Idaho Elk Pronghorn Mule Deer

Unit 49

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk, Pronghorn, Mule Deer

Elk in Idaho Unit 49 are managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Tag numbers, season dates, and weapon structure are set each year in the IDFG big game rules. Applicants should verify current hunt numbers and quotas in the IDFG Hunt Planner before applying.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 49

Where to Find Elk in Unit 49

Elk distribution in Unit 49 follows the mix of timbered drainages, mountain basins, and transition habitat typical of the hunt area. Glassing at first and last light and paying attention to thermals are key. Cross-reference the IDFG Hunt Planner boundary viewer with public-land layers before committing to an access plan.

How to Hunt Unit 49 Elk

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle41%

Archery18%

Muzzleloader2%

Harvest totals, hunter days, and success percentages for Unit 49 elk hunts are published in the IDFG Hunt Planner statistics tool. Results vary by weapon type, season, and year — review the most recent stats before the draw.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	238	1,230	19.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 49 elk tags are allocated through the IDFG controlled hunt draw. Resident and nonresident odds can be reviewed by year and hunt number in the IDFG Hunt Planner. Check multiple weapon seasons before applying — odds can vary significantly between rifle, muzzleloader, and archery hunts.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 49

Unit 49 covers Teton Valley, the Big Hole Mountains, and the broad agricultural plains between Rexburg and the Idaho-Wyoming line. Pronghorn use the sagebrush steppe and alfalfa-edge country at the western base of the Big Holes. Tag numbers are tight — roughly 75 tags against 1,041 three-year applicants — making this one of the more selective eastern Idaho pronghorn draws, with better-than-average buck quality.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 49

Terrain

Teton Valley is a broad, high-elevation agricultural basin at 6,100 ft flanked east by the Tetons and west by the Big Hole Mountains. Pronghorn use the western edge of the valley where BLM sagebrush meets private alfalfa, and the sage benches west of Driggs and Tetonia.

Elevation

6,100-6,800 ft. Teton Valley pronghorn are among the highest-elevation antelope in Idaho.

Water

Teton River, irrigation canals, and agricultural ponds provide abundant water. Pronghorn concentrate on alfalfa edges rather than natural water sources in this unit.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 49

Teton Valley is heavily private — the key is locating BLM parcels on the valley's west edge and hunting them at dawn when pronghorn are in the sage before returning to private alfalfa midday. Glass from benches along county roads west of Driggs and identify boundary-crossing bucks. Spot-and-stalk is tough due to open country and limited cover — archery hunters usually rely on decoys and blind setups near cross-fences. Rifle hunters do best in the first hour of daylight before pronghorn push onto private ground. Landowner permission on alfalfa fields opens up the best opportunity; consider block management or paid access.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Unit 49 rifle success averages 70-85% — tight tag numbers and a healthy herd produce solid opportunity. Buck quality is above the Idaho average; 14-15 inch bucks are common and the unit produces 16+ inch bucks most years. Hunters with private access consistently outperform public-land-only hunters.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	23	394	5.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho controlled pronghorn hunts use a pure random draw — no preference or bonus points. Unit 49 with roughly 1,041 three-year applicants against 75 tags delivers tight odds — mid single digits for residents and low single digits for nonresidents. A multi-year application plan is essential.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 49

Idaho Unit 49 mule deer are managed by IDFG in southeast Idaho's high sage and aspen country. Controlled hunts for Unit 49 draw through the pure random system with nonresidents capped at 10% of tags. Three-year applicant counts near 479 against only ~30 tags make this a long-odds random draw.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 49

Unit 49 covers rolling sage, aspen stringers, and mixed-conifer benches in southeast Idaho. Mature bucks favor north-facing aspen pockets and broken rim country where they can see a long way and slip into cover fast. Glass at first light from high points and move into timber mid-morning.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 49

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Pull Unit 49 success rates from the IDFG Hunt Planner by specific hunt number. Capped hunts in Unit 49 generally run above the regional average because pressure is held down, but weather-driven migration can swing a single year hard.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	9	133	6.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Controlled hunts in Unit 49 use Idaho's pure random draw. At roughly 479 three-year applicants against ~30 tags, resident odds sit in the low-single-digit percent range — a true random draw with no bonus mechanism. Nonresidents share 10% of the tags.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

Road conditions vary from paved highways to rough two-track. Verify current access conditions on federal and state land maps before the trip.

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Weather

Elk seasons in Idaho run from late August through December depending on weapon. Prepare for a wide range of conditions including early-season heat, fall rain, and late-season snow.

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Cell Service

Coverage is limited in backcountry terrain. Carry a satellite communicator or downloaded offline maps.

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Nearest Town

Use the IDFG Hunt Planner and mapping tools to identify the closest service town with fuel, lodging, and groceries before the hunt.

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Permit Notes

Tag is issued through the IDFG controlled hunt draw. Confirm hunt number, season dates, and weapon restrictions on your tag before heading out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a elk tag for Idaho Unit 49?

Unit 49 elk tags are issued through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game controlled hunt draw. Applications are submitted during the IDFG big game draw window each year.

Where can I verify current season dates and quotas for Unit 49?

Season dates, hunt numbers, and tag quotas are published annually by IDFG and can be looked up in the IDFG Hunt Planner and the current big game rules booklet.

Is Unit 49 mostly private land?

Teton Valley is predominantly private agricultural land. BLM parcels exist on the valley's west edge and scattered through the Big Hole foothills — those are the primary public hunting opportunities.

Does Unit 49 have good buck quality?

Yes, above Idaho average. Tight tag numbers and rich agricultural edge habitat produce healthy bucks; 14-15 inch bucks are routine and 16+ inch bucks show up each season.

Can I apply for Unit 49 mule deer as a nonresident?

Yes, through the IDFG controlled-hunt draw. Nonresidents are capped at 10% of the tag allocation, and the draw itself is pure random with no point system.

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Sources & Verification

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

IDFG Big Game Hunting — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Species overview, General season structure, Regulations entry point · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Controlled Hunts — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Controlled hunt draw rules, Application deadlines, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Per-unit hunt numbers, Historical draw odds, Harvest statistics · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 49 pronghorn seasons · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 49 applicant and tag counts · accessed 2026-04-17
Caribou-Targhee National Forest — Teton Basin Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Big Hole Mountains access · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Upper Snake Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Teton-Madison area BLM lands · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner (Interactive) — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 49 season selector, Public-land overlays, Draw odds and harvest stats · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG State of Deer and Elk Annual Report — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Regional herd estimates, Buck:doe ratios, Winter survival context · accessed 2026-04-17