Unit 78, Idaho

The unit spans approximately 157,180 acres in the Bear River Range, with elevations ranging from roughly 6,000 to 9,500 feet. The western portion is steep, forested mountain terrain; the backbone of the range features open ridgelines with grassy and brushy meadows. The eastern third is a narrower strip of private ranchland. No designated wilderness areas are present in the unit.

Primary managing agency is the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Montpelier Ranger District. The eastern boundary follows US-89/US-30 through the towns of Ovid, Paris, St. Charles, and Fish Haven. Key canyon access roads include Paris Canyon (home to Paris Springs Campground at ~6,600 ft, 5 miles from Paris), Emigration Canyon (State Highway 36, about 17 miles west of Montpelier), Green Canyon, Dry Canyon, and Hillyard Canyon. The 55-mile Highline National Recreation Trail traverses the length of the range along the ridgeline. Many interior forest roads require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles. A motorized vehicle use restriction applies from August 30 through December 31, limiting motorized travel to established roadways legally open to full-sized automobiles. No wilderness areas exist within the unit. There are no Access Yes! (Walk-In) program properties currently listed for Unit 78.

Forest communities include Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, blue spruce, subalpine fir, and aspen stands, covering approximately 61% of the unit. Brushy openings with chokecherry and mountain mahogany are scattered throughout the forested zone. The foothill edges and lower canyons support sagebrush, bigtooth maple, juniper, and scattered conifers. Open ridge meadows and grasslands provide summer range for elk and deer. Rangeland accounts for roughly 27% of the unit.

Elk maintain a sustained resident herd across the unit's forested slopes; the unit is part of the Bear River Elk Zone. Mule deer are the primary deer species and can produce quality bucks, though most harvested are medium-class animals. A minority of white-tailed deer are also present (~14–22% of antlered deer harvest). Black bear inhabit the forested drainages. Mountain lion and gray wolf are present and huntable per IDFG. Moose are rare. Upland game includes blue grouse, ruffed grouse, chukar, quail, pheasant, and Merriam's turkey. Elk tend to occupy higher elevations in summer and migrate to lower canyon and foothill areas during fall and winter seasons.