Idaho GMU 40
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 40.
Unit 40 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 40 (GMU 40) is in the Owyhee Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, White-tailed Deer. This unit features open sagebrush steppe, where stalking prowess and early morning glassing are critical. About 75.5% of Unit 40 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 99.56%; 0.44% 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 40 records is Aug 15. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 2015 · 5 permits · Area 40-1Season Dates
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt ArcheryAntlered · Hunt 2123 · 25 permits · Area 40-1Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Outfitter AllocatedAntlered · Hunt 2190 · 1 permits · Area 40-1Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2083 · 150 permits · Area 40-1Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 2014 · 60 permitsSeason Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerlessSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryTwo-PointSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponTwo-PointSeason Dates
MMule and White-tailed Deer Seasons
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt ArcheryAntlered · Hunt 1073 · 50 permitsSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryTwo-PointSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponTwo-PointSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Youth Only - Extra AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 1114 · 100 permits · Area 40-1XSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 1031 · 200 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Outfitter AllocatedAntlered · Hunt 1169 · 5 permitsSeason Dates
PPronghorn Antelope Seasons
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt ArcheryAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 4030 · 200 permits · Area 40-1Season Dates
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt ArcheryAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 4031 · 99999 permits · Area 40-1Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Either SexAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 4008 · 75 permitsSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 40
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 40 Boundary
That portion of OWYHEE COUNTY within the following boundary: beginning on the Snake River at the Idaho-Oregon State line, upstream to Grand View, then southeast on State Highway 78 to Mud Flat Road, then southwest on Mud Flat-Juniper Mountain Road to the North Fork of the Owyhee River, then downstream to the Idaho-Oregon state line, then north along 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 40
Where is Idaho GMU 40?
Unit 40 sits in the Owyhee Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly high desert/canyon, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 40?
Unit 40 season records list 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 40?
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 40 mostly public land?
Unit 40 is approximately 75.5% 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 Owyhee Zone
Before hunting Unit 40
- 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 40. 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.