Unit 73, Idaho

Elevation ranges from roughly 4,800 feet on valley floors to approximately 9,300 feet on higher ridges. Mountain ranges rise steeply above surrounding agricultural valleys that sit at 4,600–5,500 feet. Terrain includes rugged cliff faces on features such as Elkhorn Ridge, Oxford Peak, and Wakley Peak. The west sides of several ranges are predominantly roadless. Valleys contain Daniels Reservoir and portions of March and Arbon valleys. The Samaria Mountains feature twisting canyons and broad grassy ridges with open high-elevation terrain and forested north-facing slopes. No federally designated wilderness areas exist within Unit 73.

Primary highway access is via Interstate 15, which bisects the eastern portion of the unit. Exit 22 (Devil Creek Reservoir area) provides access north on Old Highway 191 into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest Westside Ranger District (Malad office: 195 South 300 East, Malad, ID 83252; 208-766-5900). Exit 3 near the Utah border accesses county roads west toward the Samaria Mountains and North Hansel Mountains. The Samaria Mountains are administered by the BLM Burley District; the primary vehicle route is BLM-614, a 4WD road traversing Gardner Canyon (east approach) and North Canyon (south approach) — both sections have steep, rutted segments requiring high-clearance or 4WD especially in wet conditions. The Malad Summit Guard Station, off I-15 Exit 22 on Forest Road 041, provides a staging point for the Caribou-Targhee forest lands. Private agricultural land dominates valley floors and limits access; one Access Yes! walk-in property (Arbon - East Bench) provides additional public hunting opportunity. The Motorized Hunting Rule applies in Unit 73 for big game (Aug 30–Dec 31), restricting hunters to established roadways legally open to full-sized automobiles.

Low-elevation valley floors and foothills support sagebrush-steppe, grassland, and willows along creek drainages. Foothills transition through sagebrush-mountain mahogany with dense bigtooth maple brush and juniper woodlands with scattered aspen patches. Upper mountain slopes support mixed conifer including fir, pine, and spruce, with aspen stands throughout. Western and southern exposures are generally open; north and east aspects carry timber and heavy brush. Dryland agriculture covers approximately 36% of the unit (confirmed: 35.65%); rangeland covers about 32% (confirmed: 32.19%); forest cover accounts for roughly 13% (confirmed: 12.61%).

Mule deer are widespread and the primary big game quarry; populations have been recovering from compounding pressures including severe winters (2022–23), drought, predation, and harvest. Mule deer in the Bannock Deer Administrative Unit are generally migratory, making seasonal movements between high-elevation summer range on mountain ridges and adjacent valley winter range. Elk expanded significantly throughout most of the unit since the late 1980s and are present in moderate numbers; the Bannock Elk Zone encompasses Units 70–74 including Unit 73. Moose are present along riparian corridors. Black bear and mountain lion inhabit the forested mountain ranges. Gray wolf packs range through the unit. Turkey (Merriam's and hybrid strains), chukar, Hungarian partridge, sage-grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and pheasant are present in appropriate habitat zones. Pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat are not established quarry within Unit 73.