Unit 73A, Idaho

The unit covers roughly 362,100 acres of southeastern Idaho sagebrush-steppe terrain in the foothills of the Bannock and Portneuf Ranges. Topography is characterized by broad, rolling benches, creek drainages, and scattered ridge systems. Lower elevations sit around 4,500–5,000 feet while upper forested ridgelines in the Caribou National Forest portions reach approximately 7,000–9,000 feet. Slopes are mostly moderate; the broader region's ridgelines peak near 9,000 feet (Bonneville Peak, Portneuf Range). No wilderness areas exist within the unit.

Primary road access is via State Highway 37 (southern boundary, Holbrook–Rockland corridor) and Interstate 86 (northern boundary, ~30 miles to Pocatello). The Bannock Creek–Arbon Valley Highway forms the eastern boundary and is the main interior corridor. BLM Pocatello Field Office manages approximately 19.95% of the unit (~72,000 acres) on scattered sagebrush benchland tracts. USFS (Caribou National Forest, Malad Ranger District vicinity) accounts for roughly 0.27%, with an additional ~2.93% USDA-administered lands. State of Idaho lands: ~4.05%. Bureau of Indian Affairs (Fort Hall Reservation) lands compose ~23.13% of the unit and are NOT open to general public hunting — effectively accessible public land is closer to 28% of the unit. No federally designated wilderness areas. No Access Yes! properties were listed at time of publication. Motorized hunting rules do not apply in Unit 73A (they apply in adjacent Unit 73). Seasonal road closures on BLM and Forest Service roads are possible in spring mud season; consult Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) from the Caribou-Targhee National Forest or the BLM Pocatello Field Office prior to hunting.

Land cover is dominated by dryland agriculture on broad valley floors (~46%), followed by upland forest (~26%) of ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir in Caribou National Forest areas, and sagebrush-steppe and native grassland rangeland (~20%). Riparian corridors along Bannock Creek and Arbon Valley drainages support willow and native shrubs. Irrigated croplands (~7%) in valley bottoms provide supplemental forage for deer and elk.

Mule deer are the primary big game species, residing in sagebrush-steppe and agricultural fringe year-round; winter range is dominated by sagebrush communities at lower elevations. The unit is within the Bannock Deer Management Unit (DAU), which encompasses the Bannock, Malad, and Sublette Ranges. Elk use the forested uplands and agricultural benchlands, migrating between summer range on the Caribou National Forest and lower winter range; the unit is part of the Bannock Elk Zone managed alongside Units 70–74. Black bears occupy forested canyon drainages. Mountain lions follow deer and elk throughout the unit. Gray wolves are present as a huntable population. Moose are listed as present by IDFG but at low densities typical of southeastern Idaho; tags are controlled draw only. Upland birds include chukar, sage-grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, and pheasant. Waterfowl use seasonal wetlands and irrigated fields.