Idaho Elk Moose

Unit 10A-1 (Lolo Zone Controlled)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk, Moose

Hunt 10A-1 is a controlled rifle elk hunt inside the Lolo Zone along Idaho's central panhandle — rugged Clearwater and Bitterroot country defined by the Lochsa River drainage and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary. The Lolo elk herd has been the focus of predator management and habitat work for two decades; bulls here tend to be backcountry animals that require serious effort. With 879 applicants for 120 tags over 3 years, this hunt rewards hunters willing to match physical fitness to the country.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 10A-1

Where to Find Elk in Unit 10A-1

The Lolo country is vast and vertical. Bulls are where the cow groups are, and cow groups follow security cover.

Lochsa River Side Drainages

Focus on the tributary creeks off the Lochsa — Fish Creek, Warm Springs, Pete King — where timber benches give way to burns and natural openings. Elk use the north-facing old-growth for bedding and drop to south-facing slopes at night.

Burn Edges from the 2015-2017 Fire Seasons

The fire mosaic across 10A created browse openings that elk now key on. Glass the transition between standing green timber and the burned side-hills, especially the first 200 yards into the green where bulls bed during the day.

Ridgeline Saddles Near the Wilderness Boundary

Bulls travel the ridge system paralleling the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary. Saddles between major drainages funnel movement, particularly during the September rut and during the October rifle window.

Pro Members Only

Unlock elk tactics for Unit 10A-1

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 10A-1

This is a backcountry hunt. Treat it like a wilderness elk hunt even outside the Wilderness boundary.

Plan for 5-7 Days Minimum

Access roads off US-12 Lochsa corridor put you at the bottom of 2,000-foot climbs. Budget a day to hike in, multiple days to hunt, and a day to pack out. Shorter hunts typically fail in the Lolo.

Locate with Bugles at Dark

The dense Clearwater timber hides elk until they vocalize. Get to a high ridge point at last light and bugle to locate — then plan the morning approach based on where bulls answered. Locator bugling after dark is common and effective here.

Still-Hunt the Wet Mornings

Lochsa country gets moisture even in October. A quiet, still-hunting pace through old-growth benches during rain or heavy dew will put you on bedded bulls that wouldn't tolerate normal forest-floor noise.

Pro Members Only

Unlock elk tactics for Unit 10A-1

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Lolo Zone controlled rifle hunts historically run 15-25% success based on IDFG harvest statistics. Bulls harvested tend to be mature — this is not a numbers hunt, it's a quality hunt in tough country. Physical preparation and wilderness camping skill are the biggest predictors of success.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	40	384	10.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Pure random draw, no points. With roughly 879 applicants for 120 tags across 3 years, raw odds sit near 14%. Nonresidents are limited to 10% of the quota, tightening NR odds further. Because there are no points to build, a first-time applicant has the same chance as a 20-year applicant — apply every year.

Moose Hunting in Unit 10A-1

Hunt 10A-1 is a controlled OIAL moose hunt in Unit 10A in the Clearwater country. We hunt willow bottoms, cedar benches, and burn regeneration within the Idaho Panhandle and Clearwater National Forests. Tag quotas are small and success is strong for hunters who scout.

Where to Find Moose in Hunt 10A-1

Wetland and browse cover.

Willow Bottoms

Creek bottoms are the core habitat.

Cedar Swamps

Mid-day bedding cover.

Burn Regen

Young burns hold browse that pulls moose at dawn and dusk.

How to Hunt Moose in Hunt 10A-1

Pro Members Only

Unlock tactics for Idaho 10A-1 moose

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

Hunt 10A-1 typically runs 75-90% hunter success, consistent with other 10A hunts.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	2	16	12.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Moose is an Idaho OIAL species. Idaho runs a pure random draw with no preference or bonus points. Nonresidents compete inside the statewide 10% quota cap.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

💧

Water

Abundant. Lochsa River, tributary creeks, and springs throughout. Filter all sources.

🛣️

Road Conditions

US-12 provides paved access along the Lochsa. Forest roads off the highway are gravel to rough — 4WD required on the upper network.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Expect 2,000+ feet of elevation gain to reach the ridge systems off the river corridor.

🌦️

Weather

Rain and cool temps through October; snow possible at elevation. Cold fronts can drop overnight lows to the teens.

📱

Cell Service

None off US-12. Satellite communicator required for backcountry hunts.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Kooskia and Lowell for fuel and supplies; Kamiah and Orofino for full services.

Pro Members Only

Unlock logistics for Unit 10A-1

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hunt 10A-1 inside the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness?

No. Hunt 10A-1 covers Unit 10A, which borders the Wilderness but is not inside it. Some hunters still pack in to the Wilderness boundary for reduced pressure — confirm the hunt boundary in the current IDFG rules.

How physical is the Lolo Zone hunt?

Very. Most hunters gain 2,000+ feet from road to ridgeline, and packing out a bull is a multi-trip effort. Plan fitness accordingly.

Do I need a wolf tag for the Lolo?

Wolves are present in the Lolo Zone. Confirm current Idaho wolf rules in the IDFG Big Game Seasons & Rules — tag availability and seasons change frequently.

Is 10A-1 OIAL?

Yes. All Idaho moose hunts are once-in-a-lifetime for the species.

Is pre-season scouting necessary?

Yes. Patterning a specific bull before the opener is the single biggest driver of success on any Idaho moose hunt.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

IDFG Big Game Hunt Planner — Lolo Zone / Unit 10A — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Lolo Zone boundaries and hunt structure, 10A unit landing page, Controlled hunt numbers · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Hunt 10A-1 dates and weapon, Tag quota, Unit 10A boundary · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG State of Deer and Elk — Lolo Zone — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Lolo elk herd trend data, Calf recruitment, Predator management context · accessed 2026-04-17
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Public land ownership in Unit 10A, Road access and closures, Wilderness boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Draw odds, Applicants · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG — Moose Hunting — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: OIAL framework, Distribution · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 10A-1 (Lolo Zone Controlled)

Elk Hunting in Unit 10A-1

Where to Find Elk in Unit 10A-1

Lochsa River Side Drainages

Burn Edges from the 2015-2017 Fire Seasons

Ridgeline Saddles Near the Wilderness Boundary

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 10A-1

Plan for 5-7 Days Minimum

Locate with Bugles at Dark

Still-Hunt the Wet Mornings

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 10A-1

Where to Find Moose in Hunt 10A-1

Willow Bottoms

Cedar Swamps

Burn Regen

How to Hunt Moose in Hunt 10A-1

Scout Water

Call Sparingly

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Water

Road Conditions

Terrain Difficulty

Weather

Cell Service

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification

Unit 10A-1 (Lolo Zone Controlled)

Elk Hunting in Unit 10A-1

Where to Find Elk in Unit 10A-1

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 10A-1

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 10A-1

Where to Find Moose in Hunt 10A-1

Willow Bottoms

Cedar Swamps

Burn Regen

How to Hunt Moose in Hunt 10A-1

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 10 — Elk

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification