Unit 62 62 (Island Park)
Teton foothills and river-canyon country against the Wyoming line — general elk and mule deer with a premier moose draw.
Eastern Idaho — West slope of the Tetons; Fremont, Madison & Teton Counties (Island Park Zone) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
490
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–9,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 62 wraps the west slope of the Teton Range and the upper Teton River country in Fremont, Madison and Teton Counties, bounded on the east by the Idaho–Wyoming state line and the Yellowstone Park boundary and on the west by US-20 near Ashton. It is a mix of farmed Teton Basin fringe, deep timbered river canyons like Bitch Creek and Badger Creek, and rising conifer foothills that climb toward the Grand Teton and Yellowstone lines. Hunters find a general Island Park-Zone elk opportunity, mule deer on the sage-and-aspen edges, spring-and-fall black bear in occupied grizzly range, and a prized once-in-a-lifetime Shiras moose tag along the willow bottoms.
Terrain
Farmed basin edges and river bottoms near Ashton, Drummond and Tetonia around 5,200–6,000 ft, cut by steep timbered canyons and rising east into the conifer foothills of the Teton Range toward the Wyoming line.
Cover: Irrigated farmland and sage-grass benches on the west, deep aspen-and-conifer river canyons (Bitch Creek, Badger Creek, Conant Creek), and Douglas-fir, lodgepole and spruce-fir climbing the Teton foothills with willow riparian bottoms holding moose.
Landmarks: West slope Teton Range · Teton River · Bitch Creek · Badger Creek · Yellowstone/Grand Teton NP boundary · Ashton · Tetonia
Access
The eastern, higher half of the unit is Caribou-Targhee National Forest reached by Forest roads and canyon trails; the western Teton Basin fringe around Ashton, Drummond, Felt and Tetonia is heavily private farm and ranch ground. Access the public timber and canyons rather than the ag floor, and mind the Yellowstone Park and Wyoming state lines on the east, which are closed or under different jurisdiction.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Private farm & ranch (Teton Basin / Ashton area), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment
Access points: Ashton (US-20) · State Highway 33 (Tetonia) · State Highway 32 · Bitch Creek / Badger Creek canyon roads · Caribou-Targhee NF Teton-foothill roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general Island Park-Zone elk opportunity across the timbered Teton foothills and river canyons. Success is modest and tags are general; elk shift with weather and pressure between the Forest and the Wyoming line.
- →Hunt the timbered canyon heads and foothill benches away from roads
- →Work Bitch Creek and Badger Creek canyon cover
- →Bugle and cow-call the September ridges near the park fringe
- →Follow elk to lower timber after early snow
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the sage-and-aspen benches, canyon rims and farm-edge foothills — a general opportunity with the occasional good buck in the higher, rougher country toward the Tetons.
- →Glass sage-and-aspen edges and canyon rims at first and last light
- →Hunt the timber-to-farmland transition zones
- →Climb the Teton foothills for older, less-pressured bucks
- →Watch deer drop toward the basin as snow accumulates
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered canyons and berry-rich foothills with spring and fall opportunity. This is occupied grizzly range on Yellowstone's doorstep — be certain of your target.
- →Spring: glass green-up in the canyon bottoms and south slopes
- →Fall: hunt chokecherry, hawthorn and huckleberry brush
- →Work the aspen-conifer edges along the river canyons
- →Carry bear spray and confirm black vs. grizzly before any shot
Moose
common trophyShiras moose are a premier once-in-a-lifetime controlled draw with very high success for the rare drawee. The Teton River, Bitch Creek and Badger Creek willow bottoms hold good bulls.
- →If drawn, scout willow bottoms along the Teton River and canyon creeks
- →Glass wet meadows and riparian corridors at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow through the brushy bottoms where bulls hold
- →Expect a long point wait to draw the tag
Pro tips
- →Leave the private Teton Basin farmland and hunt the public timber and canyons to the east
- →Bitch Creek and Badger Creek canyons hold game and shed road pressure — but the terrain is steep
- →This is occupied grizzly range — carry bear spray and confirm any bear before shooting
- →If you draw the moose tag, focus on the Teton River and canyon willow bottoms
- →Know exactly where the Yellowstone Park and Wyoming state lines are on the east
Watch out for
- !Heavy private farm and ranch ownership across the Teton Basin fringe near Ashton and Tetonia
- !Occupied grizzly bear range — food storage, bear spray and target ID are essential
- !Yellowstone National Park boundary is closed to hunting; the Wyoming line has separate seasons/tags
- !Steep river canyons (Bitch Creek, Badger Creek) are physically demanding and hard to pack out of
- !Early snow can gate foothill and canyon roads and strand vehicles
Logistics
Ashton on US-20 is the closest service town with fuel, groceries and lodging; Driggs and Tetonia to the south and St. Anthony/Rexburg to the west round out resupply, with Idaho Falls the regional hub. Forest roads and canyon trails branch east off Highways 32 and 33 toward the Teton foothills. Many canyon roads are rough and gain snow early at elevation.
Nearest towns: Ashton, Tetonia, Driggs, St. Anthony, Rexburg
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 62 · IDFG Island Park Zone · USFS Caribou-Targhee National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 62 in Idaho?
- Unit 62 (62 (Island Park)) covers about 490 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 62?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Private farm & ranch (Teton Basin / Ashton area), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 62?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 62 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.