Idaho GMU 23
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 23.
Unit 23 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 23 (GMU 23) is in the McCall Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer. This unit features high-elevation rugged terrain, requiring physical preparation and optics for cross-canyon spotting. About 75.7% of Unit 23 is mapped as public land. This is not parcel-level access authorization; verify boundaries, closures, and legal access before entering.
Landscape Analysis
Surface Management
Agency shares from IDFG Hunt Planner; this is not parcel-level access authorization.
2026 season dates, from Idaho Fish and Game
Pulled from the IDFG Hunt Planner API (2026). Idaho re-issues seasons each year and corrects its own systems between editions, so Idaho Fish and Game remains the sole authority for legal dates, tags and restrictions. Confirm before you hunt.
Check the IDFG Hunt PlannerPublished Season Schedule
The earliest opening in our Unit 23 records is Apr 15. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- GeneralShort-Range WeaponsGeneral A TagAntlerless · Area Units 23 and 24 outside NF boundarySeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlerless or Antlered · Area Units 19A, 23, 24 and 25Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 2004 · 10 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2063 · 50 permits · Area 23-1Season Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral A TagSpike · Area Portion of McCall ZoneSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2065 · 75 permits · Area 23-2Season Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlered · Area Portion of McCall ZoneSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2067 · 40 permits · Area 23-3Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2064 · 30 permits · Area 23-1Season Dates
- GeneralShort-Range WeaponsGeneral A TagAntlerless · Area Units 23 and 24Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2068 · 25 permits · Area 23-3Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2066 · 25 permits · Area 23-2Season Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerlessSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
BBlack Bear Seasons
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponEither-sexSeason Dates
- GeneralDog TrainingGeneral Any WeaponEither-sexSeason Dates
MMule and White-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 1015 · 25 permitsSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 23
Seven seasons of hunter counts, harvest totals and success rates, broken out by weapon — straight from Idaho Fish and Game.
Controlled Hunt Draw Odds
Draw odds for every hunt in this unit
Resident and nonresident draw odds, permits offered, and applicant counts for the 2026 Idaho controlled hunt drawings.
Unit 23 Boundary
Those portions of IDAHO, ADAMS, and VALLEY COUNTIES within the drainage of the south side of the Salmon River from its confluence with the Little Salmon River upstream to French Creek-Burgdorf-Summit Creek Road; those portions of the French Creek, Lake Creek and Summit Creek drainages west of French CreekBurgdorf-Summit Creek Road; and within the Little Salmon River drainage, except that portion on the north side of Rapid River from the mouth upstream to and including Shingle Creek drainage.
McCall Zone Context
West-Central Idaho — Payette National Forest
The McCall zone groups Units 19A, 23, 24, and 25 in west-central Idaho. Compare the included units before planning travel through Payette forest country; sharing McCall as a supply town does not make the zone interchangeable with nearby Weiser River or Middle Fork hunts.
Consider McCall when arranging supplies. Verify the current condition and authorized use of routes toward Yellow Pine or the wilderness boundary rather than assuming an early-summer opening.
See all units in the McCall ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 23
Where is Idaho GMU 23?
Unit 23 sits in the McCall Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly forest/mountains, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 23?
Unit 23 season records list Black Bear, Elk, White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer. Confirm current dates and weapon legality with Idaho Fish and Game before applying or buying tags.
Are offline maps useful in GMU 23?
Plan for gaps in cell service. Roam Idaho's current web map requires a connection, so download an official offline map or carry a paper map before entering the field.
Is Unit 23 mostly public land?
Unit 23 is approximately 75.7% public (mostly public). Public-land share is not parcel-level access permission; verify ownership boundaries, legal routes, and closures before entering.
Other Units in the McCall Zone
Before hunting Unit 23
- Compare Idaho season and tag planning information against the specific hunt number and species you intend to pursue.
- Review public-land access and land-manager resources to check entry routes, road restrictions, and closures.
- Use the backcountry hunting preparation guide to plan navigation, weather protection, and the trip back out.
Terrain Breakdown
Included with Roam Pro — $3/month, 7-day free trial.
Land Access
Species associated with Unit 23. Open a guide for habitat, timing, and regulation context.
Field Reminder
Use this page and the connected map for planning, then carry an official offline map and confirm current seasons, closures, and access before heading out.