Unit 68, Idaho

High desert basin terrain ranging from approximately 4,200 to 7,560 feet in elevation. The landscape is predominantly flat to gently rolling sagebrush steppe, interrupted by lava rock fields and the prominent volcanic landmark of Big Southern Butte. Craters of the Moon National Monument occupies a large swath of the western portion with ancient lava flows, cinder cones, and lava tubes. Irrigated agricultural fields occupy roughly 23 percent of the unit in the eastern third near Blackfoot and American Falls Reservoir.

Approximately 70 percent public land: BLM 54.56%, National Park Service (Craters of the Moon) 6.72%, Department of Energy (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory) 6.16%, Bureau of Reclamation 0.35%, State of Idaho 2.13%. Private land is roughly 30%, concentrated in the eastern third of the unit near agricultural areas — hunters must have landowner permission to access those parcels. The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INL) is a restricted nuclear facility with no public access or hunting. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is partly open to hunting in the BLM-managed Preserve portion; the Monument core is closed per IDFG hunt planner notes. Main access highways are US-26 (Arco to Blackfoot), US-20 (west edge near Arco and Craters of the Moon), and Interstate 86 (Blackfoot to American Falls). The Minidoka-Arco Road runs north-south through the interior and serves as the backbone for BLM interior access routes. Big Southern Butte is reached by turning east off Minidoka-Arco Road onto Quaking Asp-Frenchman Road. Big game hunters are restricted to established roads open to full-size motor vehicles; off-road motorized travel for hunting is not permitted. No wilderness areas, no Access Yes program properties, and no National Forest trailheads exist within Unit 68. Lodging available in Arco and Blackfoot.

Dominant cover is sagebrush-steppe (approximately 68 percent of unit area based on IDFG land-cover data showing 68.01% rangeland), consisting of big sagebrush, bitterbrush, rabbitbrush, wild grasses, and scattered juniper. Older lava fields support drought-adapted shrubs where soils have developed; younger lava at Craters of the Moon supports only sparse seasonal vegetation. Higher elevations on Big Southern Butte transition to lodgepole pine, aspen, and Douglas fir. Dry stream corridors and field edges provide riparian and browse corridors. No National Forest land falls within Unit 68.

Mule deer inhabit the sagebrush-steppe and agricultural edge areas year-round; the eastern third holds the densest concentrations near croplands but is primarily private land. Elk use the unit as part of the broader Big Desert Elk Zone (Units 52A, 53, 68, 68A); numbers are generally lower than Idaho mountain units, with animals dispersing across the high desert and concentrating near Big Southern Butte and the Craters of the Moon Preserve during hunting seasons. Pronghorn are the standout species — the sagebrush-steppe and lava plain provide expansive habitat, and IDFG draw odds reflect high demand (approximately 3% for the either-sex any-weapon hunt). Black bear and mountain lion are present at lower densities. Gray wolf has been documented in the broader region. Sage-grouse, chukar, pheasant, and quail are present for upland bird hunters (per IDFG Unit 68 hunt planner). Waterfowl use the Snake River corridor and American Falls Reservoir area. Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge along the northern boundary provides additional wildlife concentration areas adjacent to the unit.