Idaho Unit 43:elk draw odds & harvest
3 hunt codes for elk. Part of elk herd unit Smoky-Bennett. 2026: 20 to 125 tags, 403 to 1,382 applicants per hunt.
Idaho · Unit 43
Unit 43Neighbor units
Hardest draw in Unit 432026 draw
201920 tags, 403 applied, 5% drew.
One of Idaho's hardest elk draws: 23rd hardest of 300 in 2026.
Hunt codes
Elk huntsin Unit 43
Whole-hunt draw results: applicants, tags and the share that drew.
| Hunt code | What it is | Draw result · 2026 | Tags | Success 3-yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | any weapon · Oct 1–Oct 14All of Unit 43. | 18 of 313 drew | 20 | 32–48% |
| 2020 | any weapon · Oct 15–Nov 10All of Unit 43. | 113 of 1,095 drew | 125 | 46–94% |
| 2192 | Elk Controlled Hunt 2192 · any weapon · Oct 15–Nov 10 | 25–67% |
Some hunt codes cover several units; the hunt page lists them all.
Harvest & herd
How hunters didand how the herd is doing.
Harvest success by hunt, 2001–2025
% successAll hunters0–19%
8%
5%
0%
0%
6%
2%
1%
0%
8%
8%
13%
0%
19%
0%
13%
0%
0%
16%
3%
0%
'01'02'03'04'05'06'08'09'10'11'12'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'24
201922–100%
77%
59%
79%
63%
78%
25%
38%
34%
75%
39%
80%
100%
50%
100%
60%
22%
73%
62%
39%
49%
46%
42%
32%
42%
48%
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
202028–95%
39%
36%
28%
32%
32%
76%
67%
73%
36%
70%
45%
42%
44%
65%
41%
38%
50%
63%
67%
79%
71%
65%
78%
95%
46%
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
219220–100%
100%
50%
54%
54%
46%
65%
38%
56%
20%
77%
67%
67%
25%
'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
45%+28–45%Under 28%
How the herd is doing
Herd unit Smoky-Bennett
Population estimate 2015
4,872
Bulls / 100 cows 2015
36
Mature bulls / 100 cows 2015
11.1
Calves / 100 cows 2015
43
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points 2025
46%
Harvested bulls with 6 or more points (%)Rising
200420052006200720082009201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Before you apply
- Deadline
- “December 5–15, 2026: First application period for the Nonresident and DAV Draw.”
- Tag fee
- “Elk 651.75”
- Tag fee
- “Elk 30.75 36.75”
- Points
- “Controlled hunts have a limited number of tags that are issued by a random drawing.”
Rules for 2027.
Season dates · 2026
- 2019Any WeaponOct 1–Oct 14
- 2020Any WeaponOct 15–Nov 10
- 2192Any WeaponOct 15–Nov 10
Confirm in the regulations before you go.
Map & access
Unit 43and the units around it
Neighbors with a FarWide page open on click.
Public land & access
Each program opens on the state's site. Check on-the-ground signage.
Offline maps
Take Unit 43into your map app
Opens in onX, Gaia GPS, CalTopo, Google Earth, and Garmin. Works offline in those apps.
Members
Unit 43 hunt pack
One file, layered: the unit boundary, with each elk hunt's draw odds and harvest success attached to the unit.
- Unit boundary
- Draw odds per hunt
- Harvest success per hunt
Unit 43 · 2019
18 of 313 drew
Success32–48%
Ask FarWide
Answers use the same figures as this page.
Source: IDFG · Updated Nov 13, 2026