Unit 71 71 (Bannock)
The Portneuf Range above Pocatello — foothill mule deer and draw-bull elk against Fort Hall's border
Southeast Idaho — Portneuf Range, Bannock/Bingham/Caribou County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
535
sq mi
Public land
34%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–8,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 71 wraps the Portneuf Range and Portneuf Valley from Lava Hot Springs and McCammon north past Inkom toward Pocatello, with its northern tip reaching about ten miles into the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. It is a rangeland-and-dryland-ag unit at its edges with a forested spine: the Portneuf Range is the largest range in the unit and holds most of the Caribou National Forest ground. Mule deer are the headline draw, with elk hunted general-archery over-the-counter but controlled for rifle bulls. Moose here are a coveted, high-success once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag.
Terrain
Broad ag-and-sagebrush valleys flanking a timbered, north-south mountain spine. The Portneuf River corridor and Interstate 15 split the low country from the higher forest to the east and northeast of Inkom and McCammon.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass and dryland wheat on the foothills and benches, mountain mahogany and bitterbrush on the mid-slopes, and Douglas-fir, aspen and lodgepole stringers on the higher north-facing forest ground.
Landmarks: Portneuf Range · Portneuf River · Lava Hot Springs · Inkom · Chesterfield Reservoir · Fort Hall Indian Reservation boundary
Access
Roughly a third of the unit is public, but the Caribou National Forest ground on the Portneuf Range is heavily rimmed by private ranch and farm land, so legal entry to the timber is the central challenge. The northern portion lies inside the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, which is closed to non-tribal hunters. State endowment parcels are scattered and small.
Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee National Forest, BLM, IDL
Access points: Forest roads out of Inkom and McCammon into the Portneuf Range · Pebble Creek / Bonneville area east of Inkom · Lava Hot Springs area drainages · Interstate 15 corridor (Inkom, McCammon exits)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe unit's mainstay — mule deer use the sagebrush foothills, mahogany pockets and ag edges of the Portneuf Range, moving down to winter range as snow builds.
- →Glass foothill sage and mahogany benches at first and last light, especially on Forest ground backed against private
- →Work the transition between dryland wheat stubble and the mountain front at dawn
- →Later in the season push higher into Douglas-fir pockets and north-facing draws where bucks hold
- →Secure permission or find a public seam — the best deer ground often sits behind private that borders the NF
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk hold in the Portneuf Range timber and use ag ground on the fringes; archery bull is general over-the-counter while rifle bull tags are controlled. Success is modest, framing this as an opportunity hunt for the willing.
- →Archery hunters can buy over-the-counter — hunt early-season bugles in the higher fir and aspen
- →Locate elk by glassing ag/forest edges near dark, then set up on travel routes back to cover
- →Focus on the roughest, least-roaded timber where herds escape pressure
- →Rifle bull hunters must draw — scout the controlled-hunt area boundaries before applying
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears are present but thin in the Portneuf Range timber and berry pockets; harvest is very low, a bonus rather than a target.
- →Glass aspen edges, service-berry and chokecherry draws in the forested core
- →Hunt north-facing timber and creek bottoms in spring green-up
- →Cover ground and glass — densities are low, so persistence matters
Moose
limited qualityA prized once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with high success for those who draw. Moose use willow bottoms, riparian corridors and mixed timber.
- →If you draw, scout willow-lined creek bottoms and beaver ponds before the season
- →Glass forest openings and riparian stringers at dawn and dusk
- →Bulls are patternable — pre-season legwork usually seals the deal on this high-success tag
Pro tips
- →The Caribou National Forest core is ringed by private — map the legal access seams before you hunt, don't assume the timber is reachable
- →Archery elk is over-the-counter here; rifle bulls are controlled, so plan your tag strategy accordingly
- →Do not hunt the northern tip inside the Fort Hall Reservation — it is closed to non-tribal hunters
- →Glass the wheat-stubble-to-mountain-front edges at dawn for both deer and elk feeding out of the ag ground
- →A drawn moose tag here is a genuine gem — scout willow bottoms early and it usually pays off
Watch out for
- !Fort Hall Indian Reservation covers the northern portion and is closed to non-tribal hunting — know the boundary
- !Extensive private land borders the National Forest and blocks much of the direct access to the range
- !Foothill and forest two-tracks turn slick and impassable after fall storms
- !Lower dryland-ag country is largely private — respect posted boundaries and secure permission
Logistics
Pocatello is the full-service hub with lodging, gas, groceries and gear, minutes from the north end via Interstate 15. Inkom, McCammon and Lava Hot Springs offer closer fuel and basics. The I-15 corridor makes the valley easy to reach; getting off the pavement and legally into the Portneuf Range forest is where planning pays.
Nearest towns: Pocatello, Inkom, McCammon, Lava Hot Springs, Bancroft
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 71 · Caribou-Targhee National Forest — Recreation
FAQ
- How big is Unit 71 in Idaho?
- Unit 71 (71 (Bannock)) covers about 535 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 8,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 71?
- Approximately 34% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee National Forest, BLM, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 71?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
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Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.