Unit 59A, Idaho

The unit covers approximately 258,000 acres with elevations ranging from approximately 5,100 feet on the southern desert flats to 11,393 feet at Scott Peak — the highest point in the Beaverhead Mountains, confirmed via Wikipedia. The southern portion near Highway 22 transitions from open sagebrush-steppe flats to increasingly rugged, steep mountain terrain in the north. Several ridges and peaks exceed timberline at roughly 9,000 feet, with deep canyons separating mountain flanks.

Primary vehicle access enters from the south via Idaho State Highway 22, which crosses the unit's southern edge near Dubois. Medicine Lodge Creek Road (a county/forest road) runs along the eastern boundary, providing the main corridor north into the mountains from Highway 22 toward Bannock Pass on the Idaho-Montana state line. Interior access follows additional forest and county roads up creek bottoms and ridges — four-wheel drive recommended off main routes. ATVs are restricted to full-sized vehicle roads under Idaho's motorized hunting rule, which restricts all motorized vehicles to established roadways legally open to full-sized automobiles during big-game seasons (Aug 30–Dec 31). The National Forest land (43% of the unit per IDFG) is managed by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Dubois Ranger District (98 N. Oakley, Dubois, ID 83423; 208-374-5422). BLM land (39%) falls under the BLM Idaho Falls District. State of Idaho: 2.37%; U.S. DOE: 0.62%. There are no federally designated wilderness areas within Unit 59A. Primitive camping is available at Webber Creek Campground; lodging is available in Dubois.

Lower elevations (below ~6,500 ft) are dominated by sagebrush, forbs, and bunchgrass with scattered juniper and aspen — typical Great Basin transition habitat. Middle slopes support mixed-conifer stands (Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir), transitioning to spruce-fir at elevations above approximately 7,500 feet. Above timberline (~9,000+ ft) the terrain opens to alpine meadows, talus, and rocky peaks. The unit is roughly 78% rangeland and 18% forested by area (per IDFG Hunt Planner: 77.91% rangeland, 17.5% forest), reflecting the dominance of lower-elevation shrub-steppe.

Mule deer are the primary deer species and are distributed throughout the unit, with the highest densities in mid-elevation sagebrush-mountain brush transition zones; the population is part of the Medicine Lodge mule deer herd. Elk (Rocky Mountain elk) are present across the unit's mountain drainages and forested mid-elevation terrain within the Beaverhead Elk Zone. Pronghorn antelope are present primarily in the lower sagebrush flats on the southern and eastern edges. Shiras moose occur in the unit, using riparian willows and wet drainages. Black bear and mountain lion are present year-round. Gray wolves have an established huntable presence. White-tailed deer occur in small numbers (approximately 3 antlerless of 121 any-weapon deer harvest were white-tailed, per 2025 IDFG stats). Upland birds including sage-grouse, chukar, and pheasant are also present.

1. Elk muzzleloader season confirmed present (111 hunters, 17 harvested, 15% success per 2025 IDFG stats) — draft incorrectly listed null; exact dates unextractable from IDFG PDF and must be verified. 2. Pronghorn reported_harvest corrected to 47 (2024 IDFG data: 260 hunters, 47 harvested, 13% success) — draft had 34 which is unsupported. 3. Deer harvest 135 and 22% success confirmed against IDFG stats (121 any-weapon + 14 archery). 4. Elk harvest 92 and 22% combined success confirmed; archery 23% success, any-weapon 36%, muzzleloader 15%. 5. Scott Peak elevation 11,393 ft confirmed via Wikipedia. 6. Land ownership percentages confirmed: USFS 43.01%, BLM 38.98%, Private 14.96%, State 2.37%, DOE 0.62%. 7. No wilderness areas confirmed per IDFG Hunt Planner. 8. Nonresident general deer/elk tags moved to draw beginning 2026 per IDFG. 9. General rifle season exact closing dates for 2025 Beaverhead Zone not extractable from IDFG website at time of research — verify in current Big Game Seasons & Rules brochure.