Idaho › Hunting seasons › Units › Unit 18
Wolf zone Palouse – Hells Canyon · Clearwater
Unit 18 hunt planner notes, 2026-27
Elk here go on the Hells Canyon Zone A or B tag; 12 drawn hunts and 19 general lines reach Unit 18 in Idaho and Adams.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Idaho (CC BY 2.0)
Counties inside Unit 18
At 180,782 acres on the Hunt Planner, Unit 18 is filed with the IDFG Clearwater Region; Idaho County holds the biggest share, 98%. Unit 18 is shared by Idaho and Adams; the second column is the share of the unit, the third the share of each county.
| Where | Unit share | County share | Named |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho County | 98% | 3% | Yes |
| Adams County | 2% | 0.4% | Yes |
For Unit 18 the IDFG contact is Lewiston: the Clearwater Region Office, 3316 16th St..
Region, elk zone and boundary counties from the IDFG Hunt Planner unit page; acreage from the Hunt Planner hunt page; shares from the IDFG Game Units layer over Census county lines (GIS measures); office from the IDFG offices page; data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Unit 18 elk zone, wolf zone and CWD
- The A/B choice for Unit 18 is made at the Hells Canyon Zone level, shared with Units 11 and 13.
- Wolf: Unit 18 falls in the Palouse – Hells Canyon wolf zone, one of 13 IDFG data analysis units; wolf seasons themselves are set by unit and land type.
- IDFG lists Unit 18 as a CWD Management Zone unit for 2026.
Zone details: Hells Canyon Zone · Wolf zones · CWD Management Zone
Elk zone from the Hunt Planner unit page and elk zone list; wolf zone from the IDFG Wolf Zones layer; CWD: CWD rules, Big Game 2026 p. 9; 2026 CWD changes; checked November 12, 2026.
Controlled hunt numbers in Unit 18
Drawn hunting in Unit 18: 12 hunt numbers and 614 tags for 2026, counting hunts that also reach other units. The largest quota touching the unit is 150 tags, on hunt 2056.
The controlled hunt draw is random; a successful applicant buys the tag before the August 1 deadline. Moose, sheep and goat dates come from the 2025 & 2026 brochure, read as 2026 hunts.
White-tailed deer moving through autumn woods
Deer, antlered (2)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1009 | 18 | Any Weapon | Oct 17 to Nov 9, 2026 | Antlered | 100 | Only here | p. 22 | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, See idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
| 1010 | 18 | Any Weapon | Nov 10 to Nov 30, 2026 | Antlered | 25 | Only here | p. 22 | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, See idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
Deer, extra antlered (1)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1119 | 18X | Any Weapon | Oct 10 to Nov 20, 2026 | Antlered | 50 | Only here | p. 27 | White-tailed deer only, Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, see idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
Deer, extra antlerless (2)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1132 | 18X | Any Weapon | Oct 10 to Nov 20, 2026 | Antlerless | 100 | Only here | p. 28 | White-tailed deer only, Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, see idfg.idaho.gov |
| 1133 | 18X | Any Weapon | Oct 17 to Nov 30, 2026 | Antlerless | 50 | Only here | p. 28 | Mule deer only, Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, see idfg.idaho.gov |
Deer, outfitter allocated (2)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1153 | 18 | Any Weapon | Oct 17 to Nov 9, 2026 | Antlered | 7 | Only here | p. 30 | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, see idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
| 1154 | 18 | Any Weapon | Nov 10 to Nov 30, 2026 | Antlered | 2 | Only here | p. 30 | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing Required, see idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
Elk, antlered (1)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 18 | Any Weapon | Oct 1 to Oct 24, 2026 | Antlered | 80 | Only here | p. 51 | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply, See idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
Elk, antlerless (1)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2056 | 18 | Any Weapon | Oct 20 to Nov 10, 2026 | Antlerless | 150 | Only here | p. 52 | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply, See idfg.idaho.gov/cwd |
Elk, archery (1)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2121 | 18 | Archery | Aug 30 to Sep 30, 2026 | Antlered | 40 | Only here | p. 55 | Antlered only, Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply, See idfg.idaho.gov/cwd for more information. |
Elk, outfitter allocated (1)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2179 | 18 | Any Weapon | Oct 1 to Oct 24, 2026 | Antlered | 7 | Only here | p. 58 | Antlered only, Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply, See idfg.idaho.gov/cwd for more information. |
Mountain goat, either sex (1)
| Hunt | Area | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Tags 2026 | Units | Brochure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6003 | 18 | Any Weapon | Aug 30 to Nov 12, 2026 | Either-sex | 3 | 18, 23 | p. 26 | — |
Hunt numbers, dates, bags and 2026 tags from the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules and the Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat 2025 and 2026 brochure (page links per row); units and notes from each Hunt Planner hunt page; draw periods from the brochure draw rules; checked November 12, 2026.
