Unit 66 66 (Tex Creek)
A public-land elk factory around the Tex Creek WMA and the South Fork of the Snake — winter range that holds thousands of elk and mule deer.
Eastern Idaho — South Fork Snake River & Tex Creek (Bingham/Bonneville Counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
354
sq mi
Public land
91%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–7,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 66 stretches from the South Fork of the Snake River and Palisades country across the sage-and-aspen benches of the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area in Bingham and Bonneville Counties. It is overwhelmingly public — nearly 85% Caribou-Targhee National Forest — with the Tex Creek WMA serving as critical terminal winter range where upwards of 4,000 elk and 3,000 mule deer concentrate once snow flies. Elk are the headline here with strong harvest in the controlled Tex Creek Zone, mule deer are a general opportunity, black bears work the timber and brush, and Shiras moose are a high-success once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Terrain
The South Fork Snake River canyon and Palisades Reservoir edge (near 5,000 ft) rising into rolling sage, grass and aspen benches and timbered ridges of the Tex Creek country, topping out around 7,000+ ft.
Cover: River-bottom cottonwood and willow along the South Fork, sweeping sagebrush, bitterbrush and grassland benches, aspen pockets and stands of Douglas-fir and lodgepole on the higher north slopes and ridges.
Landmarks: South Fork of the Snake River · Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area · Palisades Reservoir · Fall Creek · Skyline Ridge · Grays Lake Outlet
Access
Nearly all public — about 85% Caribou-Targhee National Forest plus the IDFG Tex Creek WMA and Bureau of Reclamation ground around Palisades. No designated wilderness, so motorized travel is broadly permitted on open roads. Critically, from about December 1 to April 15 most county roads across the Tex Creek WMA winter range are closed to protect wintering elk, deer and moose — plan hunts before the closures.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, IDFG Tex Creek WMA, Bureau of Reclamation, State of Idaho, Private
Access points: Fall Creek Rd · Skyline Ridge Rd · Tex Creek WMA access roads · McCoy Creek Rd · Palisades / South Fork boat and bank access
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe signature draw — the Tex Creek Zone holds large numbers of elk and produces strong harvest, with the WMA acting as major winter range. Tags are controlled, rewarding those who draw with quality bull opportunity.
- →Glass the vast sage-and-aspen benches at dawn where elk feed before bedding in timber
- →Work aspen stringers and north-slope Douglas-fir pockets midday
- →Bugle the September ridges, then hunt travel between feed and cover
- →Chase migrating herds as early storms push elk toward winter range
Mule Deer
common qualityThousands of mule deer winter on the Tex Creek WMA; a solid general-season opportunity across the sage benches and brushy draws, with mature bucks around during the migration.
- →Glass sagebrush and bitterbrush benches at first and last light
- →Hunt the maple, chokecherry and serviceberry draws that hold bucks
- →Time late hunts to intercept deer migrating to winter range
- →Cover open country with good optics
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA secondary presence in the cottonwood and willow bottoms of the South Fork Snake River, well outnumbered by mule deer.
- →Hunt the South Fork river-bottom timber and edges
- →Focus the November rut in the riparian corridor
- →Watch field and brush edges at last light
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the aspen, brush fields and timbered draws; spring green-up and fall berry seasons offer opportunity.
- →Spring: glass green south-facing slopes and old burns
- →Fall: hunt chokecherry, serviceberry and aspen brush
- →Watch for cinnamon color-phase bears
- →Still-hunt timbered draws on quiet mornings
Moose
limited trophyShiras moose are a once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with very high success; bulls hold in the willow bottoms and riparian corridors along the South Fork and creek drainages.
- →If you draw, scout willow flats and beaver ponds early
- →Glass riparian edges at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow through thick brush where bulls hold
- →Expect a long point wait to draw
Pro tips
- →This is an elk unit first — glass the open benches at dawn and dusk and hunt the timber transitions
- →Plan around the December 1-April 15 Tex Creek WMA road closures; late hunts can lose access fast
- →Nearly all public land makes this a rare high-access controlled elk opportunity — draw odds are the gate
- →Migration timing is everything; early snow dramatically improves both elk and deer hunting
- →Bring water and shade strategy for early hunts — the sage benches are hot and exposed
Watch out for
- !Tex Creek WMA county roads close roughly December 1-April 15 to protect wintering game
- !Exposed benches offer little water or shade early season — plan accordingly
- !High archery-season pressure on a popular, accessible unit
- !Scattered private inholdings near the South Fork and valley edges — verify boundaries
- !Fast fall weather swings from hot to snow
Logistics
US-26 runs the South Fork corridor toward Swan Valley and Palisades; Idaho Falls to the west is the major supply, fuel, lodging and processing hub. Access into Tex Creek comes off Fall Creek and Skyline Ridge roads and the WMA's own road network — but remember the winter-range road closures that shut most of the country from early December.
Nearest towns: Idaho Falls, Ririe, Swan Valley, Iona, Ammon
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 66 · IDFG Tex Creek WMA · IDFG Tex Creek Zone — Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 66 in Idaho?
- Unit 66 (66 (Tex Creek)) covers about 354 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 7,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 66?
- Approximately 91% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, IDFG Tex Creek WMA, Bureau of Reclamation, State of Idaho, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 66?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 66 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.