Idaho’s elk seasons are set zone by zone and tag by tag, so there’s no single opening day. The good news is that the patterns are consistent: A tags get the long September archery season, and B tags get the main rifle season. Here’s what 2026 looks like.
2026 Idaho elk season patterns
| Season | Typical 2026 dates | Tag |
|---|---|---|
| General archery | August 30 – September 30 in many zones | Usually A tag; archery permit required |
| Early any-weapon (some zones) | Early to mid-October, often spike or limited | Varies |
| Main any-weapon bull season | Mid-October into early November in many zones | Usually B tag |
| Muzzleloader | October or November, often antlerless | Usually A tag; muzzleloader permit required |
| Controlled hunts | Set by hunt, from September into the winter | Controlled hunt tag |
Examples from 2026
| Zone and tag | Weapon | 2026 dates | Legal elk |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCall, Sawtooth, Lemhi, Beaverhead, Island Park, Big Desert (A tags) | Archery | August 30 – September 30 | Either sex |
| McCall A tag | Any weapon | October 5–14 | Spike |
| Sawtooth B tag | Any weapon | October 15 – November 8 | Antlered |
| Beaverhead A tag | Muzzleloader | October 15–31 | Antlerless |
| Middle Fork B tag (Units 20A, 26) | Any weapon | September 15–30 | Antlered |
| McCall A tag (Units 23, 24) | Short-range weapons | November 10–30 | Antlerless |
| Bear River B tag | Archery | August 30 – September 14 | Spike or antlerless |
These come from IDFG’s 2026 Hunt Planner. Seasons can include several weapon types and legal-elk rules within one tag, so check the full season table for your zone.
What each season is like
Archery (from August 30)
Idaho’s archery season opens August 30 in many zones and runs through the September rut. Early on, bulls are quiet and patterned around water and feed. By mid-September they’re bugling and responding to calls. Hot weather in early September makes fast meat care critical. Watch for overlapping any-weapon hunts in some areas, and wear orange when moving through those units if you’re unsure.
Early October
In some zones, short any-weapon or muzzleloader seasons fall in early October. Bulls are post-rut and often still with cows, but pressure picks up quickly.
Main rifle season (mid-October into November)
This is when most B-tag hunters are in the field. Elk move into dark timber and steep, broken country once the shooting starts. Snow later in the season can push elk lower and make tracking easier. In the high country, be ready for winter weather by November.
Late muzzleloader and antlerless hunts
Late seasons, often for antlerless elk with short-range weapons, are good meat hunts once elk are moving toward winter range.
Backcountry and controlled hunts
Some backcountry and controlled hunts open rifle seasons in September, during the rut. These are the hunts many outfitters in the central Idaho wilderness are built around. Check the Hunt Planner and ask outfitters for exact dates in their zones.
How to pick your season
- Bowhunter who wants the rut? An A tag and the August 30 – September 30 archery season.
- Rifle hunter on a general tag? A B tag in a zone with a mid-October bull season.
- Want a rifle in the rut? Look at controlled hunts and backcountry zones with September rifle seasons.
- Want meat? A late antlerless or controlled cow hunt.
Key license dates
- Nonresident general tag drawing (2027 season): December 5–15, 2026; buy by January 20, 2027
- Second round: February 5–15, 2027
- Controlled hunt applications: May 1 – June 5 (2026 dates)
- Controlled hunt second drawing: August 5–15 (2026 dates)
Read our guide to applying for Idaho elk tags
Book the right season
Find Idaho elk outfitters by season
Most outfitters list which zones, tags, and weapons they guide.
Related: How Idaho draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Idaho Elk Hunting Guide · General elk tags and zones · Cost of an Idaho elk hunt
Season dates are from Idaho Fish and Game’s 2026 Hunt Planner. Dates vary by zone, tag, and hunt, so confirm yours in the current IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules.