Idaho Unit 68 Elk Hunting Guide

Idaho Unit 68 is a general-season elk unit that also offers limited-quota draw opportunities, giving hunters multiple ways into the field without being locked into a single application strategy. Spanning elevations from 4,196 to 7,513 feet across 1,163,241 total acres, this unit combines a sizable public land base with a straightforward hunt structure that appeals to both residents hunting every year and nonresidents trying to put together a DIY trip.

With 72% of the unit in public ownership, Unit 68 gives hunters real room to roam without needing to lock down private land access or lease arrangements. There's no wilderness acreage in this unit, which means hunters can access most of the terrain with standard vehicles and established routes rather than needing pack stock or multi-day hikes into designated wilderness. That's a meaningful consideration for hunters planning their first trip into the unit — the absence of wilderness designation generally translates to easier logistics, though it doesn't mean the elevation range (which climbs over 3,300 feet from valley floor to the highest ridgelines) is without physical demands.

Unit 68 is hunted through both a general season — which includes antlered and either-sex opportunity — and limited-quota draw hunts that also include antlered and either-sex tags. This dual structure is important to understand before diving into the data: hunters are not restricted to only drawing a tag here. General-season access means a hunter can plan a hunt in Unit 68 without winning a lottery, while the limited-quota draw hunts offer a more controlled, typically less crowded alternative for those willing to apply.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 68 Worth Applying For?

The harvest numbers out of Unit 68 tell a consistent story of a productive, accessible elk unit. Over the past four seasons tracked by HuntPilot, success rates have ranged from 30% to 42%, with the unit posting totals of 336 elk harvested from 1,102 hunters in 2025, 361 harvested from 855 hunters in 2024, 289 from 772 hunters in 2023, and 295 from 798 hunters in 2022. That's a four-year average hovering in the mid-30s percent range for overall unit success — a solid number for a general-season unit that doesn't require years of point accumulation to access.

What stands out is the upward trend in hunter participation. The jump from roughly 800 hunters in 2022-2023 to over 1,100 hunters in 2025 suggests the unit's reputation has grown, likely driven by consistent harvest performance. Interestingly, the success rate dipped to 30% in 2025 even as hunter numbers rose — a pattern worth watching, since more pressure on the same elk population can erode success rates over time if the trend continues. Hunters considering Unit 68 should recognize this dynamic: the unit is still performing well, but it's not flying under the radar the way it may have a few seasons ago.

Trophy potential in the counties overlapping Unit 68 is best described as moderate. There is some documented trophy history in the surrounding county records, but it's not the kind of pedigree that places this unit among the state's elite bull-producing areas. That history is shared with neighboring units that overlap the same counties, so it shouldn't be read as unit-exclusive production. Hunters chasing a genuine trophy-class bull should treat Unit 68 as a solid opportunity unit rather than a unit built around producing record-book animals. Most hunters here are better served going in with realistic expectations focused on tag opportunity, solid success odds, and quality public land access rather than chasing a wall-hanger.

Given the combination of general-season access, consistent harvest success in the 30-42% range over four years, and a public land base covering nearly three-quarters of the unit, Unit 68 is a legitimate option for hunters — particularly those who prioritize opportunity and reasonable odds of filling a tag over trophy potential. It's a strong pick for hunters building a DIY elk hunt plan, especially those newer to Idaho or looking for a unit that doesn't demand years of waiting.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 68's harvest data over the last four tracked seasons shows a unit that reliably produces elk for a meaningful share of its hunters:

• 2025: 1,102 hunters, 336 harvested, 30% success
• 2024: 855 hunters, 361 harvested, 42% success
• 2023: 772 hunters, 289 harvested, 37% success
• 2022: 798 hunters, 295 harvested, 37% success

The 2024 season stands out as the strongest year in this window, with 42% of hunters tagging out — a notably high number for any elk unit, general or draw. The three years prior and since have settled into the high-30s to low-30s range, which is a more sustainable baseline to plan around. Hunters should treat the 42% figure as a ceiling rather than an expectation, and the 30% mark from 2025 as a more conservative, pressure-adjusted floor.

The rising hunter count — up roughly 30% from 2022 to 2025 — combined with a declining success percentage in the most recent year is the single most important trend to watch. It doesn't necessarily signal a declining elk population; it may simply reflect more hunters competing for the same number of animals as word spreads about the unit's historically strong numbers. Either way, hunters who've hunted Unit 68 successfully in past years should expect more company in the field going forward.

Trophy Quality

Trophy potential in Unit 68 is moderate based on the record history documented in the counties overlapping this unit. This is not a unit with a deep or storied trophy pedigree, but it has produced some trophy-class animals over time. Because trophy records are logged at the county level rather than by hunt unit, any trophy history attributed to Unit 68 is shared with neighboring units whose boundaries fall within the same counties — so this moderate trophy potential reflects a broader regional picture rather than something unique to Unit 68's exact boundaries.

