Idaho Mule Deer Pronghorn

Unit 47 (Lost River Range)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Pronghorn

Unit 47 encompasses the Lost River Range in east-central Idaho — the state's highest peaks rising above 12,000 feet with mule deer using the high basins in summer and transitioning to the Snake River Plain edges in fall. This is demanding glassing country with excellent buck quality for hunters willing to work at altitude. General season tags provide OTC access to a unit that sees relatively low overall pressure due to its remote and rugged terrain.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 47

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 47

Mule deer in Unit 47 track the classic Lost River Range elevation migration — from sub-alpine basins below the peaks in summer to the lower canyon edges and sagebrush margins during the October rifle season.

Sub-Alpine Basins (Early Season)

Late August and September archery hunters find mature bucks in the cirques and rocky basins below the Lost River Range crests at 9,000–11,000 feet. Glass the light-colored talus and boulder fields at first light — bucks bed on rocky points above the basin floor with sight lines in all directions.

Canyon Edges and Drainages (October)

The October rifle season finds deer on the canyon margins and sagebrush benches on the east and west flanks of the Lost Rivers. These transition zones concentrate deer during the rut. Glass the sage-and-bitterbrush edges at dawn and dusk for bucks chasing does.

Lower Sagebrush (Late Season)

After early snows push deer down from the high country, the lower sagebrush foothills and canyon bottoms on the flanks of the Lost Rivers hold the post-migration population. Muzzleloader and late-season hunters focus on these lower-elevation areas.

How to Hunt Unit 47 Mule Deer

High-country glassing is the premier tactic for Unit 47. The Lost Rivers are among the most dramatic terrain in the lower 48 — plan for big elevation gain and carry quality optics.

Glassing from the Crests

The most effective method is to gain the ridgeline at first light and glass both sides of the crest simultaneously. A 15x or 18x binocular on a tripod can cover multiple basins in a single morning. We've found that deer on the west-facing slopes are typically visible in morning shadow light before those on the east face.

First-Light Ambush in the Basins

If you locate a mature buck in a basin during a previous afternoon, set your alarm early and be above the basin before first light. Mature bucks often bed high and feed down into the basin floor in the last hour before sunrise. Being above them before light prevents education and improves shot opportunities.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

General season mule deer success in Unit 47 runs approximately 20–30% depending on annual deer numbers. The high country glassing approach rewards disciplined hunters who put in the elevation work. Hunters who identify specific buck locations through extended glassing sessions in the first two days of a hunt significantly outperform those covering ground without optics strategy.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	100	543	18.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Most Unit 47 mule deer opportunity is available on general season OTC tags — no draw required for most hunters. Some antler-restriction or specific zone designations may require a controlled hunt draw; check IDFG Hunt Planner for current availability and any restricted designations.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 47

Idaho GMU 47 is a high-desert pronghorn unit on the Snake River Plain east of Arco and north of Idaho Falls. IDFG allocates pronghorn controlled-hunt tags by pure-random drawing with a 10% nonresident quota. Season and weapon rules are set in the current Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 47

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How to Hunt Unit 47

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Pronghorn Success Rates

IDFG pronghorn success on the eastern Snake River Plain typically runs 60% to 85% for rifle tags. Pull the current IDFG controlled-hunt harvest summary for the Unit 47 number before planning.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	45	227	19.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho runs a pure-random drawing — no bonus points. With roughly 623 applicants and 150 tags over three years, resident odds sit near 25%. Nonresidents face the 10% cap. Confirm current figures with IDFG each spring.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

State and county roads to trailheads; high-clearance 4WD needed for most forest approach roads

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Terrain Difficulty

Very strenuous — Lost River Range peaks exceed 12,000 ft; significant elevation gain required to reach prime deer country

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Hunting Pressure

Low — demanding terrain filters casual hunters

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Cell Service

Limited near Mackay; no service in the Lost River high country

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Nearest Town

Mackay (basic services, 15–30 mi depending on access point); Arco (basic services, 30–40 mi)

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Permit Notes

General season mule deer tags available OTC; verify current designations in IDFG Hunt Planner

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Frequently Asked Questions

How high do I need to hike to find good mule deer in Unit 47?

During archery season, the best buck habitat is at 9,000–11,000 feet in the basins below the Lost River peaks. October rifle hunters find deer actively migrating through 7,000–9,000 feet terrain. Be prepared for significant elevation gain — most quality country requires 3,000+ feet of climbing from the nearest trailhead.

Is the Idaho National Laboratory closed to hunting?

Yes. The INL withdrawal covers a large area of the Snake River Plain and is closed to public hunting. On-board GPS overlays are essential to stay off INL land.

Do pronghorn tags require points in Idaho?

No — Idaho uses a pure-random drawing for all controlled hunts including pronghorn.

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Sources & Verification

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

2025 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 47 mule deer season dates, General tag structure, Weapon season types · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner (Interactive) — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 47 boundary and season selector, Access overview · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG State of Deer and Elk (Annual Report) — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Lost River mule deer population data, Population trend and management objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Hunt Statistics — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 47 harvest data, Success rates by season type · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Big Game Hunting — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 47 boundaries, Pronghorn controlled-hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Season dates, Tag quotas, Nonresident 10% quota · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Idaho Falls District — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Public-land holdings, Road access across the Snake River Plain · accessed 2026-04-17