Unit 62, Idaho

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,000 feet in the southwestern agricultural lowlands to about 7,300 feet in the forested northeast. The southwestern portion is characterized by rolling hills, irrigated and dryland farmland, and shallow ravines and valleys. The northern and eastern portions transition to moderate to very rugged country with deep canyons and steep, dense forested slopes approaching the Yellowstone Plateau. No federally designated wilderness exists within Unit 62, so motorized vehicle use is permitted on all open national forest roads.

Primary highway access is via U.S. 191 (Ashton to the north) and State Highway 47 (Ashton southeast to Hatchery Butte), with State Highway 33 forming the southern boundary east through Tetonia toward Wyoming. Key forest access roads include Cave Falls Road (leading east into the heart of the Caribou-Targhee NF), Ashton-Flag Ranch Road, Conant-Fall River Road, and Coyote Meadows Road. The Ashton Ranger District (phone 208-652-7442, 46 Highway 20, Ashton) manages the national forest lands. No federally designated wilderness is present in Unit 62; access beyond maintained forest roads typically requires horses or foot travel. Warm River and Cave Falls campgrounds provide base-camp options on national forest land. Approximately 75% of the unit (314,833 acres total) is privately held and largely closed to public access; USFS accounts for 21.8%, BLM 1.5%, Bureau of Reclamation 0.9%, and State of Idaho 0.5%. No IDFG Access Yes! properties are listed for this unit. Grizzly bear habitat caution applies throughout the unit.

The southwestern lowlands are dominated by dryland agriculture, irrigated sprinkler farms, and CRP grasslands, with scattered aspen groves along riparian draws. The northeast forest block is composed primarily of lodgepole pine and Douglas fir, with occasional aspen stands and grassy meadows interspersed. Riparian corridors along Fall River, Cave Creek, and their tributaries provide additional cover and forage. No cedar-hemlock or high-alpine vegetation zones are documented within the unit.

Elk are the primary big game species and are managed as part of the Island Park Elk Zone (Units 60, 60A, 61, 62, 62A); the zone-wide population was reported well above management objectives in the 2025 hunting outlook. Both mule deer and white-tailed deer are present; 2025 harvest data showed 120 deer total from 592 hunters (20% success). Shiras moose are present in the forested northeast portions along creek drainages. Black bears range throughout the forested areas, with grizzly bears also present (caution advisories apply statewide for this region). Mountain lions are resident in the forested terrain. Gray wolves are established in the region consistent with their broader presence in the Island Park/Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The unit also provides habitat for wild turkey, blue (forest) grouse, and waterfowl along the Fall River drainage.

1. Deer general season corrected to Oct 10–Oct 31 (confirmed hunt 80604); draft incorrectly stated Oct 10–Oct 24. A muzzleloader component (Nov 1–Dec 1) also confirmed. 2. Elk controlled hunts #2094 and #2118 cited in draft were NOT found in IDFG Hunt Planner — those hunt numbers do not exist; removed specific controlled elk hunt numbers and quotas. 3. Island Park Zone elk archery A-tag (hunt 80906) confirmed: Aug 30–Sep 30, unlimited, either sex, all of units 60/60A/61/62/62A. 4. Deer controlled hunts confirmed: #82107 (antlered, 20 tags, Oct 10–Nov 30) and #82108 (either sex, 100 tags, Oct 5–Nov 8) — these are deer controlled hunts, not elk. 5. Elk harvest stats confirmed: 225 hunters, 36 harvest, 16% success (archery 216/32; any weapon 4/4). 6. Deer harvest stats confirmed: 592 hunters, 120 harvest, 20% success. 7. Public land confirmed: USFS 21.8%, BLM 1.5%, BOR 0.9%, State 0.5% per unit hunt page; 26% GoHunt figure used as it likely includes all non-private parcels. 8. Moose hunt #3066 with 5 tags could not be verified via Hunt Planner web interface; retained with caveat. 9. Nonresident general deer/elk tags transitioned to random draw for 2026 season. 10. Island Park Zone elk population confirmed well above management objectives per 2025 IDFG hunting outlook.