Unit 62A 62A (Island Park)
Lodgepole plateau and Mesa Falls canyon country pressed against Yellowstone — general elk and mule deer with a premier moose draw.
Eastern Idaho — Ashton to Island Park, Yellowstone's Bechler corner; Fremont County (Island Park Zone) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
245
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,300–8,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 62A is a compact Fremont County unit filling the lodgepole plateau between Ashton and Island Park and running east to the Yellowstone Park boundary at the Bechler/Cascade Corner of the park. The Henrys Fork of the Snake River tumbles through it over Upper and Lower Mesa Falls, and Warm River, Robinson Creek and Fish Creek drain the timbered country. It offers a general Island Park-Zone elk opportunity, mule deer on the plateau edges, spring-and-fall black bear in occupied grizzly range, and a premier once-in-a-lifetime Shiras moose tag in the willow bottoms. Harriman State Park's wildlife refuge within the unit is closed to hunting.
Terrain
Rolling lodgepole plateau from about 5,300 ft near Ashton and the Henrys Fork canyon rising east to roughly 8,000 ft of timbered flats and low ridges against the Yellowstone boundary.
Cover: Extensive lodgepole pine with Douglas-fir and spruce-fir, broken by wet meadows, sagebrush openings and the willow riparian corridors of the Henrys Fork, Warm River and Robinson/Fish Creeks that hold moose.
Landmarks: Henrys Fork of the Snake River · Upper & Lower Mesa Falls · Warm River · Yellowstone NP (Bechler) boundary · Harriman State Park (closed refuge) · Squirrel Meadows
Access
Mostly Caribou-Targhee National Forest reached by an extensive Forest road grid off US-20 and the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (Highway 47). Private ag and subdivision inholdings ring Ashton and the Island Park corridor, and the Harriman State Park wildlife refuge is closed to hunting. The Yellowstone Park boundary on the east is closed — know exactly where it lies.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private (Ashton-area and Island Park inholdings), Idaho State Parks (Harriman — closed to hunting)
Access points: Ashton (US-20) · Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (Highway 47) · Warm River area roads · Fish Creek / Squirrel Meadows roads · Caribou-Targhee NF road network
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general Island Park-Zone elk opportunity across the timbered plateau. Success is modest and tags are general; elk hold in timber pockets and shift toward the Yellowstone boundary and lower ground with weather and pressure.
- →Hunt timber pockets and meadow edges away from US-20 and Highway 47
- →Work the country toward the park boundary for less-pressured elk
- →Bugle and cow-call the September ridges and meadow fringes
- →Follow elk downhill after the first hard snows
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the plateau's sage openings, meadow edges and canyon rims along the Henrys Fork — a general opportunity more than a trophy target.
- →Glass sage-and-meadow edges at first and last light
- →Hunt timber-to-opening transitions on the plateau
- →Work the Henrys Fork and Warm River canyon rims
- →Watch deer shift with early snow toward lower ground
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered plateau and berry country with spring and fall opportunity. This is occupied grizzly range on Yellowstone's Bechler corner — identify your target with certainty.
- →Spring: glass green-up meadows and south-facing openings
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and berry brush fields
- →Cover ground between glassing points on the Forest road grid
- →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 Henrys Fork, Warm River and Robinson/Fish Creek willow bottoms hold good bulls.
- →If drawn, scout willow bottoms along the Henrys Fork and Warm River
- →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 US-20 and Highway 47 corridors and hunt the timber toward the park boundary to escape pressure
- →Know exactly where the Yellowstone Park line and the closed Harriman refuge are — both are off-limits
- →This is occupied grizzly range — carry bear spray and confirm any bear before shooting
- →If you draw the moose tag, focus on the Henrys Fork, Warm River and Fish Creek willow bottoms
- →Watch the weather — early snow moves elk and deer and can gate the high roads
Watch out for
- !Yellowstone National Park (Bechler) boundary is closed to hunting — know exactly where you are
- !Harriman State Park wildlife refuge within the unit is closed to hunting
- !Occupied grizzly bear range — food storage, bear spray and target ID are essential
- !Private ag and subdivision inholdings ring Ashton and the Island Park corridor
- !Early, heavy snow can gate Forest roads and strand vehicles at elevation
Logistics
Ashton on US-20 anchors the south end with fuel, groceries, lodging and processing; Island Park to the north and St. Anthony/Rexburg to the west round out resupply, with Idaho Falls the regional hub. The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway and an extensive Caribou-Targhee road grid reach most of the plateau. Expect cold nights and early snow at elevation.
Nearest towns: Ashton, Island Park, St. Anthony, Rexburg, Driggs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 62A · IDFG Island Park Zone · USFS Caribou-Targhee National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 62A in Idaho?
- Unit 62A (62A (Island Park)) covers about 245 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,300 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 62A?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private (Ashton-area and Island Park inholdings), Idaho State Parks (Harriman — closed to hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 62A?
- 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 62A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.