Unit 68 68 (Big Desert)
Vast BLM sage-steppe on the Big Desert — a big-open pronghorn and mule-deer unit with a foothold of elk.
Eastern Idaho — Big Desert / Snake River Plain, Butte & Bingham Counties · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,817
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–6,500
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 68 covers a huge sweep of the Big Desert on the upper Snake River Plain, sprawling BLM sagebrush country north of the lava flows and south of the Lost River foothills. This is high-desert hunting — open, dry and expansive — where pronghorn are the signature draw across the sage flats, mule deer hold in the draws, brush and lava-edge cover, and a growing plains-elk population has made the desert an increasingly productive controlled-elk unit. Public access is excellent thanks to the immense BLM ownership, but water, distance and the closed Idaho National Laboratory to the south shape every hunt.
Terrain
Gently rolling sagebrush plain and shallow draws on the Snake River Plain, broken by basalt lava outcrops, buttes and cinder cones, rising slightly toward the northern foothills.
Cover: Big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, bitterbrush and native bunchgrass dominate, with greasewood in the swales, scattered juniper on rocky rims, and sparse cover along the lava edges and dry drainages; almost no timber.
Landmarks: Big Desert sage plain · Snake River Plain lava flows · Big Southern / East Buttes (to the south) · Craters of the Moon country (to the west) · Idaho National Laboratory (closed area, to the south)
Access
Enormous BLM landbase with an open network of desert two-tracks and county roads makes public access excellent, but the country is remote with long distances between reliable landmarks. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL/DOE Site) along the southern edge is entirely closed to public entry. Some margins are private farm and ranch ground reached off the surrounding highways.
Managers: BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, USDOE Idaho National Laboratory (closed), Private (farm/ranch on the margins)
Access points: Atomic City / US-26 (south edge) · Arco area (northwest) · Big Butte / desert road network · Blackfoot / I-15 corridor (east approach) · BLM two-tracks off the perimeter roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe defining big game of Unit 68 — pronghorn range across the open Big Desert sage flats, a classic controlled-hunt antelope unit with good bucks for those who draw.
- →Glass the open sage flats from high points and spot-and-stalk
- →Use terrain folds, draws and lava rims to close the distance
- →Set up near water sources and travel lanes in warm early seasons
- →Be ready for long shots — practice out to distance in wind
Mule Deer
common opportunityDesert mule deer hold in the brushier draws, lava-edge cover and taller sage; numbers are spread thin across the big country but the unit produces steady opportunity for hunters willing to cover ground.
- →Glass draws, swales and lava-rim cover at first and last light
- →Hunt the thicker sage and greasewood bottoms where deer bed
- →Cover lots of country by vehicle then glass on foot
- →Focus on any water and green feed in dry years
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityPlains elk have expanded onto the Big Desert and now support a controlled-elk opportunity — a distinctive desert elk hunt where bands use the open sage and lava country and can be surprisingly hard to pin down.
- →Glass at first light before elk move into cover for the day
- →Locate herds using lava outcrops and brushy draws for shade
- →Check stock water, springs and any green feed
- →Be mobile — desert elk shift long distances between feed and cover
Pro tips
- →Bring water and fuel for the whole hunt — this is remote, dry country with long distances between services
- →Optics win here: glass from high points and lava rims before you ever start walking
- →Two-tracks turn to impassable gumbo when it rains — carry recovery gear and watch the weather
- →Locate water sources ahead of time; in dry years they concentrate pronghorn, deer and elk
- →Navigate by GPS — the sage plain is disorienting with few distinct landmarks
Watch out for
- !Idaho National Laboratory (DOE Site) along the south edge is entirely closed to public access — know the boundary
- !Extremely remote and dry — no water, cell service or services across much of the interior
- !Desert roads become impassable mud when wet
- !Private farm/ranch inholdings on the margins — verify boundaries against public land maps
- !Fire danger and stubble/harvest activity on the agricultural edges early in the season
Logistics
Ring the unit from US-20/26 and Arco to the northwest, Atomic City and US-26 to the south, and the I-15 corridor through Blackfoot to the east; Idaho Falls and Blackfoot are the nearest full-service towns for fuel, supplies and processing. Interior travel is on BLM and county two-tracks that turn to greasy gumbo when wet — carry recovery gear.
Nearest towns: Arco, Atomic City, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Aberdeen
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 · BLM Idaho Falls District — Big Desert / Snake River Plain · USGS The National Map — topography (Big Desert, Snake River Plain)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 68 in Idaho?
- Unit 68 (68 (Big Desert)) covers about 1,817 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 6,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 68?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, USDOE Idaho National Laboratory (closed), Private (farm/ranch on the margins). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 68?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 68 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.