Idaho Unit 70 Elk Hunting Guide

Idaho Unit 70 sits in the western part of the state and offers hunters a mix of accessible public ground and dense private inholdings, spanning elevations from 4,387 to 8,703 feet across 242,878 total acres. With 61% of the unit in public ownership, Unit 70 gives elk hunters a legitimate DIY option, though the checkerboard nature of land ownership here means careful map study before boots hit the ground. This is a unit that draws attention from both resident hunters chasing an accessible tag and nonresidents looking to break into Idaho's elk country without years of frustration navigating other states' point systems.

Unit 70 elk hunting has produced measurable, trackable harvest results in recent seasons, giving hunters real data to weigh before committing an application. Whether Unit 70 deserves a spot on a hunter's short list depends heavily on what that hunter values — trophy potential, opportunity, or a blend of both — and the numbers below help sort that out.

Harvest Success Rates

Recent harvest data for Unit 70 shows a unit with consistent hunter interest and success rates in the moderate range for Idaho elk hunting. In 2023, 866 hunters harvested 217 elk for a 25% success rate — the strongest of the last three years reported. That number declined slightly in 2024, when 953 hunters harvested 205 elk for a 22% success rate, and again in 2025, when a larger pool of 1,262 hunters brought home 221 elk for an 18% success rate.

The trend here is worth noting: hunter numbers have climbed substantially over the three-year window — from 866 to 1,262, an increase of nearly 46% — while total harvest has stayed relatively flat, hovering between 205 and 221 elk. That combination naturally pushes the success percentage downward even though the raw number of elk taken has remained steady. Hunters considering Unit 70 should factor in that more pressure is hitting this unit each year, which can affect encounter rates, especially on the public land portions where access is easiest.

Still, an 18-25% success rate range is respectable for elk hunting in Idaho, and it reflects a unit that consistently produces elk rather than one prone to boom-or-bust seasons.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data available for the counties overlapping Unit 70 points to a moderate history of trophy-class elk production. This isn't a unit with an extensive or headline-grabbing trophy record, but it isn't devoid of quality animals either. Hunters should treat Unit 70 as a solid opportunity unit first and a trophy unit second — bulls of real quality do come out of this country, but they're not the primary draw for hunters who prioritize scoring a wall-hanger over filling a tag.

As with most units in this region, trophy-class bulls tend to come from the more remote, less-pressured pockets of public land or from hunters who secure access to well-managed private ground. Given the increasing hunter pressure noted in the harvest trends above, hunters chasing an older-class bull will benefit from scouting away from the easiest access points and putting in the legwork to find pockets other hunters aren't hitting hard.

Access & Terrain

Unit 70 covers a wide elevation band, from 4,387 feet at its lowest points to 8,703 feet at its highest, giving hunters a variety of habitat types to work with depending on the timing of their hunt and where elk are holding. With 0% wilderness designation, there are no guide requirements to worry about here, and hunters can move freely between drainages and elevation bands without the access restrictions that come with wilderness-designated units elsewhere in Idaho.

Public land makes up 61% of the unit's total acreage, which is a workable majority for DIY hunters, but the remaining 39% is private ground woven throughout the landscape in a checkerboard pattern common to this part of Idaho. Forum reports from hunters who've drawn Unit 70 consistently flag this as the single biggest logistical challenge: knowing exactly where public boundaries end and private property begins. Multiple hunters recall driving into the unit only to discover that promising-looking terrain on satellite imagery turned out to be private, underscoring the importance of verified boundary data before setting a hunt plan.

Given this mixed ownership pattern, hunters serious about scouting Unit 70 should lean on mapping tools that clearly delineate public versus private parcels. HuntPilot's public land overlay and mapping tools are built for exactly this kind of unit, letting hunters identify legal access points and avoid the boundary mistakes that have tripped up hunters here in the past. Terrain that looks open and huntable from a distance can be locked behind private land, so verifying access before investing scouting time or travel is essential in Unit 70.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 70 Worth Applying For?

