Unit 64, Idaho

Elevation ranges from approximately 4,800 feet in the Snake River Valley agricultural lowlands to 9,016 feet at Garns Mountain, the unit's high point. The western half of the unit is characterized by gentle, open dryland and irrigated farmland. Moving east, the terrain transitions to rugged, steep, and deeply cut drainages in the Big Hole Mountains. Upper elevations feature open, grassy ridgelines with sparse conifers. The unit covers approximately 229,292 acres total.

The western half of the unit is predominantly private land and requires landowner permission to access. The southeastern portion lies within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Idaho Falls Ranger District) and is the primary block of publicly accessible backcountry. Key access routes into the Caribou-Targhee public land include: Kelly Canyon Road (Forest Road 218), which begins near the Heise/Kelly Canyon Ski Area east of Rexburg and runs through the heart of the Big Hole Mountains; Long Hollow Road (past Kelly Canyon), which provides access from the south; Canyon Creek Road, which enters from the north; and the Moody Creek area (Forest Road 403/North Moody Road FR 258 connecting to Upper Farnes Road FR 256), accessible east of Archer. Multiple trailheads in the Kelly Canyon and Wolverine Creek/Burns Creek drainages allow ATV, horse, and foot access. No designated wilderness areas exist within Unit 64. There are no BLM Access Yes! properties currently listed for this unit. Seasonal road closures on National Forest roads are common in late fall/winter; hunters should verify road status with the Idaho Falls Ranger District of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest before late-season hunts.

The unit is dominated by dryland agriculture (roughly 34%), irrigated cropland including alfalfa and grain fields (roughly 32%), and forest (roughly 24%), with smaller portions of riparian corridors, rangeland, and developed areas. Lower elevations support alfalfa and grain fields with cottonwood-lined creek bottoms. Mid-elevation drainages in the Big Hole Mountains are heavily timbered with lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir. Upper ridges and peaks carry grassy openings with scattered and sparse conifers. Riparian areas along Snake River tributaries provide additional cover and forage.

Mule deer are the primary deer species, inhabiting both the agricultural lowlands and timbered drainages; mule deer numbers in the Palisades/Caribou zones were still recovering from the severe 2022-23 winter as of 2025, though two subsequent mild winters improved survival. White-tailed deer also occur in the unit, particularly in riparian corridors and agricultural edges. Rocky Mountain elk use the Caribou-Targhee forest portions of the unit and are part of the Palisades Elk Zone (Units 64, 65, and 67); elk numbers are at or above management objectives. Black bears inhabit the forested drainages and are present throughout the timbered eastern portions. Mountain lions occur across the forested mountain terrain. Gray wolves are present and have an established huntable presence in the unit. Moose occupy riparian areas and timbered drainages. No bighorn sheep, mountain goats, or pronghorn are listed as present in this unit. Grizzly bears may be encountered in the broader region but are not a huntable species.

Season dates verified against 2026 IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules Brochure (idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/seasons-rules-big-game-2026.pdf). Deer general season Oct 10–Oct 24 and muzzleloader Nov 20–Dec 19 confirmed from brochure p.12 and p.14 respectively; antlered-only, no antlerless in Unit 64. Elk Palisades Zone A Tag archery Aug 30–Sep 30 confirmed; general any-weapon season dates could not be precisely extracted from the two-column brochure layout — verify exact dates with IDFG before hunting. Elk combined 2025 harvest: 43 (29 any-weapon + 14 archery) at 15% success, all antlered. CWD mandatory testing confirmed for all deer (mule deer and white-tailed) harvested in Unit 64 within 10 days of harvest. Public land: 19.54% USFS + 9.26% State + 0.85% BLM = ~29.65% (rounded to 30%). Bear season Aug 30–Oct 31 (fall) and Apr 15–Jun 30 (spring) confirmed; dogs prohibited Oct 1–31.