Idaho Mule Deer Moose Elk

Unit 66A (Bear River Range)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Moose, Elk

Unit 66A covers portions of the Bear River Range in southeastern Idaho on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. With roughly 484 three-year applicants against just 15 tags, it is one of the tighter mule deer controlled draws in the state — a limited-entry hunt that produces respectable bucks in aspen-conifer transition country. Idaho uses a pure random draw for mule deer.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 66A

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 66A

Mule deer in Unit 66A use the aspen-conifer transition and open sagebrush parks on the Bear River Range. Mid-elevation benches and ridgetops hold bucks through the early season.

Aspen-Conifer Edges

Aspen pockets bordered by Douglas-fir and subalpine conifer on the Bear River Range are productive. We glass the edges at dawn and dusk.

South-Facing Benches

Sagebrush and mountain mahogany on south-facing mid-elevation benches hold bucks. Shift tactics with snow as the season progresses.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 66A

With only 15 tags available, Unit 66A is a scouting-heavy hunt. We put boots on the ground weeks in advance to identify resident bucks and bedding patterns.

Morning Glassing

Set up on ridgetop access points before legal light and cover multiple aspens pockets and sagebrush parks with optics.

Late-Season Migration

Bear River Range mule deer migrate off high country as snow arrives. Late-season hunters should target lower winter range on south-facing slopes.

Pro Members Only

Unlock mule deer tactics for Unit 66A

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Mule Deer Success Rates

Per-hunt success for Unit 66A mule deer is published in the IDFG Hunt Planner statistics tool. Limited-entry hunts with small quotas often post high success rates — we recommend confirming the most recent 3-year average before applying.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	5	163	3.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho uses a pure random draw for mule deer — no preference or bonus points. Unit 66A with roughly 484 three-year applicants competing for just 15 tags is one of Idaho's tighter controlled mule deer draws. Nonresidents compete for a 10% quota slice of an already-small tag pool.

Moose Hunting in Unit 66A

Unit 66A moose hunting targets Shiras bulls in the South Fork Snake River country of eastern Idaho. We treat this tag as once-in-a-lifetime (OIAL) under Idaho's no-reapply rule for moose. The unit holds quality bulls in willow-rich bottoms and has strong public access through BLM and Caribou-Targhee National Forest lands.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 66A

Unit 66A moose use the willow-lined South Fork corridor and adjacent benches.

South Fork Willow Bottoms

Dense willow complexes along the South Fork hold bulls year-round.

Side-Drainage Beaver Ponds

Beaver complexes in side drainages concentrate moose — feed, water, and cover in one spot.

Aspen-Conifer Benches

Mid-elevation benches above the river hold moose mid-day.

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 66A

Scout hard before the hunt and sit the feed patiently.

Float-Scout the South Fork

A drift boat float covers willow-bottom habitat fast during scouting. Log every bull seen.

Sit the Feed

Once a bull is located, sit on the feed morning and evening until he shows.

Plan the Pack-Out

Bottom-country bulls can mean a wet retrieve. Plan for boat or cart extraction.

Pro Members Only

Unlock tactics for Unit 66A moose

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

Unit 66A moose success routinely runs 80-95%. Scouting and patience are the keys. Bulls of all quality classes are harvested across the unit each year.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	6	84	7.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Moose is a once-in-a-lifetime (OIAL) tag in Idaho. The state uses a pure random draw with a 10% nonresident cap. Unit 66A typically draws in the 5-10% range for residents.

Elk Hunting in Unit 66A

Idaho GMU 66A sits in the Caribou Range east of Soda Springs, adjacent to the Wyoming border. The unit holds a healthy elk herd distributed across aspen-conifer benches and the willow drainages of the Bear River country. 66A offers both general-season Bear River Zone tags and controlled-hunt codes. With a 1:1 applicant-to-tag ratio over three years on its controlled hunts, this is a solid draw for Rocky Mountain elk country.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 66A

Elk in 66A hold on the aspen-conifer benches between 6,500 and 9,000 feet. We glass the dark-timber fringes at dawn and dusk, and focus on saddles connecting the main drainages during the rut. The Bear River and its tributaries provide water, with willow bottoms holding bulls that drop out of the high country in snow.

How to Hunt Unit 66A

Pro Members Only

Unlock Unit 66A tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle14%

Archery18%

Bear River Zone elk success typically runs 15% to 25% for general rifle hunters and 10% to 15% for archery. Controlled-hunt tags in 66A often carry success rates of 30% to 45% due to tighter quotas. Pull current IDFG harvest summaries for the exact hunt code.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	360	2,583	13.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho uses a pure-random drawing. With roughly 179 applicants and 150 tags over three years, resident draw odds approach 80%+ on this code. Nonresidents face the 10% cap. Pure-random means no points — apply every year.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🛣️

Road Conditions

Paved US-89 through the Bear Lake Valley. Caribou-Targhee NF gravel roads into the Bear River Range vary with weather.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Aspen-conifer country with rolling sagebrush parks; elevation gain to reach the ridgetops is significant but grades are manageable.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Very low. Small quota means few hunters on the landscape.

📱

Cell Service

Good in Montpelier and along US-89; limited in the interior.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Montpelier (basic services, fuel, lodging); Soda Springs and Pocatello for broader services.

📋

Permit Notes

Mandatory IDFG harvest report within 10 days of season close.

Pro Members Only

Unlock logistics for Unit 66A

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Unit 66A mule deer tags hard to draw?

Yes. With roughly 484 three-year applicants for just 15 tags and no preference-point system, Unit 66A is a tight draw. Nonresident odds are tighter still because of the 10% nonresident quota.

Where is Unit 66A in Idaho?

Unit 66A covers portions of the Bear River Range in southeastern Idaho, accessed from Montpelier via US-89 on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Can I float the South Fork during the Unit 66A moose hunt?

Yes. A drift boat or raft is an effective scouting and hunting tool in the willow bottoms, provided you follow all boating and hunting regulations.

Is Unit 66A a once-in-a-lifetime tag?

Yes. Idaho treats all moose tags as OIAL — once drawn, a hunter cannot reapply for moose.

Does Unit 66A have a general-season elk tag?

Unit 66A sits in the Bear River Zone and carries both general-season and controlled-hunt tags. Confirm your specific hunt structure in the current IDFG rules.

How good are the draw odds for the 66A|elk code?

With near-parity applicants and tags over three years, resident odds run 80%+ on this code. Nonresidents are capped at 10% but still have reasonable chances.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 66A mule deer controlled hunt designation, Season dates · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 66A mule deer applicant and tag history · accessed 2026-04-17
Caribou-Targhee National Forest — Montpelier Ranger District — USDA Forest Service — Caribou-Targhee National Forest · supports: Bear River Range access, Road inventory and camping rules · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 66A Moose — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 66A moose dates, Tag quota, OIAL rules · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Idaho Falls District — Bureau of Land Management · supports: South Fork Snake River public access, Boat ramps, Road info · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Big Game Hunting — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 66A boundaries, Bear River Zone structure, Controlled-hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Season dates, Weapon classes, Nonresident 10% quota · accessed 2026-04-17