Unit 63 63 (Snake River)
Big, open sage-desert unit between Blackfoot and Dubois where pronghorn are the headline game.
Eastern Idaho — Snake River Plain / INL desert (Bingham/Bonneville/Jefferson/Butte/Clark County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,007
sq mi
Public land
28%
approx.
Elevation
4,400–6,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 63 is a sprawling ~2,000-square-mile block of the upper Snake River Plain, framed by I-15 on the east from Blackfoot to Dubois and U.S. 20-26 on the south. It is high-desert rangeland and irrigated farm ground with no National Forest and no timbered mountains, so pronghorn dominate the hunting and carry a strong ~55% success rate. Mule deer scratch out modest numbers on the buttes and river breaks, and a single controlled moose tag rounds out the big game. Much of the interior is the Idaho National Laboratory (Department of Energy) desert, which is closed to public hunting, so plan around BLM and state ground.
Terrain
Flat to gently rolling Snake River Plain sage-steppe broken by scattered volcanic buttes and lava outcrops, sloping up toward the northern I-15 corridor near Dubois. Wide, dry, exposed country with little relief.
Cover: Sagebrush-bunchgrass rangeland (about 60%) with large blocks of irrigated potato, grain and hay ground; thin riparian willow and cottonwood along canals and the few drainages; rocky lava desert in the INL core.
Landmarks: Idaho National Laboratory (INL) desert · Camas National Wildlife Refuge (closed to hunting) · Big Southern / East / Middle Buttes · I-15 corridor (Blackfoot to Dubois) · Mud Lake / Market Lake vicinity
Access
Roughly 21% BLM and 7% state land make up the huntable public ground; another ~36% is the Department of Energy INL reservation, which is closed to public hunting, and ~36% is private farm and ranch. Verify boundaries carefully — public and private are heavily interlaced across the plain.
Managers: BLM, IDL endowment, U.S. Department of Energy (INL — closed to hunting), private farm/ranch
Access points: BLM two-tracks off I-15 frontage roads · State Highway 22 / 33 approaches near Mud Lake · U.S. 20-26 access on the south boundary · County farm roads (respect posted private ground)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn are the marquee animal here, with a controlled hunt posting a strong ~55% success on roughly 100 animals across the open sage plain — a classic glass-and-stalk speed-goat unit.
- →Glass wide from vehicle-accessible high points and buttes at first light
- →Use terrain folds and canals to close the final stalk on open flats
- →Watch water sources and green alfalfa edges midday in warm weather
- →Apply for the controlled tag well ahead of the deadline
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer are secondary in this farm-and-sage country, producing a modest ~16% success on about 50 deer; bucks concentrate on the buttes, breaks and ag edges rather than open desert.
- →Focus on volcanic buttes and drainage breaks that offer cover
- →Glass alfalfa and grain edges at dawn and dusk
- →Still-hunt the few brushy riparian stringers along canals
Moose
limited trophyA very small controlled moose allotment produces near-total success (one bull taken) from the willow bottoms and riparian pockets — a rare, once-in-a-lifetime draw tag.
- →Draw the controlled tag, then scout willow and canal bottoms
- →Glass wetland edges near Mud Lake / Market Lake type habitat at first light
- →Be patient — animal numbers are low and dispersed
Pro tips
- →This is a pronghorn-first unit — prioritize the antelope draw over deer or elk
- →Steer clear of the INL reservation and Camas NWR; both are closed to hunting
- →Bring optics and a spotting scope — success is a glassing game on open ground
- →Scout BLM parcels ahead of time; public and private checkerboard tightly
- →Carry ample water and sun protection — there is almost no natural shade
Watch out for
- !Idaho National Laboratory (DOE) desert is closed to public hunting
- !Camas National Wildlife Refuge is closed to hunting
- !Extensive private irrigated farmland — verify access and posting
- !Little water, shade or cover; heat and exposure are real hazards
- !Elk opportunity is very limited since Unit 63 left the general elk hunt
Logistics
Idaho Falls and Blackfoot offer full services, lodging and fuel on the I-15 corridor; Mud Lake and Dubois cover the north end. This is car-and-truck country with good road access, but water and shade are scarce — carry everything and expect heat early in the season.
Nearest towns: Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Dubois, Mud Lake, Terreton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 63 · IDFG — Unit 63 no longer part of Snake River Zone general elk tag · BLM Idaho — public lands
FAQ
- How big is Unit 63 in Idaho?
- Unit 63 (63 (Snake River)) covers about 2,007 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,400 to 6,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 63?
- Approximately 28% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, IDL endowment, U.S. Department of Energy (INL — closed to hunting), private farm/ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 63?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 63 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.