Idaho GMU 26
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 26.
Unit 26 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 26 (GMU 26) is in the Middle Fork 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 99.7% of Unit 26 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 26 records is Apr 1. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlered · Area Units 20A, 26Season Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral A TagAntlered · Area Units 20A, 26Season Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlered · Area Units 20A, 26Season Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- 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
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 1017Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Outfitter AllocatedAntlered · Hunt 1160 · 46 permitsSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 26
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 26 Boundary
Those portions of IDAHO and VALLEY COUNTIES within the drainage of Big Creek (tributary to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River).
Middle Fork Zone Context
Central Idaho — Middle Fork Salmon Drainage
The Middle Fork zone groups Units 20A, 26, and 27 in central Idaho. Plans here may involve the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork river is managed for nonmotorized floating; a jet-boat approach is not authorized on that river.
If combining a hunt with a float, check river permits, launch arrangements, and hunting boundaries separately. A wilderness airstrip or stock route requires its own logistics check; neither is guaranteed by an elk-zone map.
See all units in the Middle Fork ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 26
Where is Idaho GMU 26?
Unit 26 sits in the Middle Fork Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly forest/mountains, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 26?
Unit 26 season records list Black Bear, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer, Elk. Confirm current dates and weapon legality with Idaho Fish and Game before applying or buying tags.
Are offline maps useful in GMU 26?
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 26 mostly public land?
Unit 26 is approximately 99.7% 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 Middle Fork Zone
Before hunting Unit 26
- 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 26. 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.