For hunters whose primary goal is a big bull, Unit 68 should not be the centerpiece of that strategy. It's better suited to hunters who want a strong chance of filling a tag on a mature, representative bull rather than those specifically hunting for a record-book entry. The high hunter participation numbers reinforce this: units that see over a thousand hunters afield in a single season tend to see more pressure on bulls before they reach their full potential, which generally caps trophy quality in favor of volume harvest.

Access & Terrain

Unit 68 covers 1,163,241 acres with 72% under public ownership, giving hunters substantial room to hunt without needing private land permission or leases for the bulk of their trip. The elevation range of 4,196 to 7,513 feet offers over 3,300 feet of vertical relief, which typically translates into a mix of lower-elevation terrain near valley floors and benches, transitioning into higher, more rugged ground as hunters move up in elevation.

With 0% of the unit designated as wilderness, Unit 68 is more road-accessible than many backcountry Idaho elk units. This is a meaningful point for hunters weighing logistics: a non-wilderness unit of this size generally means more options for vehicle-based access, day-hunting from camp, and retrieving game without the extended pack-out distances that wilderness units often require. That said, "non-wilderness" doesn't mean easy — the elevation swing and the sheer size of the unit (over 1.1 million acres) mean there's plenty of remote, physically demanding country for hunters willing to get away from access points.

The 72% public land figure is strong enough that DIY hunters can realistically plan a hunt here without needing to secure private ground, though hunters should still expect some private inholdings scattered through the unit, particularly at lower elevations where ranching and agricultural land tends to concentrate. Scouting efforts should focus on identifying where public and private boundaries intersect, and HuntPilot's mapping tools — including public land overlays — are useful for pinpointing exactly where those boundaries fall before setting foot in the unit.

How to Apply

Unit 68 offers two distinct paths to a tag: a general season that includes antlered and either-sex opportunity, and limited-quota draw hunts that also include antlered and either-sex tags. This structure means hunters are not required to win a draw to hunt elk in Unit 68 — the general season alone provides a path to an antlered bull for both residents and nonresidents who meet licensing requirements.

For hunters who want a more controlled hunt with potentially less competition in the field, the limited-quota draw hunts are worth applying for. Idaho's draw system does not use preference points or bonus points — it is a true random lottery. Every applicant, whether applying for the first time or the fifteenth, has identical odds on any given application. There's no benefit to "building up" anything before applying; the only strategic lever hunters have is which specific hunts they choose to apply for.

Residents and nonresidents both apply through Idaho Fish and Game's licensing system, though nonresidents should expect to navigate a separate tag allocation and licensing structure from residents. Because the general season is open to both residencies (subject to license purchase), nonresidents planning a DIY trip to Unit 68 have a viable path into the unit even without drawing a limited-quota tag.

Application structures, deadlines, and fees change from year to year and are not static enough to publish reliably in a reference article like this one. For current application windows, fees, and draw odds specific to Unit 68's limited-quota hunts, hunters should check HuntPilot's Idaho state page or the Idaho Fish and Game website directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Idaho Unit 68 a draw-only unit, or can hunters hunt here without drawing? Unit 68 is not a draw-only unit. It has a general season that includes antlered and either-sex elk opportunity, meaning hunters can access the unit without needing to win a limited-quota draw. The unit also offers limited-quota draw hunts for hunters seeking a more controlled hunt, but the general season is the primary access point for most hunters.

What is harvest success like in Unit 68? Success rates over the last four tracked seasons have ranged from 30% to 42%, with 2024 posting the strongest year at 42% (361 elk from 855 hunters) and 2025 settling at 30% (336 elk from 1,102 hunters). The multi-year average sits in the mid-30s percent range, which is a strong, consistent number for a unit with significant general-season access.

What is the terrain like in Unit 68? The unit spans elevations from 4,196 to 7,513 feet across 1,163,241 acres, with no designated wilderness acreage. This combination typically means more vehicle-accessible terrain compared to Idaho's backcountry wilderness units, though the elevation range still offers rugged, demanding country at the higher end. Public land covers 72% of the unit, giving hunters substantial room to explore without private land restrictions.

How big are the elk in Unit 68? Trophy potential in the counties overlapping Unit 68 is moderate — there is some documented trophy history in the region, but it's not concentrated or exceptional compared to Idaho's top trophy-producing areas. Hunters should view Unit 68 as a strong opportunity unit rather than a destination built around trophy-class bulls. Because records are tracked at the county level, this trophy history is shared with neighboring units in the same counties.

Is Unit 68 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing solid harvest odds and accessible public land, yes. The unit's 30-42% success range over four recent seasons, combined with 72% public ownership and a general season that doesn't require drawing, makes it a practical choice for DIY elk hunters. Hunters specifically chasing trophy-class bulls should temper expectations, as the unit's trophy history is moderate rather than exceptional. The rising hunter participation trend is worth factoring into expectations, since increased pressure may continue to affect future success rates.