyon road to the junction with Powerline Road. North on Powerline Road to the Malm Gulch Road. Then continuing north on the Malm Gulch road to its junction with Highway 75 and the unit boundary. That portion of Unit 37 including the Pennal Gulch drainage to and including the Lime Creek drainage.
It covers 122,808 acres.
Area facts: IDFG Hunt Planner, hunt area 36A-1X; land managers from IDFG's surface management data (Inside Idaho), land cover from IDWR.
What rules come with hunt 2280?
- 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 36A and 37: 2010 (36A-1), 2011 (36A-2), 2012 (37), 2078 (37), 2079 (37), 2133 (36A-3), 2157 (37), 2167 (36AX). All elk draw results.
Questions hunters ask
How many people applied for Idaho hunt 2280 in 2026?
432 hunters listed hunt 2280 as their first choice in IDFG's 2026 drawing, for 50 tags. 47 of 418 resident first choices drew, and 3 of 14 nonresident first choices.
What is the harvest success on Idaho hunt 2280?
IDFG reports 31 hunters took 21 elk on hunt 2280 in 2025, 68% success. Over the last 5 years IDFG lists for this hunt, 57% of hunters took an animal.
When is Idaho hunt 2280 in 2026?
January 1 to 31, 2027. It is antlerless elk, any weapon, in hunt area 36A-1X (IDFG Hunt Planner).
Which units are in Idaho hunt area 36A-1X?
IDFG describes hunt area 36A-1X as: "That portion of Unit 36A north of the following boundary. Starting at the junction of Highway 93 and Spar Canyon Road. West on Spar Canyon road to the junction with Powerline Road. North on Powerline Road to the Malm Gulch Road. Then continuing north on the Malm Gulch road to its junction with Highway 75 and the unit boundary. That portion of Unit 37 including the Pennal Gulch drainage to and including the Lime Creek drainage." It covers 122,808 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 2280 and hunt area 36A-1X; 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 36A Unit 37 Pioneer Zone Lemhi Zone Idaho deadlines and fees