Idaho Elk Moose

Unit 56

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk, Moose

Unit 56 sits in southeast Idaho north of Pocatello in the Southeast Region. Timbered hills, aspen stringers, and ag interface define elk habitat here. High tag numbers (~408 over three seasons against ~469 applicants) mean this is one of Idaho's highest-odds controlled elk hunts.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 56

Where to Find Elk in Unit 56

We hunt the Portneuf Range timber edges and aspen pockets along Marsh Valley. Ag-timber transitions at dawn produce best.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 56

Pro Members Only

Unlock tactics for Unit 56

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle23%

Archery17%

Unit 56 controlled elk typically runs 20-35% success depending on hunt type and weather.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	174	174	100.0%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Pure-random. Unit 56 pulled ~469 applicants against ~408 tags over three seasons — resident odds roughly 85-95%, NR still capped under the 10% quota.

Moose Hunting in Unit 56

Unit 56 moose covers the Diamond Creek Zone country in southeast Idaho — the Caribou Range foothills and the upper Blackfoot-to-Bear River drainage country. This is aspen-willow moose habitat with strong bull quality and relatively easy glassing terrain. Tags are few, the country is public-land-dominant, and the hunt is one of Idaho's most enjoyable OIAL moose experiences for hunters who aren't trying to walk 10 miles a day.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 56

Bulls in Unit 56 concentrate in three pockets with reliable water and willow browse.

Diamond Creek Basin

The Diamond Creek meadow complex holds bulls through the season. Glass from the knobs above the meadows at first light.

Tincup Creek

Tincup Creek's willow run carries bulls moving toward the Wyoming line during the rut.

Crow Creek Willow Bottoms

Crow Creek's willow bottoms and aspen draws hold bulls late into the season as snow begins to push them lower.

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 56

Low-mileage, high-patience glassing is the right move.

Meadow-Edge Glassing

Set up above the Diamond Creek and Tincup meadows before legal light and glass for 90 minutes. Bulls feed in the open during dawn and dusk.

Willow-Run Ambush

Track willow bottoms for fresh sign and set an ambush along a well-used trail. A mature bull uses the same route for days.

Cow Calling

Late September rut responds well to cow calls. Keep cadence slow and setups simple.

Pro Members Only

Unlock moose tactics for Unit 56

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

Unit 56 moose success typically runs 75–90%. The open meadow-willow habitat makes glassing highly effective, and the limited tag count keeps pressure off the bulls.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	2	45	4.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Pure random draw with 10% nonresident quota. Moose is OIAL in Idaho. Unit 56 resident odds typically run 2–5%; nonresidents face tighter odds within the cap. No points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Pro Members Only

Unlock logistics for Unit 56

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 56 elk a near-guaranteed draw?

For residents it's essentially guaranteed in most hunt codes. Nonresidents still compete under the 10% quota but odds are strong.

Is Unit 56 physically easy for a moose hunt?

By Idaho moose standards, yes. The meadow-willow country allows effective glassing without serious climbs, and the roads put you close to most of the moose habitat.

Can I combo a Unit 56 moose hunt with a Unit 56 elk hunt?

If you hold both tags, yes. The seasons often overlap and the habitat sits right next to each other. Just make sure you have a valid tag for each species before hunting.

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 Hunt Planner — Unit 56 — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 56 boundary and hunts, Southeast Region structure · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Season dates and weapon by Unit 56 hunt, Quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Statistics — Unit 56 — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Historical elk harvest rates in Unit 56, Hunter days · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 56 moose draw odds, Tag counts · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG — Moose Species Profile — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Southeast Idaho moose distribution · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 56

Elk Hunting in Unit 56

Where to Find Elk in Unit 56

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 56

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 56

Where to Find Moose in Unit 56

Diamond Creek Basin

Tincup Creek

Crow Creek Willow Bottoms

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 56

Meadow-Edge Glassing

Willow-Run Ambush

Cow Calling

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Road Conditions

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Sources & Verification