Idaho Unit 42 Elk Hunting Guide

Idaho Unit 42 sits in the southwestern portion of the state as a fully public tract of elk country, with 100% public land across its 859,257 acres. For hunters researching where to spend a limited-entry or general tag this year, Unit 42 elk hunting offers a genuine backcountry experience on ground that nobody has to lease, negotiate access for, or worry about locked gates. With elevations ranging from 4,193 to 6,807 feet, the terrain here is a mix of high desert rimrock, sagebrush benches, and juniper-studded ridgelines rather than high alpine peaks — a notable characteristic for hunters used to timbered elk country farther north or east in Idaho.

The unit has built a reputation among Idaho elk hunters as a unit capable of producing mature bulls, particularly in years with early cold and snow that push animals off the high desert plateaus. Recent harvest data backs up the idea that this is a working elk population that rewards hunters willing to put in the miles, even if it isn't a slam-dunk unit for tag success every year.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Unit 42's harvest numbers over the past four years show some real year-to-year variability, which is common in high-desert elk units where weather dictates movement and huntability more than in timbered country. In 2025, 169 hunters harvested 51 elk for a 30% success rate. That followed a strong 2024 season in which 178 hunters posted a 42% success rate with 74 elk taken — the best of the four-year stretch. Before that, 2023 saw 180 hunters harvest 62 elk (34% success), and 2022 was the softest year of the group, with 159 hunters and only 41 harvested for a 26% success rate.

The swing between 26% and 42% success across four seasons tells hunters two things: first, that Unit 42 supports a huntable elk population capable of putting up strong numbers when conditions align, and second, that conditions matter enormously here. Local hunter discussion echoes this pattern, with veterans noting that cold weather and snow are what push bulls out of the rougher country and into areas where hunters can find and close on them. In years without an early cold snap, hunters report a tougher, more spread-out hunt.

Access & Terrain

Access is about as straightforward as it gets in the West: Unit 42 is 100% public land, with 0% wilderness designation. That combination means hunters can plan a DIY trip without worrying about locked private tracts breaking up the unit, and there's no wilderness-area permit or stock-in requirement limiting motorized or mechanized access. The elevation band — 4,193 to 6,807 feet — keeps this unit on the lower, drier end of Idaho's elk range, which shapes both the terrain and the hunting style required.

Expect high-desert basin and range country: sagebrush flats, rimrock breaks, and juniper pockets rather than dense timber. Local hunters familiar with the unit point to areas around prominent high points as good starting reference zones, with elk using south- and east-facing slopes in this type of terrain for feed and thermal cover depending on the weather pattern. Because the whole unit is public, the challenge isn't finding a place to hunt — it's covering enough ground and understanding how elk shift with weather to put together a plan. Hunters new to the unit should expect a physical, glass-and-stalk style hunt across open or semi-open terrain rather than a stand-and-still timber hunt.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 42 shows a limited history of record-book entries. That doesn't mean big bulls don't exist here — hunter forum reports specifically mention the unit's capacity to produce quality, mature bulls, especially when early-season cold pushes animals into more visible terrain. But from a documented trophy-record standpoint, this unit and its surrounding counties carry limited representation in the record books compared to some of Idaho's more decorated limited-entry units.

Hunters chasing a genuine record-class bull should treat Unit 42 as a unit with some upside but not a unit with a deep or well-established trophy pedigree based on the data available. The realistic expectation here is a solid public-land bull hunt with occasional mature animals in the mix, rather than a unit hunters target specifically because of a strong trophy track record.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Unit 42 worth applying for? For hunters who value 100% public land access and don't mind unpredictable, weather-dependent hunting, the answer leans positive. The harvest data shows a real, huntable elk population — a 42% success rate in 2024 is a strong number for a general-access unit, and even the weaker 2022 season at 26% success is respectable by western public-land elk standards. The four-year average success rate across 2022–2025 sits in the low-to-mid 30% range, which signals a unit that consistently produces elk for hunters who put in the effort, even if it isn't a guaranteed tag-filler.

The tradeoff is trophy quality. With limited record-book history in the surrounding counties, hunters should view Unit 42 as an opportunity-and-experience unit first, trophy unit second. That's not a knock — a fully public 859,257-acre unit with success rates regularly above 25% is a legitimate destination for hunters who want a real DIY elk hunt without navigating private land access. HuntPilot's data shows this pattern holding across multiple recent seasons, which gives hunters a much better read on what to expect than any single year's numbers would.

Hunters who want a lower-pressure trophy hunt with deep record-book history should look elsewhere in Idaho. Hunters who want solid odds at a mature bull on ground they can hunt without asking permission, and who are willing to adjust their strategy based on weather, will find Unit 42 a reasonable and honest option.

How to Apply

Idaho's draw system is a pure lottery — there is no preference point or bonus point system in the state. That means every applicant, resident or nonresident, has the same odds on a given application regardless of how many years they've applied in the past. There's no benefit to "building points" in Idaho because there's nothing to build; hunters should simply apply every year they want a shot, since each year is an independent draw.

Note that both resident and nonresident applicants must hold the qualifying license before applying — this license fee is separate from and in addition to the application fee, and it's a real cost hunters need to budget for regardless of whether they draw.

For current draw odds specific to this unit and hunt type, check the HuntPilot state page at /states/id, which pulls the latest data as Idaho Fish and Game updates its draw statistics.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Idaho page at /states/id.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Idaho Unit 42? Unit 42 is high-desert elk country, ranging from 4,193 to 6,807 feet in elevation. Expect sagebrush benches, rimrock, and juniper-covered slopes rather than dense timber or alpine terrain. It's open, physically demanding country where glassing and long-range spotting play a bigger role than still-hunting through timber.

What is harvest success like in Unit 42? Success rates have ranged from 26% to 42% over the past four seasons (2022–2025), with 74 elk harvested by 178 hunters in 2024 (42% success) representing the strongest recent year, and 41 elk harvested by 159 hunters in 2022 (26% success) the weakest. This variability appears tied to weather, with cold and snow historically pushing bulls into more huntable positions.

How big are the elk in Unit 42? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 42 shows a limited history of entries, suggesting this unit isn't known as a major producer of record-book bulls. That said, hunter reports describe the unit as capable of holding mature bulls, particularly in years with favorable early-season weather. Hunters should set realistic expectations: solid, huntable bulls are possible, but this isn't a unit with an established trophy pedigree in the record books.

Is Idaho Unit 42 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing public land access and a genuine DIY hunt, yes — the unit is 100% public land with no wilderness restrictions, and harvest data shows consistent, real success rates over multiple recent seasons. For hunters specifically chasing record-book potential, the limited trophy history in surrounding counties suggests other Idaho units may be a better fit.

Do hunters need points to apply for Unit 42 elk? No. Idaho has no preference point or bonus point system for any species, including elk. Every application is a straight lottery draw, so residents and nonresidents alike have identical odds each year regardless of past application history. Hunters should apply every year they intend to hunt, since there's no advantage to waiting or "saving" for a better draw position.