Idaho GMU 38
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 38.
Unit 38 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 38 (GMU 38) is in the Owyhee Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, White-tailed Deer. This unit features high-elevation rugged terrain, requiring physical preparation and optics for cross-canyon spotting. About 39.4% of Unit 38 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.
Listed agency shares total 98.42%; 1.58% is not itemized in this breakdown.
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 38 records is Aug 1. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlerless or SpikeSeason Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or Antlered · Area Unit 38, except Lake Lowell Sector of Deer Flat NWRSeason Dates
- GeneralShort-Range WeaponsGeneral Short-Range WeaponAntlered · Area Unit 38, except Lake Lowell Sector of Deer Flat NWRSeason Dates
- GeneralShort-Range WeaponsGeneral Short-Range WeaponAntlerless · Area Unit 38, except Lake Lowell Sector of Deer Flat NWRSeason Dates
MMule and White-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or Antlered · Area Unit 38, except Lake Lowell Sector of Deer Flat NWRSeason Dates
- ControlledShort-Range WeaponsControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1138 · 10 permits · Area 38-1XSeason Dates
- GeneralShort-Range WeaponsGeneral Short-Range WeaponAntlered · Area Unit 38, except Lake Lowell Sector of Deer Flat NWRSeason Dates
- ControlledShort-Range WeaponsControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 1028 · 5 permits · Area 38-1Season Dates
- ControlledShort-Range WeaponsControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 1029 · 20 permits · Area 38-2Season Dates
- GeneralShort-Range WeaponsGeneral Short-Range WeaponAntlerless · Area Unit 38, except Lake Lowell Sector of Deer Flat NWRSeason Dates
- ControlledShort-Range WeaponsControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1139 · 10 permits · Area 38-1XSeason Dates
- ControlledShort-Range WeaponsControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1140 · 10 permits · Area 38-1XSeason Dates
- ControlledShort-Range WeaponsControlled Hunt Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1141 · 10 permits · Area 38-1XSeason Dates
PPronghorn Antelope Seasons
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Either SexAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 4006 · 10 permits · Area 38-1Season Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 38
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 38 Boundary
Those portions of ADA, BOISE, CANYON, ELMORE, GEM, and PAYETTE COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning at the confluence of the Payette and Snake Rivers, then up the Payette River (including islands) to State Highway 52 near Emmett, then south on State Highway 52 to State Highway 16, then south on State Highway 16 to Floating Feather Road, then east on Floating Feather Road to State Highway 55, then south on State Highway 55 to State Highway 44, then east on State Highway 44 and then east on West State Street, to and then east on East Warm Springs Avenue (by way of Avenue B and E. Parkcenter Boulevard) to State Highway 21 then south on State Highway 21 to Interstate 84, then southeast on Interstate 84 to Mountain Home, then south on State Highway 51 to the Snake River, then downstream (including islands) to the Idaho-Oregon State line, then north on the state line to the point of beginning.
Owyhee Zone Context
Southwest Idaho — Owyhee Canyonlands
The Owyhee zone groups Units 40, 41, and 42 in southwest Idaho. Canyon-and-rim country creates long approaches even where a map shows a short straight-line distance. Compare unit boundaries, road access, and ownership before choosing a remote camp.
Consider Marsing, Bruneau, or Jordan Valley in Oregon when arranging supplies, according to your route. Verify fuel availability, carry drinking water, and check any cross-state travel or game-transport requirements.
See all units in the Owyhee ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 38
Where is Idaho GMU 38?
Unit 38 sits in the Owyhee Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly mountain/foothill, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 38?
Unit 38 season records list Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer. Confirm current dates and weapon legality with Idaho Fish and Game before applying or buying tags.
Are offline maps useful in GMU 38?
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 38 mostly public land?
Unit 38 is approximately 39.4% public (mostly private). Public-land share is not parcel-level access permission; verify ownership boundaries, legal routes, and closures before entering.
Other Units in the Owyhee Zone
Before hunting Unit 38
- 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 38. 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.