Elk General A Tag Season

Hunt Area Big Desert A Tag
Elk A Tag - Big Desert Zone Unlimited Tags

Non-resident tag quota of 12,815 total elk tags. See the Nonresident Tag Quotas for availability.

8/30/2024 - 9/30/2024

Species
Elk (Cervus canadensis)
Antlerless or Antlered Elk
Either sex may be taken.
Archery
Archery ONLY.

Restrictions
  • Motorized Hunting Rule (MHR): Motorized vehicle use by all big game hunters is restricted to established roadways legally open to travel by full-sized automobiles. The motorized hunting rule applies only to big game animals, including moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats, in designated units from August 30 through December 31. Learn more about the Motorized hunting Rule at idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/access/motorized-vehicles

Motorized Hunting Rule Applies in Unit 52A.

Hunt Area Big Desert A Tag
All of Units 52A and 68. (Caution: Craters of the Moon National Park is CLOSED) Area Size: 2,273,856 acres
pdf View a High Resolution Adobe PDF Map of Hunt Area Big Desert A Tag
More information about the Game Management Unit(s) in this hunt: 52A 52A 68 68

General Season Harvest Statistics

Year Take Method Unit Harvest Hunters Success% Days Antlered Antlerless %Spike %6+Pts
2023 Archery 52A 31 143 22 867 31 16 51
2023 Archery 52A 31 143 22 867 31 16 51
2023 Archery 68 50 158 32 1423 48 1 14 50
2023 Archery 68 50 158 32 1423 48 1 14 50
2022 Archery 52A 28 118 24 906 22 5 5.9 47.4
2022 Archery 52A 28 118 24 906 22 5 5.9 47.4
2022 Archery 68 26 122 21 1099 24 1 5.4 58.6
2022 Archery 68 26 122 21 1099 24 1 5.4 58.6
2021 Archery 52A 14 103 14 826 14 9.5 61.9
2021 Archery 52A 14 103 14 826 14 9.5 61.9
2021 Archery 68 27 121 22 1246 27 9 43.6
2021 Archery 68 27 121 22 1246 27 9 43.6
2020 Archery 52A 17 83 20 652 14 3 30.5 21.6
2020 Archery 52A 17 83 20 652 14 3 30.5 21.6
2020 Archery 68 33 101 33 874 30 3 18.8 43
2020 Archery 68 33 101 33 874 30 3 18.8 43
2019 Archery 52A 23 105 22.2 751 23 12.4 70.2
2019 Archery 52A 23 105 22.2 751 23 12.4 70.2
2019 Archery 68 19 82 22.8 630 17 2 25.4 49.3
2019 Archery 68 19 82 22.8 630 17 2 25.4 49.3
2018 Archery 52A 14 109 12.8 924 10 4 0 55.2
2018 Archery 52A 14 109 12.8 924 10 4 0 55.2
2018 Archery 68 16 83 18.6 701 11 5 0 44.1
2018 Archery 68 16 83 18.6 701 11 5 0 44.1
2017 Archery 52A 17 98 17.8 648 16 2 22.8 43
2017 Archery 52A 17 98 17.8 648 16 2 22.8 43
2017 Archery 68 17 79 21.5 605 13 4 10.3 66.2
2017 Archery 68 17 79 21.5 605 13 4 10.3 66.2
2016 Archery 52A 14 104 13.6 678 14 34.2 65.8
2016 Archery 52A 14 104 13.6 678 14 34.2 65.8
2016 Archery 68 12 90 13.7 610 12 0 50
2016 Archery 68 12 90 13.7 610 12 0 50
2015 Archery 52A 13 114 11 730 11 1 0 62.5
2015 Archery 52A 13 114 11 730 11 1 0 62.5
2015 Archery 68 17 85 20 539 13 4 0 100
2015 Archery 68 17 85 20 539 13 4 0 100
2014 Archery 52A 22 105 21 673 20 2 12.5 50
2014 Archery 52A 22 105 21 673 20 2 12.5 50
2014 Archery 68 16 61 27 381 12 4 10 40
2014 Archery 68 16 61 27 381 12 4 10 40
2013 Archery 52A 15 99 15.2 706 15 6.6 80.1
2013 Archery 52A 15 99 15.2 706 15 6.6 80.1
2013 Archery 68 11 90 12.6 731 8 3 12 64.1
2013 Archery 68 11 90 12.6 731 8 3 12 64.1
2012 Archery 52A 11 81 13.8 666 7 5 0 84.9
2012 Archery 52A 11 81 13.8 666 7 5 0 84.9
2012 Archery 68 7 46 14.2 282 7 54.6 30.3
2012 Archery 68 7 46 14.2 282 7 54.6 30.3
2011 Archery 52A 4 54 7.4 381 3 1 0 66.7
2011 Archery 52A 4 54 7.4 381 3 1 0 66.7
2011 Archery 68 8 52 14.6 388 7 1 0 84.8
2011 Archery 68 8 52 14.6 388 7 1 0 84.8
2010 Archery 52A 12 91 13.6 672 9 3 0 77.8
2010 Archery 52A 12 91 13.6 672 9 3 0 77.8
2010 Archery 68 7 74 9.5 437 4 3 25 50
2010 Archery 68 7 74 9.5 437 4 3 25 50
2009 Archery 52A 9 76 11.8 620 9 11.1 55.6
2009 Archery 52A 9 76 11.8 620 9 11.1 55.6
2009 Archery 68 3 24 12.5 105 3 0 33.3
2009 Archery 68 3 24 12.5 105 3 0 33.3
2008 Archery 52A 18 53 33.3 326 16 1 0 87.2
2008 Archery 52A 18 53 33.3 326 16 1 0 87.2
2008 Archery 68 6 34 17.6 196 4 2 0 75
2008 Archery 68 6 34 17.6 196 4 2 0 75
2007 Archery 52A 0 0
2007 Archery 52A 0 0
2007 Archery 68 0 0
2007 Archery 68 0 0
2006 Archery 52A 0 0
2006 Archery 52A 0 0
2006 Archery 68 0 0
2006 Archery 68 0 0
2005 Archery 52A
2005 Archery 52A
2005 Archery 68
2005 Archery 68
2004 Archery 52A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 Archery 52A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 Archery 68 1 2 50 16 1 0 0 0
2004 Archery 68 1 2 50 16 1 0 0 0
2003 Archery 52A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 Archery 52A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 Archery 68 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 Archery 68 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000 Archery 52A 0 0 0 0 0
2000 Archery 52A 0 0 0 0 0
2000 Archery 68 0 0 0 33 0
2000 Archery 68 0 0 0 33 0
Source: Harvest Statistics Database compiled from Mandatory Harvest Reports and Check Station Records
* In 2000 hunter information not collected.

