Idaho Moose Elk

Unit 5 (St. Joe)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Moose, Elk

Unit 5 covers the St. Joe River country in Idaho's northern panhandle on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests — dense cedar and mixed conifer habitat supporting one of the state's productive Shiras moose herds. IDFG manages moose, sheep, and goat as separate once-in-a-lifetime species: a successful Idaho moose draw prohibits drawing another moose tag for life. Unit 5 sees roughly 553 three-year applicants competing for around 48 tags.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit 5

Where to Find Moose in Unit 5

Moose in Unit 5 concentrate in willow-lined riparian habitat and wet lowland meadows of the St. Joe drainage. These are valley-bottom animals, not high-country animals.

Willow Flats and Beaver Complexes

We focus on beaver pond complexes and willow-dominated lowlands along the main St. Joe and its tributaries. Glass the edge of cover at dawn and dusk when moose move to feed.

Riparian Corridors

Cedar-fir-willow corridors on the St. Joe River system hold moose year-round. Walk the riparian edge slowly — moose can hold in thick brush at close range.

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 5

We plan Unit 5 moose hunts around riparian access on the St. Joe system. With a once-in-a-lifetime tag in hand, we scout hard before opening day.

Pre-Season Scouting

The week before the opener, we drive Forest Service roads along the St. Joe system and mark active beaver ponds, fresh moose sign, and rub lines.

Cow Calling During the Rut

Mid-September moose are responsive to cow calls and bull grunts. Set up near known travel corridors and let bulls come to you — working through thick willow at close range is dangerous.

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Moose Success Rates

Idaho moose tag holders post high success rates statewide because IDFG manages quotas conservatively. IDFG Hunt Planner publishes per-hunt success figures — we recommend reviewing Unit 5 specifically before the season to understand weapon-type differences.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	16	182	8.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho moose is a once-in-a-lifetime species — drawing a moose tag disqualifies a hunter from future moose draws for life. Moose, sheep, and goat each have separate OIAL status. Idaho uses a pure random draw — no preference or bonus points. With roughly 553 three-year applicants against 48 tags, Unit 5 sits among the more popular panhandle moose draws. Nonresidents are capped at 10% of tags.

Elk Hunting in Unit 5

Idaho GMU 5 sits in the northeastern Panhandle, covering Cabinet Mountain country between Clark Fork and the Montana border. Elk distribute across heavily timbered cedar-fir forest and clearcut regeneration areas. Unit 5 carries both general-season Panhandle Zone tags and specific controlled-hunt codes. IDFG uses pure-random drawing with a 10% nonresident quota.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 5

Elk in Unit 5 concentrate in the Cabinet Mountain drainages and timbered benches east of Clark Fork. We focus on clearcut edges between 3,500 and 5,500 feet. Ridgeline saddles above the main drainages funnel rut-phase bulls. The Montana-border ridgeline country holds wintering herds that arrive with early snow.

How to Hunt Unit 5

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle19%

Archery17%

Muzzleloader10%

Panhandle Zone elk success runs 10% to 18% for rifle and 5% to 10% for archery. Controlled-hunt tags in Unit 5 carry higher rates — often 20% to 30%. Pull the current IDFG harvest summary for exact figures.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	24	43	55.8%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho uses a pure-random drawing. With roughly 152 applicants and 75 tags over three years on the 5|elk code, resident odds sit near 45-55%. Nonresidents face the 10% cap. Pure-random means no points — apply every year.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

Paved access from I-90 to St. Maries. Forest Service River Road (FR-50) along the St. Joe is maintained gravel; spur roads are rough and 4WD-recommended.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Valley-bottom hunting near roads is easy; off-road riparian country demands willow-busting and wet feet.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. Quota is small and hunters disperse along the long St. Joe corridor.

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Cell Service

Limited along the St. Joe River Road; no service in the backcountry drainages. We recommend a satellite communicator.

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Nearest Town

St. Maries (basic services, fuel, lodging) at the west end of the unit; Avery mid-unit has very limited services.

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Permit Notes

Mandatory IDFG harvest report. Moose tag is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — plan accordingly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Idaho moose tag once in a lifetime?

Yes. Moose is one of Idaho's once-in-a-lifetime species — drawing a moose tag disqualifies the hunter from applying for another moose tag in Idaho for life. Sheep and goat are separate once-in-a-lifetime species with their own tracks.

How hard is it to draw a Unit 5 moose tag?

Idaho moose draws are tight. Unit 5 sees roughly 553 three-year applicants for about 48 tags, and Idaho uses a pure random draw with no preference points. Nonresidents compete for a 10% quota slice.

Does Unit 5 border Montana?

Yes. Unit 5 shares the ridgeline with Montana's Cabinet Mountains. Use GPS boundary overlays — crossing into Montana requires a Montana license.

Are grizzlies in Unit 5?

Yes. The Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone overlaps Unit 5. Carry bear spray, follow food-storage orders, and know hazing and defense rules.

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Sources & Verification

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

2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 5 moose controlled hunt designation, Moose once-in-a-lifetime rule, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 5 moose historical draw odds, Applicant vs tag counts · accessed 2026-04-17
Idaho Panhandle National Forests — St. Joe Ranger District — USDA Forest Service — Idaho Panhandle National Forests · supports: St. Joe River corridor access, Dispersed camping and road rules · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Big Game Hunting — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 5 boundaries, Panhandle Zone structure, Elk controlled-hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Season dates, Weapon classes, Nonresident 10% quota · accessed 2026-04-17