Unit 67 67 (Palisades)
Steep timbered high country wrapping Palisades Reservoir — Idaho's premier Shiras moose and mountain-goat draw.
Eastern Idaho — Snake River Range & Big Hole Mountains, Bonneville County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
410
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
5,400–9,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 67 sits in far-eastern Idaho against the Wyoming line, taking in the rugged Snake River Range and Big Hole Mountains around the South Fork of the Snake and Palisades Reservoir. It is high, steep, timbered country almost entirely inside the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, which makes it a strong walk-in and horseback unit. Mule deer and a general-season elk opportunity anchor the everyday hunting, black bears are common on the green slopes, and the unit's real prizes are its coveted controlled Shiras moose and mountain-goat tags, both of which post very high success for the few who draw.
Terrain
A tangle of steep, forested ridges and deep canyons climbing from the Snake River and Palisades Reservoir shoreline near 5,600 ft to peaks approaching 10,000 ft along the Snake River Range crest on the Wyoming divide.
Cover: Douglas-fir, subalpine fir and lodgepole blanket the north slopes and high basins, with aspen, mountain maple and serviceberry on the mid-slopes; sagebrush-grass and bitterbrush open the lower south faces, and willow-lined creek bottoms and reservoir arms thread the drainages.
Landmarks: Palisades Reservoir · South Fork Snake River · Snake River Range crest · Big Hole Mountains · Palisades Creek & Lower/Upper Palisades Lakes · Garden Creek / Rainey Creek
Access
Overwhelmingly national forest, with a good trail and gated-road network branching off US-26 and Palisades Reservoir. Much of the high country is roadless and best reached on foot or horseback up the major creek drainages. Private ranchland lines the Swan Valley floor and the lower South Fork — respect boundaries and use the numerous forest trailheads to reach public ground.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, BLM, Private (Swan Valley bottoms & ranches)
Access points: Swan Valley (US-26 hub) · Palisades Creek trailhead · Rainey Creek Rd · Garden Creek · Big Elk Creek · Palisades Dam / reservoir arms
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe unit's main deer, scattered through the aspen-and-brush mid-slopes and high basins; a general-opportunity herd where covering steep ground and glassing hard pays off.
- →Glass aspen benches and open south faces at first and last light
- →Climb into the high subalpine basins for older bucks
- →Work brushy avalanche paths and burn edges
- →Still-hunt aspen pockets on quiet, damp mornings
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general-season elk opportunity in steep timbered country with the modest success typical of eastern Idaho's over-the-counter units — good numbers of elk that hold tight in the dark timber and roadless drainages.
- →Bugle and cow-call the September timber pockets
- →Hunt the roadless drainages away from ATV pressure
- →Cut fresh sign on forest roads then push the dark north slopes
- →Cover elevation as snow moves elk down the drainages
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are well distributed through the timber and brush, with both spring green-up and fall berry opportunity; color-phase bears turn up regularly in this country.
- →Spring: glass green south-facing slopes and old logging roads
- →Fall: hunt serviceberry, chokecherry and huckleberry brush
- →Watch aspen benches and creek bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Glass long — bears here range widely across the slopes
Moose
common trophyA genuine trophy Shiras moose unit and a once-in-a-lifetime controlled draw that rewards drawers with very high success; bulls hold in the willow bottoms and mixed timber of the drainages.
- →If you draw, scout willow flats, beaver ponds and creek bottoms early
- →Glass wetland edges and reservoir arms at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow — bulls bed in thick riparian brush
- →Expect a long point wait to draw this tag
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats hold on the high cliffs and crest of the Snake River Range; a highly coveted controlled tag with very high success on a small annual quota — a true trophy opportunity for the drawer.
- →If you draw, spend serious time glassing the high crest cliffs and rock bands
- →Be prepared for steep, technical, high-elevation stalks
- →Scout access to the roadless high country well before the hunt
- →Plan a physically demanding backcountry effort
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a backcountry unit — the best hunting is on foot or horseback up the roadless drainages, not off the road
- →The moose and goat tags are the crown jewels; build points and scout the willow bottoms and high crest if you draw
- →Palisades Reservoir boat access shortcuts the walk to several remote drainage mouths
- →Glass the aspen-brush mid-slopes hard for both mule deer and bears — they concentrate on the edges
- →Get above the road-hunting crowds early in the season for undisturbed elk in the dark timber
Watch out for
- !Steep, rugged, high-elevation terrain — physically demanding and weather-exposed
- !Early high-country snow can close roads and trailheads with little warning
- !Private ranchland lines the Swan Valley floor and lower South Fork — mind boundaries
- !Wyoming state line forms the eastern boundary along the crest — know where you are
- !Grizzly bears range into eastern Idaho — carry deterrent and identify your target
Logistics
US-26 runs the Swan Valley through Irwin and along Palisades Reservoir, the main corridor into the unit; Idaho Falls to the west is the full-service supply and processing hub. Forest roads and trailheads branch up Palisades, Rainey, Garden and Big Elk creeks — many gate seasonally and take snow early at elevation. Palisades and its arms offer boat access to remote drainage mouths.
Nearest towns: Swan Valley, Irwin, Idaho Falls, Ririe, Victor
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Game Management Units · USFS Caribou-Targhee National Forest — Palisades / Snake River Range · USGS The National Map — topography (Snake River Range, Palisades)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 67 in Idaho?
- Unit 67 (67 (Palisades)) covers about 410 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,400 to 9,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 67?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, BLM, Private (Swan Valley bottoms & ranches). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 67?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Moose, Mountain Goat. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 67 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.