Resident Tags and Permits

  • Adult Elk Tag
  • Jr./Sr./DAV Elk Tag
  • Handicapped Motor Vehicle Permit*

NonResident Tags and Permits

  • Junior Mentored Elk Tag
  • Adult Elk Tag
  • Handicapped Motor Vehicle Permit*

A valid hunting license is required for all hunting and trapping activities.
* Indicates this item is optional.

Where to purchase

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Surface Management

For government land, these data show the managing agency of the land, which may or not be the same as the owning agency.

Graph illustrating 55 percent U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 1,250,725 acres   55%
Graph illustrating 19.85 percent U.S. National Park Service (NPS) 451,374 acres   19.9%
Graph illustrating 19.57 percent Private 444,943 acres   19.6%
Graph illustrating 3.15 percent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 71,649 acres   3.2%
Graph illustrating 2.1 percent State of Idaho 47,730 acres   2.1%
Graph illustrating 0.2 percent U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) 4,558 acres   0.2%
Graph illustrating 0.11 percent Other 2,469 acres   0.1%
Graph illustrating 0.02 percent U.S. National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) 408 acres   0%

Make your own map of Hunt Area Big Desert A Tag Elk A Tag - Big Desert Zone
Land management via Inside Idaho

Access Yes! Properties

Access Yes! is Fish and Game program designed to improve hunting and fishing access to private land or through private land to public land by compensating willing landowners who provide access.

No properties are currently available in this hunt area.
View all Access Yes Participants.

Federally-designated Wilderness Areas

No motorized vehicles are allowed in these areas.

There are no wilderness areas in this hunt.