Unit 70 is a reasonable choice for hunters who want a workable elk unit without the years-long point grind associated with many Western states. Idaho's draw system is a true lottery with no preference points, meaning every applicant — resident or nonresident, first-time or fifteen-year veteran — has an identical shot at drawing in any given year. That levels the playing field in a way most western states don't, and it makes Unit 70 a low-risk unit to apply for since there's no point investment to protect or wait on.

The harvest data supports Unit 70 as a legitimate opportunity unit. Success rates in the 18-25% range over the last three years show consistent elk production, even as hunter pressure has increased. The 61% public land base gives DIY hunters a real foothold, provided they do their homework on boundaries given the significant private land presence.

Where Unit 70 falls short of an easy "must-apply" recommendation is trophy quality. The moderate trophy history in the surrounding counties means hunters shouldn't expect Unit 70 to produce elite-class bulls with any regularity. This is a unit better suited to hunters prioritizing a solid chance at filling a tag over hunters holding out for a record-book bull. For meat hunters, first-time Idaho applicants, or hunters who want a straightforward, no-points-required application into a productive elk unit, Unit 70 is worth serious consideration. For hunters exclusively chasing trophy genetics, this probably isn't the unit to build a season around.

The rising hunter numbers are also worth watching. A jump from 866 hunters in 2023 to 1,262 in 2025 suggests word is getting out about this unit's accessibility and success rates. Hunters who value solitude and lower pressure should factor that trend into their expectations and plan to scout further from easy access points.

How to Apply

Idaho's elk draw for Unit 70 runs through a straightforward lottery system with no preference points involved — every application carries equal odds regardless of how many years a hunter has applied previously. This makes the system transparent and predictable for both first-time and long-time Idaho applicants.

Note that both resident and nonresident applicants must hold a qualifying hunting license before submitting an application — this license fee is separate from and in addition to the application fee itself. Nonresident hunters should budget for the full cost stack: license fee, application fee, and the significantly higher nonresident tag fee if drawn.

For current draw odds specific to Unit 70, hunters should check HuntPilot's Idaho state page at /states/id, which tracks historical drawing data for controlled hunts across the state.

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 70? Unit 70 spans a broad elevation range from 4,387 to 8,703 feet across nearly 243,000 acres. The unit has no wilderness designation, meaning hunters can access all portions without guide requirements. The terrain mixes lower-elevation foothill country with higher mountain terrain, but the defining access characteristic is the checkerboard pattern of public and private land — 61% public, 39% private — which requires careful boundary verification before scouting or hunting.

What is harvest success like in Unit 70? Recent harvest data shows success rates of 25% in 2023, 22% in 2024, and 18% in 2025. Total elk harvested has remained fairly consistent (205-221 elk annually) even as hunter numbers grew from 866 to 1,262 over that span, meaning the declining success percentage reflects rising pressure rather than a shrinking elk population.

How big are the elk in Unit 70? Trophy data for the counties overlapping Unit 70 indicates a moderate trophy history. This is not a unit known for producing elite record-book bulls with regularity, though quality animals have come from the area. Hunters prioritizing trophy potential above all else should treat Unit 70 as a secondary option compared to units with stronger documented trophy production.

Is Unit 70 worth applying for? For hunters seeking a productive, accessible elk unit with a straightforward lottery application and no preference-point burden, yes — the harvest data supports consistent success rates and the public land base gives DIY hunters real options. For hunters focused specifically on trophy-class bulls, the moderate trophy history means expectations should be tempered.

Does Idaho use a preference point system for elk applications in Unit 70? No. Idaho's elk draw is a pure lottery with no preference points or bonus points. Every applicant, regardless of how many years they've applied, has identical odds in any given draw year. This makes Unit 70 — and every other controlled Idaho elk hunt — equally accessible to first-time applicants and longtime residents alike.