Unit 66, Idaho

Unit 66 covers approximately 224,269 acres (roughly 350 square miles) with elevations ranging from about 6,100 to 9,400 feet. The topography is steep and rugged throughout most of the unit, with heavily timbered drainages and broken canyon country dominating the interior. The northern reaches transition to milder rolling terrain. High ridgelines provide long-range glassing opportunities over broken slopes, while deep canyons filled with dense timber shelter game year-round. Springs and streams are distributed throughout the unit.

Unit 66 is managed primarily by the U.S. Forest Service (Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Palisades Ranger District) at 84.78% of the unit. Private land makes up 8.61%, Bureau of Reclamation (Palisades Reservoir corridor) 4.48%, State of Idaho 1.53%, BLM 0.24%, and other 0.32%. Palisades Reservoir on the Snake River (accessed via US-26) forms the eastern boundary corridor. Primary forest-access roads include Snake River Road (USFS Road 058), McCoy Creek Road (Forest Road 087), and Skyline Road (Forest Road 077). Multiple foot and horse trails branch from these roads into more remote terrain. Forest Service campgrounds within or adjacent to the unit include Falls, Calamity, McCoy Creek, and Blowout. There are no wilderness areas within Unit 66. Motorized vehicle use by big game hunters is restricted to established roadways legally open to full-sized automobiles from August 30 through December 31 (no ATV cross-country travel). No Access Yes! (walk-in access) properties were listed for this unit as of the most recent Hunt Planner data.

North-facing slopes carry lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and aspen stands. South-facing slopes and drier exposures support mountain mahogany and sagebrush. Riparian corridors and meadows provide important foraging areas. Land cover is approximately 82% forest, 8.5% rangeland, 5% dryland agriculture, and less than 1% riparian habitat. The diversity of cover types — dense conifer on north aspects, open brush on south aspects, and alpine meadows at higher elevation — creates productive transition habitat for elk and deer.

Unit 66 supports an elk herd within the Tex Creek Elk Zone (Units 66 and 69 combined). Unit 66-specific 2025 general-season harvest was 184 elk from 1,117 hunters (16% success). Mule deer and white-tailed deer are both present; 2025 general-season deer harvest was 119 animals from 804 hunters (15% success, with 108 antlered and 11 antlerless). Black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, and moose are listed as huntable species by IDFG. Deer use meadows and brushy hillsides for feeding and move between timbered north-facing slopes and more open south-facing terrain. Wolves are present and a tag is recommended when hunting this unit.

1. Elk general season opening date is approximate (circa Oct 22, sourced from cached 2016 Hunt Planner data) — verify exact date in current IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure at idfg.idaho.gov/rules/big-game. 2. Elk general harvest corrected to Unit 66-specific figures (184 elk / 1,117 hunters / 16%) from Hunt Planner hunt #43739; the draft's figures of 258/1,588 reflected the combined Tex Creek Zone (Units 66+69). 3. Deer harvest (119/804/15%) confirmed from IDFG Hunt Planner hunt #41054. 4. Controlled hunt 2100 (400 tags, Nov 16-30) covers Units 66, 66A, and 69 combined — per-unit quota not broken out; dates confirmed from Hunt Planner. 5. Controlled hunt 2040 (50 tags, Nov 15-30) covers Units 66 and 69 combined — confirmed. 6. No walk-in access properties listed; no wilderness areas in Unit 66 — both confirmed by IDFG Hunt Planner. 7. Moose, mountain lion, black bear, and wolf season-specific dates not available from fetched sources — confirm in current IDFG rules.