Idaho GMU 3
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 3.
Unit 3 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 3 (GMU 3) is in the Panhandle Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer. This unit features dense conifer and timber country, where still-hunting and short-range glassing dominate. About 57.5% of Unit 3 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 3 records is Apr 15. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2048 · 50 permits · Area 3-2Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2047 · 50 permits · Area 3-1Season Dates
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt Youth OnlyAntlerless · Hunt 2148 · 25 permitsSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlered · Area Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 and 9Season Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral B TagAntlered · Area Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 and 9Season Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlerless or Antlered · Area Units 1, 2, 3, portion of 4A, 5, 6Season Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlered · Area Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 and 9Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Youth OnlyAntlerless · Hunt 2148 · 25 permitsSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral A TagAntlered · Area Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 and 9Season Dates
- GeneralMuzzleloaderGeneral A TagAntlerless · Area Portion of Units 1, 2, 3, 4A and 5Season Dates
- GeneralMuzzleloaderGeneral B TagAntlerless · Area Portion of Units 1, 2, 3, 4A and 5Season Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlered · Area Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7 and 9Season Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1125 · 75 permits · Area 3-1XSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerlessSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1125 · 75 permits · Area 3-1XSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerlessSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1125 · 75 permits · Area 3-1XSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerlessSeason Dates
- ControlledMuzzleloaderControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1125 · 75 permits · Area 3-1XSeason Dates
BBlack Bear Seasons
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponEither-sexSeason Dates
MMule and White-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntleredSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 3
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 3 Boundary
Those portions of KOOTENAI, SHOSHONE, and BENEWAH COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning at Mission Point on the St. Joe River and State Highway 3, then northeast on State Highway 3 to Interstate 90, then east on Interstate 90 to Kingston, then north on Forest Highway 9 (North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River Road) to Forest Service Road 209 (Little North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River Road), then northwest along Forest Service Road 209 then north along Forest Road 385 to the watershed divide between the Coeur d'Alene River and Pend Oreille Lake, then northwest along the divide to Bernard Peak, then north to Steamboat Rock on Pend Oreille Lake, then west along the lake shore to the south boundary of Farragut State Park, then west along the boundary to State Highway 54 at the west entrance of Farragut State Park, then west on State Highway 54 to U.S. 95, then south on U.S. 95 to Coeur d'Alene Lake, then southeast along the eastern shoreline of Coeur d'Alene and Round Lakes to the point of beginning.
Panhandle Zone Context
Northern Idaho
The Panhandle zone covers Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, and 9 in northern Idaho. Forest cover and lake-and-river country shape trip planning here. The Palouse and Dworshak zones are separate; do not assume a Panhandle elk tag covers every unit in northern Idaho.
Consider Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, or St. Maries when arranging supplies. Plan for wet conditions, then check the forecast, legal entry routes, and forest-road closures for the particular unit you choose.
See all units in the Panhandle ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 3
Where is Idaho GMU 3?
Unit 3 sits in the Panhandle Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly dense forest, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 3?
Unit 3 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 3?
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 3 mostly public land?
Unit 3 is approximately 57.5% public (mixed public/private). Public-land share is not parcel-level access permission; verify ownership boundaries, legal routes, and closures before entering.
Other Units in the Panhandle Zone
Before hunting Unit 3
- 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 3. 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.