Idaho Mule Deer Moose

Unit 73A (73A)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Moose

Unit 73A splits the South Hills / Cassia Division of Sawtooth National Forest south of Twin Falls into a controlled-hunt pocket known for quality mule deer bucks. The unit's mix of sagebrush bowls, aspen draws, and mahogany benches produces heavier-horned bucks than the surrounding general-hunt country. We treat 73A as one of southern Idaho's most underrated mule deer draws — quotas are small, but the public access is excellent and the terrain is manageable.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 73A

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 73A

Mule deer in 73A concentrate in the upper South Hills during early season and drift lower as the hunt progresses.

Magic Mountain Rim

The rimrock and mahogany benches above Magic Mountain Ski Area hold bucks through September. Focus on the east-facing pockets at 7,000–7,800 ft.

Rock Creek Canyon

Rock Creek's side drainages (Third Fork, Diamondfield Jack) concentrate bucks in the aspen-choked pockets once temperatures drop.

Cottonwood Creek Benches

Sage-mahogany benches on the Utah border hold scattered bucks throughout the hunt and become the late-season stronghold.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 73A

This is classic glass-and-stalk country. We stay mobile and let the optics do the work.

Dawn Glassing from Mahogany Rims

Park on a two-track and climb to a mahogany-edged knob 45 minutes before first light. Most mature bucks feed in the open for the first hour, then tuck into the mahogany pockets.

Still-Hunt the Aspens Midday

Bedded bucks hold tight in the aspen stringers around Rock Creek. Move upwind at the pace of a glassing grid and expect shots at 60–120 yards.

Late Hunt Storm Push

A late-October front pushes deer off the high mahogany onto the Cottonwood Creek benches. That's when vehicle glassing from the forest boundary roads becomes deadly.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Unit 73A controlled-hunt success runs 40–55% in recent years, with above-average buck quality for southern Idaho. Archery portions slide to 15–20%. The small tag quota (typically 50–80 tags) keeps hunter density low and protects the age structure.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	18	95	18.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho's pure random draw with a 10% nonresident quota applies. 73A mule deer resident odds typically fall in the 10–25% range; nonresident odds run 4–10% depending on the hunt number. No points accrue — every year is an independent draw.

Moose Hunting in Unit 73A

Unit 73A covers the Sublett Range and Raft River country of south-central Idaho. Shiras moose use cottonwood draws, willow seeps, and aspen pockets in the higher drainages. Idaho moose is OIAL — a drawn tag closes the pool for life. 73A is a lower-density moose unit with limited tag counts.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 73A

We glass willow seeps and cottonwood draws in the higher drainages of the Sublett Range. Moose density is lower here than in classic eastern Idaho units — pre-season scouting to locate specific animals is critical. The Raft River tributaries and aspen pockets above 6,000 feet are the most consistent zones.

How to Hunt Unit 73A

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Moose Success Rates

The three-year Unit 73A data shows roughly 8 tags against 127 applicants. Success rates run in the 60-80% range here — lower than eastern Idaho's willow-bottom units because of sparser moose distribution.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	3	25	12.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho's pure-random drawing assigns equal odds every year. Nonresidents capped at 10%. Moose is OIAL. With ~127 applicants and ~8 tags over three years, resident odds run 5-7% per year.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Rock Creek RV Park and private sites in Kimberly and Hansen. Developed Forest Service sites at Schipper and Bear Gulch suit smaller rigs.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping allowed across Sawtooth NF South Hills. Diamondfield Jack and Porcupine Springs are the classic established options.

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Trailer Access

Rock Creek Road handles trailers to the forest boundary. Above that, unhitch — the forest spurs narrow and rut after rain.

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Water

Reliable along Rock Creek and Cottonwood Creek. Filter everything — there is active cattle grazing on most drainages.

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Road Conditions

Paved to Rock Creek, gravel into the South Hills, and rough two-track into the hunting pockets. 4WD recommended.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Steep mahogany faces with loose rock; aspen draws are easy walking but deadfall accumulates fast.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. The controlled-hunt framework keeps other hunters scarce — you will mostly see local scouts during the general season crossover days.

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Weather

Warm early (70s), cooling quickly by mid-October. Snow possible by the last week of the hunt above 7,500 ft.

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Cell Service

Reliable along Rock Creek Road. Spotty to nonexistent in the upper drainages.

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Nearest Town

Twin Falls (full services, 30 min). Hansen and Kimberly handle fuel and groceries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many mule deer tags are issued for Unit 73A each year?

Tag quotas vary annually but typically sit between 50 and 80 tags across the combined archery, muzzleloader, and rifle hunts. Check the current IDFG controlled hunt list for exact numbers.

Is Unit 73A mostly public land?

Yes. The core of 73A is Sawtooth National Forest (Cassia Division / South Hills), with supplemental BLM parcels. Public access is excellent.

Is Unit 73A a lower-odds moose hunt?

Tag counts are tighter than eastern Idaho units — about 8 tags across three years against 127 applicants. Apply for 73A only if you have pre-season scouting capacity.

How far from Salt Lake is Unit 73A?

Unit 73A sits 2-3 hours north of Salt Lake City via I-84. This makes it a viable hunt for Utah-based hunters who draw a nonresident tag.

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Sources & Verification

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

2025 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 73A controlled hunt structure, South Hills season framework · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Historical 73A draw odds, Applicant + tag counts · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG State of Deer and Elk — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: South Hills herd estimate, Fawn:doe ratios · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 73A moose season dates, OIAL framework, Weapon classes · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 73A boundaries, Public-land overlay, Hunt-code selector · accessed 2026-04-17