Unit 18 hunts without a draw
Unit 18 carries 19 general season lines for deer, black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf and wild turkey; residents buy these tags over the counter. The white-tailed tag any-weapon line opens October 10, 2026 in this unit.
Deer (2)
| Tag or type | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Area | Notes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed tag | Any Weapon | Oct 10 to Nov 20, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | This unit | Chronic Wasting Disease Transport Rules Apply and Testing is REQUIRED | |
| White-tailed tag | Muzzleloader | Nov 21 to Dec 5, 2026 | Antlerless or Antlered | This unit | — |
Black bear (2)
| Tag or type | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Area | Notes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Any weapon | Aug 30 to Oct 31, 2026 | One black bear per tag; females with young protected | This unit | Dogs prohibited: Oct 10 – Oct 31; Apr 15 – Apr 30 | |
| Spring 2027 | Any weapon | Apr 15 to May 31, 2027 | One black bear per tag; females with young protected | This unit | Dogs prohibited: Oct 10 – Oct 31; Apr 15 – Apr 30 |
Mountain lion (1)
| Tag or type | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Area | Notes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lion tag | Any weapon | Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 | One mountain lion per tag; females with spotted kittens protected | This unit | Dogs prohibited: July 1 – Aug 29; Oct 10 – Nov 20; Apr 1 – June 30 |
Gray wolf (11)
| Tag or type | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Area | Notes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting, private land | Hunting | Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | Statewide | — | |
| Hunting, public land | Hunting | Apr 1 to Nov 14, 2026 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 39 units | — | |
| Hunting, public land | Hunting | Nov 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 39 units | — | |
| Trapping, private land | Trapping | Jul 1 to Nov 30, 2026 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 10 units | — | |
| Trapping, private land | Trapping | Nov 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 10 units | — | |
| Trapping, private land | Trapping | Dec 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 10 units | — | |
| Trapping, public land | Trapping | Jul 1 to Nov 30, 2026 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 15 units | — | |
| Trapping, public land | Trapping | Sep 10 to Nov 14, 2026 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 15 units | — | |
| Trapping, public land | Trapping | Nov 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 15 units | — | |
| Trapping, public land | Trapping | Dec 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 15 units | — | |
| Trapping, public land | Trapping | Dec 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Per wolf tag (see brochure for tag limits) | 15 units | — |
Wild turkey (3)
| Tag or type | Weapon | Dates | Bag | Area | Notes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | — | Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2026 | Either sex | 25 units | Unit 28 only downstream from the Hat Creek drainage. | |
| Spring | — | Apr 15 to May 25, 2027 | Male or bearded turkey | 45 units | — | |
| Spring youth | — | Apr 8 to Apr 14, 2027 | Male or bearded turkey | 45 units | Unit 2 except Farragut State Park and WMA; Unit 32 except the Payette County portion. 2026 & 2027 brochure: same dates in 2027. |
Unit 18 is in the Hells Canyon Zone, but no A or B tag line covers it. Wolf trapping lines that close June 30, 2026 (2) sit outside this season and are left out.
Season rows from the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules (deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion, wolf) and the Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer 2026 and 2027 brochure (turkey), with unit lists from the Hunt Planner; over-the-counter sales from the brochure; checked November 12, 2026.
Unit 18 results by year
The Hunt Planner credits Unit 18 with 179 general season deer in 2025 from 574 hunters.
Unit 18 has no general elk harvest figure for 2025.
Other 2025 unit figures: 52 black bear, 5 mountain lion and 89 spring turkey.
A dash means the Hunt Planner prints no figure for that cell.
Take method, 2025
| Kind and method | Taken | Hunters | Success | Days | Antlered | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer, Any Weapon | 179 | 560 | 32% | 2,548 | 130 | 48 |
| Deer, Muzzleloader | 0 | 14 | 0% | 33 | — | — |
| Deer, All Weapons Combined | 179 | 574 | 31% | 2,580 | 130 | 48 |
Five seasons, 2021 to 2025
| Year | Deer (all weapons) | Elk (all weapons) | Black bear | Mountain lion | Gray wolf | Spring turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 289 | — | 57 | 7 | — | 28 |
| 2022 | 270 | — | 44 | 9 | — | 74 |
| 2023 | 277 | — | 57 | 4 | — | 96 |
| 2024 | 181 | — | 48 | 10 | — | 38 |
| 2025 | 179 | — | 52 | 5 | — | 89 |
Drawn hunts, harvest by year (12)
| Hunt | Species | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Hunters 2025 | Success 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1009 | Deer | 8 | 20 | 31 | 35 | 59 | 90 | 66% |
| 1010 | Deer | 6 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 54% |
| 1119 | Deer | 53 | 453 | 303 | 321 | 6 | 26 | 23% |
| 1132 | Deer | 36 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 78 | 51% |
| 1133 | Deer | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 39 | 69% |
| 1153 | Deer | — | 0 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1154 | Deer | 1 | 1 | 33 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| 2002 | Elk | 48 | 43 | 54 | 54 | 52 | 74 | 70% |
| 2056 | Elk | 26 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 129 | 39% |
| 2121 | Elk | 6 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 39 | 41% |
| 2179 | Elk | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 33% |
| 6003 | Mountain goat | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
White-tailed doe standing in light snow
IDFG Hunt Planner harvest statistics 2021-2025 (2025 pages linked): general deer, general elk, black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, turkey, controlled deer, controlled elk, controlled mountain goat; data read November 11, 2026, checked November 12, 2026.
