Unit 65 65 (Palisades)
Big Hole Mountain benches and Teton River farmland on the back side of the Tetons — a trophy-caliber but heavily private deer and elk unit.
Eastern Idaho — Teton Basin & Big Hole Mountains (Bonneville/Madison/Teton Counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
224
sq mi
Public land
28%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–9,015
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 65 wraps the Teton River Basin and the timbered Big Hole Mountains west of the Teton Range, running from Tetonia and Driggs south to Victor along the Wyoming line. Rolling grain, potato and alfalfa fields and willowy river bottoms fill the valley floor, rising into steep, wooded canyons and open glassable peaks toward Garns Mountain. The unit is famous for producing quality mule deer, but roughly three-quarters of it is private ground, so success hinges on working the Targhee National Forest edges or securing permission. Elk are a capped Palisades-Zone opportunity, black bears use the timbered canyons, and Shiras moose are a coveted once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Terrain
A broad agricultural valley around the Teton River (near 6,000 ft) flanked by the steep, canyon-cut Big Hole Mountains to the west rising to Garns Mountain (9,015 ft) and the Teton foothills to the east.
Cover: Valley floor of irrigated grain, potato and alfalfa fields with dense willow and cottonwood riparian along the Teton River; slopes climb through aspen, maple and conifer into lodgepole and subalpine fir, with open grassy and rocky peaks up high.
Landmarks: Teton River & Teton Basin · Big Hole Mountains · Garns Mountain (9,015 ft) · Red Mountain / Pine Creek Pass · Grandview Point · Teton Range foothills
Access
Roughly 72% private valley farmland with about 24% Targhee National Forest concentrated in the Big Hole Mountains and eastern foothills. Foot and horseback access is good on Forest trails that begin at the boundary; the valley floor and much of the ground east of Highway 33 toward the Wyoming line is private with limited access. No designated wilderness and no Access Yes! properties.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF (Targhee), Private agriculture & timber, BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL)
Access points: Cedron-Bates Rd · Horseshoe Canyon Rd · Milk Creek Rd / Grandview Point · Pine Creek Pass (Hwy 31) · Trailheads off the Targhee NF boundary
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's marquee species — Teton-region mule deer can grow into genuine trophies, but numbers and access are limited and much of the herd migrates. General-season opportunity where you can find public ground or permission.
- →Glass the open, easy-to-see high peaks of the Big Hole Mountains at first and last light
- →Hunt the Forest edges above private ag before deer slip onto posted ground
- →Time late seasons to catch migrating bucks dropping into the basin
- →Cover country on foot or horseback into the canyon heads
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA capped Palisades-Zone elk opportunity with modest success; elk hold in the timbered Big Hole canyons and shuttle between Forest cover and private ag.
- →Work the dark timber and canyon heads of the Big Hole Mountains
- →Bugle and cow-call the September aspen ridges
- →Watch field-edge travel between forest and farmland at dawn/dusk
- →Get behind gates and away from the road-accessible fringe
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA secondary presence in the willow and cottonwood bottoms of the Teton River, far less common than mule deer and mostly on private valley land.
- →Hunt riparian edges along the Teton River bottoms
- →Focus the November rut where you have river-bottom access
- →Glass field edges near cover at last light
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered canyons and berry slopes of the Big Hole Mountains; a spring green-up and fall berry opportunity.
- →Spring: glass south-facing green-up slopes and old logging cuts
- →Fall: hunt serviceberry, chokecherry and aspen draws
- →Watch for color-phase bears
- →Cover ground glassing open avalanche and burn chutes
Moose
limited trophyShiras moose are a once-in-a-lifetime controlled draw with very high success for the few who pull a tag; bulls hold in the willow bottoms and riparian corridors.
- →If you draw, scout willow flats and beaver ponds along the Teton River early
- →Glass wetland edges at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow — bulls stay in thick brush
- →Expect a long point wait to draw
Pro tips
- →This is a private-heavy unit — line up landowner permission or commit to hunting the Targhee NF benches before the season
- →The high Big Hole peaks are open and glassable; use optics hard rather than still-hunting the timber
- →Late-season snow and migration is the great equalizer for both deer and elk here
- →Elk are capped in the Palisades Zone — check controlled/capped framing before planning
- →Apply early for the once-in-a-lifetime moose tag — success is high once drawn
Watch out for
- !About 72% of the unit is private ag and timber — respect posted ground and get permission
- !Access east of Highway 33 toward the Wyoming line is very limited
- !Upper Big Hole roads and trails close fast with early snow
- !Fast-developing mountain weather at elevation — be prepared for cold and snow
- !Heavy nonresident and local pressure near the popular Teton Basin
Logistics
Highways 33 and 31 serve the Teton Basin through Driggs and Victor, both with fuel, lodging, groceries and outfitters. Rexburg and Idaho Falls to the west are the larger supply and processing hubs. Forest access comes off the boundary via Cedron-Bates, Horseshoe Canyon and Milk Creek roads; the valley floor is a checkerboard of private farms.
Nearest towns: Driggs, Victor, Tetonia, Rexburg, Idaho Falls
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 65 · IDFG Palisades Zone — Hunt Planner · USFS Caribou-Targhee NF — Hunting, Fishing & Shooting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 65 in Idaho?
- Unit 65 (65 (Palisades)) covers about 224 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 9,015 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 65?
- Approximately 28% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF (Targhee), Private agriculture & timber, BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 65?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail 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 65 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.