Unit 71, Idaho

Unit 71 spans approximately 338,653 acres (529 square miles) with elevations ranging from roughly 4,700 feet in the Portneuf River valley bottoms to 9,200 feet on the highest Portneuf Range peaks. Broad, grassy valleys flank the mountain ranges on both the west (Portneuf Valley) and east sides. Foothills transition from valley floors through rolling sagebrush benches to steep, rugged mountain slopes. No federally designated wilderness areas exist within the unit.

The unit is administered primarily through the Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Caribou Ranger District), covering the Portneuf Range. Access is significantly constrained by private land bordering the national forest boundary. Key access routes include Wood River Road (north of Pebble), Pebble Creek Road (west of Pebble), Toponce Creek Road (southeast of Chesterfield Reservoir), and Inman Canyon Road leading to the Inman Canyon trailhead northeast of Inkom. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on most forest access roads. The Portneuf Wildlife Management Area (3,950 acres, established 1970) on the western slope provides additional public access via 11 miles of primitive roads and four perimeter parking areas; motorized access on the Portneuf WMA is closed November 15 to May 15 to protect wintering mule deer. The Fort Hall Indian Reservation (BIA, ~31.6% of unit area) is not accessible to the general hunting public. There are no Access Yes! properties currently enrolled in this unit.

Valley floors and lower elevations are dominated by sagebrush-steppe and native grasses, with willows and riparian shrubs along streams. Much of the valley floor contains dryland and irrigated agricultural fields (hay and alfalfa). Foothills support sagebrush with scattered juniper and aspen patches. The Portneuf Range displays open, grassy and sagebrush-covered slopes on western exposures transitioning to conifers (Douglas-fir and montane species) on eastern exposures, with aspen-dominated drainages at mid-elevations. Land cover by type: rangeland 56.7%, dryland agriculture 24.3%, forest 9.6%, irrigated 7.9%, riparian 0.6%.

Mule deer are the primary big game species, with the Portneuf Mountains supporting a significant winter concentration area; animals summer in the higher Portneuf Range and migrate to lower sagebrush and valley-edge habitats in fall and winter. Elk are present throughout the Portneuf Range, forming the Bannock Elk Zone with neighboring units 70, 72, 73, 73A, and 74; the herd is relatively modest in size with hunter success running below the statewide average. Black bear and mountain lion are present in the forested portions of the Portneuf Range. Moose occur at low densities. Gray wolf is present as a huntable species. Wild turkeys (introduced 2002) have established huntable populations, particularly in the Portneuf WMA area. Upland game including chukar, pheasant, sage-grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, and forest grouse occupy habitat across the unit's varied vegetation zones. White-tailed deer are also present in the unit.

1. public_land_pct (34%) reflects accessible public land only (USFS 21.19% + BLM 10.48% + State 2.17% = 33.84%), consistent with GoHunt's 33.9%. The Fort Hall Indian Reservation (BIA ~31.56%) is excluded as it is not open to the general hunting public. 2. Elk general-season tag is antlerless only in the Bannock Zone; archery is the primary method for antlered bulls. 3. Deer general season confirmed antlered only (min 1 antler > 3 inches); white-tailed deer confirmed present per IDFG Hunt Planner. 4. Deer harvest/success (218 harvest, 999 hunters, 22%) and elk harvest/success (18 harvest, 299 hunters, 6%) are from 2025 season data per IDFG Hunt Planner. 5. Claims about archery elk success percentage and Boone & Crockett records removed as unsourced. 6. Portneuf WMA details (3,950 acres, 1970, 11 miles roads, 4 parking areas, Nov 15–May 15 motorized closure) confirmed from IDFG WMA page.