Unit 18 WMAs, forests and walk-in land
9 land records cross into Unit 18, 9 with a page of their own.
Within Idaho and Adams some places carry no state hunting: Nez Perce National Historical Park, Glade Creek State Park and Nez Perce Reservation; check whether they fall in Unit 18.
Land records and their units from IDFG, USFS, BLM, USFWS and IDL sources (see each land page); closed places from the Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules and 18 U.S.C. 1165 for tribal land; checked November 12, 2026.
Near Unit 18
Riggins sits inside the lines of Unit 18, and White Bird is within 10 miles of its edge.
- RigginsIn unit · Idaho County
- White BirdWithin 10 mi · Idaho County
A footbridge over the Salmon River below steep grassy slopes near Riggins
Units in the counties Unit 18 reaches, with their elk zones and 2025 deer:
| Unit | Shared counties | Elk zone | Deer 2025 | Hunts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 14 | Idaho | Elk City | 263 | 9 |
| Unit 19A | Idaho | McCall | 110 | 5 |
| Unit 20A | Idaho | Middle Fork | 35 | 5 |
| Unit 15 | Idaho | Elk City | 973 | 1 |
| Unit 13 | Idaho | Hells Canyon | 208 | 6 |
| Unit 16A | Idaho | Selway | 29 | 1 |
| Unit 17 | Idaho | Selway | 155 | 2 |
| Unit 19 | Idaho | Selway | 103 | 1 |
Towns and their units from places.json (Census places joined to the IDFG Game Units layer); 2025 deer from the Hunt Planner; checked November 12, 2026.
Unit 18 hours on key dates
Clocks differ inside Unit 18: the line between Pacific and Mountain Time follows the Salmon River through Idaho County, so the table shows both, computed with the NOAA formula.
| Date | Marker | Pacific (open, close) | Mountain (open, close) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2026 | General elk opener | 4:56 a.m. PT 8:44 p.m. PT | 5:56 a.m. MT 9:44 p.m. MT |
| Aug 30, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 5:31 a.m. PT 7:58 p.m. PT | 6:31 a.m. MT 8:58 p.m. MT |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Chukar opener and general deer opener | 5:50 a.m. PT 7:27 p.m. PT | 6:50 a.m. MT 8:27 p.m. MT |
| Oct 19, 2026 | Duck opener | 6:34 a.m. PT 6:23 p.m. PT | 7:34 a.m. MT 7:23 p.m. MT |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:51 a.m. PT 4:32 p.m. PT | 7:51 a.m. MT 5:32 p.m. MT |
| Apr 15, 2027 | Spring turkey | 5:30 a.m. PT 7:58 p.m. PT | 6:30 a.m. MT 8:58 p.m. MT |
Hours rule from the Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons and Rules; time zones from 49 CFR 71.9; sunrise and sunset worked out with the NOAA solar formula; migratory bird hours: IDFG table; checked November 12, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Questions on Unit 18
How does the draw work for Unit 18?
Idaho draws controlled tags at random; apply in the period for the species, then buy the tag if drawn.
Which units share the Hells Canyon Zone with Unit 18?
Units 11 and 13.
What was elk success in Unit 18 in 2025?
No general elk row for 2025.
Is there a general deer season in Unit 18?
Yes, 2 lines on the white-tailed tag.
Is wolf hunting open in Unit 18?
11 wolf lines reach it, split by public and private land.
Is there spring bear hunting in Unit 18?
Yes, April 15, 2027 to May 31, 2027.
Is there Access Yes! land in Unit 18?
Yes, 1 property.
May a whole deer carcass leave Unit 18?
Not out of the zone; the brochure lists the exceptions for meat and some parts.
Who manages wildlife in Unit 18?
IDFG Clearwater Region staff based in Lewiston.
Where are rooms and meals closest to Unit 18?
Riggins and White Bird.
Which IDFG region files Unit 18?
IDFG Clearwater Region; its staff work out of Lewiston.
Answers drawn from the IDFG sources cited on this page; checked November 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: NPS Photo (Public domain); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); David Wilson (CC BY 2.0).