Idaho Elk Mountain Goat Moose

Unit 51

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk, Mountain Goat, Moose

Elk in Idaho Unit 51 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 51

Where to Find Elk in Unit 51

Elk distribution in Unit 51 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 51 Elk

Pro Members Only

Unlock elk tactics for Unit 51

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle31%

Archery15%

Muzzleloader19%

Harvest totals, hunter days, and success percentages for Unit 51 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	268	1,390	19.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 51 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.

Mountain Goat Hunting in Unit 51

Idaho GMU 51 lies in the desert and lava country south of Pocatello, though the mountain goat hunt area targets specific high-cliff pockets where transplanted populations have established. Goats are once-in-a-lifetime (OIAL) in Idaho — a successful applicant is permanently removed from the goat pool. IDFG allocates tags pure-random with a 10% nonresident quota.

Where to Find Mountain Goats in Unit 51

Goats in Unit 51 hold in the cliff bands and rocky pockets above the sage floor. We focus glassing on south- and west-facing cliff faces at dawn, watching for white bodies against dark rock. Transplanted populations in southeast Idaho concentrate in specific rock formations — pre-season aerial-photo scouting pays off.

How to Hunt Unit 51

Pro Members Only

Unlock Unit 51 goat tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Mountain Goat Success Rates

Idaho goat hunt success historically runs 70% to 90% given the low hunter density. Pull the current IDFG harvest summary for 51-specific numbers before planning.

Mountain Goat Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	2	58	3.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Goats are OIAL — draw and take a goat, and you're out for life. With roughly 181 applicants and 6 tags over three years, resident odds sit near 2-4%. Nonresidents face the 10% cap on the tiny allocation. Apply every year — pure-random has no point-saving.

Moose Hunting in Unit 51

Unit 51 straddles the Teton River drainage and agricultural bottoms of eastern Idaho south of Ashton. Shiras moose browse the willow-lined sloughs, cottonwood bottoms, and irrigation corridors between private ag ground and public foothills. Moose is OIAL in Idaho — a successful applicant is removed from the pool for life. Access is mixed public-private and we plan for landowner permission alongside public-land time.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 51

We glass willow-lined Teton River sloughs at dawn and dusk. Bulls hold in dense cottonwood and aspen stands mid-day, then move to irrigation ditches and ag-field edges to feed. The foothill benches west of Driggs hold a second concentration of animals using beaver-pond complexes and seep springs.

How to Hunt Unit 51

Pro Members Only

Unlock Unit 51 moose tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

The three-year 51 moose data shows roughly 15 tags issued against 138 applicants. Idaho moose tags overall run 70-90% success; Unit 51's mixed access keeps the rate toward the top of that band for hunters who line up landowner permission.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	5	76	6.6%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho's pure-random drawing assigns equal odds every year — no points accumulate. The 10% nonresident quota applies. With ~138 applicants and ~15 tags across three years, resident odds approximate 10-12% per year. A successful draw is OIAL and permanent.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🛣️

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.

🌦️

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.

📱

Cell Service

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

🏘️

Nearest Town

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

📋

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.

Pro Members Only

Unlock logistics for Unit 51

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a elk tag for Idaho Unit 51?

Unit 51 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 51?

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 Idaho mountain goat once-in-a-lifetime?

Yes. A drawn-and-issued goat tag removes you from the Idaho goat applicant pool permanently.

Are there really goats that far south in Idaho?

Yes. IDFG has established small transplanted populations in specific cliff habitats. The hunt is limited to a handful of tags reflecting the small herd size.

Is Unit 51 mostly private land?

The valley floor is predominantly private ag. The foothills west of Driggs are Targhee NF. We plan a mixed strategy of landowner permission on the bottoms and public-land glassing on the benches.

When is the Unit 51 moose season?

IDFG typically runs the Unit 51 moose season through the fall, with specific dates set per hunt code. Confirm dates in the current IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules before the application window closes.

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 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
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Goat season dates, OIAL framework, Nonresident 10% quota · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Controlled Hunt Odds — Mountain Goat — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Goat applicant counts, Tag allocations, Pure-random draw outcomes · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 51 boundaries, Access Yes! overlay, Hunt-code selector · accessed 2026-04-17