Idaho Unit 66A Elk Hunting Guide

Idaho Unit 66A elk hunting draws attention from both resident and nonresident applicants looking for a solid mix of public land access and consistent harvest numbers. Located in west-central Idaho, this 171,506-acre unit spans a wide elevation range from 5,608 to 9,790 feet, offering the kind of vertical relief and habitat diversity that elk hunters expect from Idaho's backcountry units. With 71% of the unit in public ownership and zero designated wilderness acreage, Unit 66A presents a rare combination for the region: rugged elk country that remains accessible to hunters without requiring the logistics of a wilderness pack-in.

This unit carries a reputation among Idaho hunters as a large, huntable elk population area with a lot of public ground to work with. Forum chatter consistently describes 66A as holding a substantial elk herd and offering plenty of animals to chase, even if consistently connecting on a mature bull takes effort. For hunters weighing whether to point toward 66A or look elsewhere in the region, the data below — pulled from HuntPilot's unit database — lays out what's actually happening on the ground in terms of harvest and access.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 66A has posted remarkably consistent harvest numbers over the past two seasons. In 2025, 2,725 hunters pursued elk in the unit and 756 tagged out, for a 28% overall success rate. That's nearly identical to 2024, when 2,636 hunters harvested 762 elk for a 29% success rate. This stability — both in hunter numbers and success percentage — suggests a herd and hunting pressure dynamic that isn't swinging wildly year to year, which is valuable information for hunters trying to gauge what kind of season to expect.

A success rate in the high-20% range is respectable for elk hunting in the Mountain West, especially in a unit that sees over 2,600 hunters annually. It indicates elk are present in huntable numbers and that hunters willing to put in the legwork have a realistic shot at success, though it's far from a guarantee. These figures represent unit-wide totals across all hunt types, so individual outcomes will vary depending on which specific hunt a hunter draws and how much scouting and effort goes into the pursuit.

Trophy Quality

Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 66A shows a limited history of entries. This doesn't mean big bulls don't exist in the unit — Idaho's rugged, timbered terrain can hide mature animals that never get entered into any record book — but it does mean hunters shouldn't expect 66A to have a strong pedigree of documented trophy-class bulls. Hunters chasing a wall-hanger as the primary goal should treat 66A as a numbers-and-opportunity unit rather than a unit with a proven track record of producing exceptional bulls. That said, with over 750 elk harvested in each of the last two seasons, there's clearly a broad cross-section of bulls and cows coming off this landscape, and individual hunters willing to get into hard-to-reach country may still find older, heavier bulls that simply haven't been scored or entered anywhere.

Access & Terrain

Unit 66A's terrain runs from 5,608 feet up to 9,790 feet, a swing of more than 4,100 vertical feet that gives hunters access to everything from lower-elevation foothill and canyon habitat to high alpine basins near the top of the elevation band. This kind of range typically pushes elk through several habitat types over the course of a season, with animals using lower slopes early and pushing higher as temperatures rise, then working back down as weather changes later in the year.

With 71% of the unit classified as public land, the majority of 66A is open to hunters without needing to negotiate private access. That's a solid number for a unit this size — 171,506 acres total — and it means DIY hunters have real room to roam and find their own pockets of elk away from crowded trailheads. Because the unit carries 0% wilderness designation, hunters aren't required to navigate the logistics or restrictions that come with wilderness travel, and motorized access on established routes is more available here than in units with heavy wilderness cover. Forum reports describe 66A as holding "a large population of elk with a ton of public land to hunt," which aligns with the public land percentage in the data, though hunters should still expect competition for access points given the hunter volume the harvest numbers reflect.

Hunters should use mapping tools to identify public land boundaries and terrain features before heading into 66A. HuntPilot's map layers, including public land overlays, can help hunters break down the unit's accessible pockets and plan routes into less-pressured terrain ahead of the season.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 66A Worth Applying For?

Unit 66A is a legitimate option for hunters prioritizing opportunity and a reasonable chance at filling a tag over chasing a trophy-book bull. The harvest data backs this up directly: two consecutive years of harvest in the high 20% range, with over 750 elk taken each season, shows a herd that's holding up under hunting pressure and providing consistent returns for the hunters who draw tags here.

The 71% public land figure makes this a workable unit for DIY hunters who don't want to deal with negotiating private land access, and the lack of wilderness designation means hunters can use standard access methods without the added complexity of wilderness travel restrictions. The elevation range gives hunters options to hunt different elevation bands depending on weather and elk movement throughout the season.

Where 66A falls short is trophy potential — the limited trophy record history in the surrounding counties means hunters shouldn't come into this unit expecting a strong shot at a book-caliber bull. If the primary goal is filling the freezer and enjoying a solid Idaho elk hunt with real public access and a herd that's producing consistent harvest numbers, 66A is worth serious consideration. If the goal is specifically chasing an exceptional trophy bull, hunters may want to look at units with a more established trophy record history.

Idaho's lottery-based draw system also works in favor of hunters considering 66A. Unlike states with complex preference point systems, Idaho's draw is a straight lottery — every applicant, resident or nonresident, has an equal shot each year regardless of how many times they've applied previously. There's no point-building strategy required and no benefit to waiting; hunters can apply for 66A immediately without needing to accumulate anything first. This makes 66A (and Idaho elk hunting generally) especially approachable for hunters who don't want to commit to a multi-year point strategy before drawing a tag.

How to Apply

Because Idaho uses a true lottery system with no preference points, every application carries the same odds regardless of how many years a hunter has applied previously. There's no benefit to "waiting" for points to build — applying every year gives hunters an independent chance at a tag each cycle.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website or HuntPilot's Idaho state page (/states/id) before applying.

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 66A? Unit 66A spans an elevation range from 5,608 to 9,790 feet across 171,506 total acres, giving hunters access to lower canyon and foothill terrain as well as higher alpine basins. With 71% of the unit in public ownership and no wilderness designation, hunters can access much of this terrain through standard routes without the restrictions that come with wilderness travel.

What is harvest success like in Idaho Unit 66A? Recent harvest data shows consistent results: in 2025, hunters posted a 28% success rate (756 harvested out of 2,725 hunters), and in 2024 success was 29% (762 harvested out of 2,636 hunters). This consistency across two seasons suggests a stable elk population and hunting pressure dynamic in the unit.

How big are the elk in Unit 66A? Trophy record data shows the counties overlapping Unit 66A have a limited history of trophy-class entries. This suggests the unit is better suited to hunters focused on opportunity and filling a tag rather than those specifically targeting a record-book bull, though individual mature bulls can still be found by hunters willing to get into less-pressured terrain.

Is Idaho Unit 66A worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing a realistic shot at harvesting an elk on accessible public land, yes — the unit's consistent high-20% success rates and 71% public land access make it a solid option. Hunters specifically chasing trophy-class bulls may want to weigh the unit's limited trophy record history against that goal before applying.

Does Idaho use a preference point system for elk draws? No. Idaho's elk draw is a straight lottery with no points system of any kind. Every applicant — resident or nonresident, first-time or twentieth-time — has an equal chance in the draw each year. Hunters don't need to build points before applying for Unit 66A; they can apply immediately with the same odds as anyone else.