Idaho GMU 61
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 61.
Unit 61 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 61 (GMU 61) is in the Island Park Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer. This unit features open sagebrush steppe, where stalking prowess and early morning glassing are critical. About 82.4% of Unit 61 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 99.84%; 0.16% 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 61 records is Apr 15. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlerless or Antlered · Area Island Park ZoneSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntleredAntlered · Hunt 2039 · 50 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Outfitter AllocatedAntlered · Hunt 2207 · 2 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledMuzzleloaderControlled Hunt Outfitter AllocatedAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 2208 · 3 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledMuzzleloaderControlled Hunt MuzzleloaderAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 2142 · 200 permitsSeason Dates
- GeneralMuzzleloaderGeneral A TagAntlerless or SpikeSeason Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
BBlack Bear Seasons
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponEither-sexSeason Dates
- GeneralDog TrainingGeneral Any WeaponEither-sex · Area Portion of Unit 61Season Dates
MMule and White-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
- ControlledMuzzleloaderControlled Hunt MuzzleloaderAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 1094 · 99999 permitsSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 61
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 61 Boundary
Those portions of CLARK and FREMONT COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning at the junction of Old Highway 91 and Interstate 15 (at Spencer), then east to and then east on Spencer-Kilgore Road to Idmon, then east on old (south) Shotgun Valley Road to U.S. 191, then south on U.S. 191 to State Highway 47, then southeast on State Highway 47 to North Hatchery Butte Road, then east on North Hatchery Butte Road to Pineview, then north on Pineview-Island Park Road to Baker Draw-Black Mountain Springs Road, then east on Baker Draw-Black Mountain Springs Road to Fish Creek Road, then south on Fish Creek Road to the North Fork of Partridge Creek, then upstream to the Yellowstone Park boundary, then north along the Yellowstone Park boundary to the Idaho-Montana State line, then west to Monida Pass, then south on Interstate 15 to the point of beginning.
Island Park Zone Context
Eastern Idaho — Yellowstone Plateau
Island Park covers Units 60, 60A, 61, 62, and 62A in eastern Idaho. The zone includes country near Yellowstone and the Targhee, but park boundaries and the individual unit descriptions matter more than a regional label when choosing a hunt area. Yellowstone National Park is closed to hunting.
Rexburg, Ashton, and Island Park are places to consider when arranging supplies. Verify road conditions and food-storage orders with the land manager, and prepare for encounters with bears rather than assuming a fixed road-opening calendar.
See all units in the Island Park ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 61
Where is Idaho GMU 61?
Unit 61 sits in the Island Park Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly high desert/basin, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 61?
Unit 61 season records list Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Elk. Confirm current dates and weapon legality with Idaho Fish and Game before applying or buying tags.
Are offline maps useful in GMU 61?
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 61 mostly public land?
Unit 61 is approximately 82.4% 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 Island Park Zone
Before hunting Unit 61
- 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 61. 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.