The September incident highlights an important distinction in Idaho’s elk regulations: several seasons may be open in the same unit at once, but the legal sex, weapon and hunt area can be very different.
Elk remain strong across much of Montana, mule deer are showing encouraging recovery in several regions, and pronghorn numbers are booming in parts of eastern Montana. Here is what FWP’s 2026 surveys say about hunting prospects across Regions 1 through 7.
Idaho’s 2026 deer seasons are getting underway, and hunters in several parts of the state face mandatory Chronic Wasting Disease testing requirements. Two additional units were added this year, while special carcass-transport restrictions remain in effect in Idaho’s designated CWD Management Zones.
Idaho resident hunters planning a general-season elk hunt in one of the state’s popular capped elk zones should be ready this week. Most resident capped elk tags go on sale at 10:00 a.m. MDT on Tuesday, July 8, while the highly sought-after Sawtooth Zone tags become available on Friday, July 10.
Idaho hunters will soon have more options when plans change. Beginning July 1, 2026, new laws will make it easier to exchange certain hunting tags while also introducing major changes to lifetime license eligibility. Idaho Fish and Game is encouraging hunters to review the updates before fall hunting seasons begin.
Wisconsin hunters have just days left to apply for one of the state’s most coveted hunting opportunities. As the May 31 elk application deadline nears, new data shows Wisconsin’s elk population has reached a record high, leading to the largest elk harvest quota in state history for the 2026 season.
Idaho hunters have only a few days left to apply for many of the state’s most sought-after controlled hunts. Applications for fall 2026 controlled hunts close June 5, covering species including elk, deer, pronghorn, black bear, turkey and swan.
California hunters are running out of time to get into one of the state’s biggest annual draws. The deadline to submit applications for California’s 2026 Big Game Drawing is 11:59:59 p.m. on June 2, covering opportunities for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and desert bighorn sheep. At the same time, hunters can start purchasing their 2026–2027 California hunting licenses, validations, bear tags, and other access passes for the upcoming season.
Montana hunters still have time to apply for several of the state’s most sought-after big game licenses, but the first major deadline is fast approaching. Applications for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison are due May 1, followed by elk B, deer B and antelope applications due June 1. Here’s what hunters need to know about where to apply and how the process works.
Montana hunters can now check their 2026 elk and deer permit drawing results after the state’s major mid-April release. While many hunters are celebrating successful draws, several key application deadlines — including antelope and B licenses — are still approaching later this spring and summer.
With the release of the 2026 Big Game Digest by the CDFW, the Hunterizer app has rolled out updated seasons and tag information. California hunters are looking at expanded access, more tags, and brand-new hunt zones, pending final approval this April by Fish & Game Commission.
An Idaho Fish and Game commissioner is under investigation following allegations tied to an unlawful elk harvest. The case has drawn attention from hunters and conservationists alike, raising questions about compliance, accountability, and leadership within the state’s wildlife management system.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces that the application period for the 2026 elk season opens March 1 and includes new subunit licensing, expanded quotas, and a continuous October–December season. Hunters must choose among specific hunting units or unit groups, with separate bull and antlerless drawings shaping opportunities across both elk management zones.
The 2025 elk hunting season in Wisconsin concluded on December 19, with 13 hunters selected from over 26,000 applicants successfully harvesting a total of seven bulls and five antlerless elk across two managed ranges. The DNR reported that the hunt met its harvest objectives, particularly in the Black River Elk Range, where nearly all license holders were successful. Applications for the 2026 elk hunting season will open on March 1, 2026.
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