Unit 77 77 (Bear River)
West-slope Bear River Range above the farm valleys of Franklin County — a general mule deer and elk unit in the Bear River Zone.
Southeast Idaho — Franklin County (Bear River Range / Preston) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
267
sq mi
Public land
47%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 77 covers the Franklin County high country above Preston, running from the Idaho-Utah state line north to the Cleveland Bridge and the Franklin-Bear Lake county line. The forested spine of the Bear River Range rises east of the Cache and Cub River valleys on the Caribou-Targhee (Montpelier/Franklin) National Forest, with irrigated farm ground filling the bottoms. Mule deer lead the harvest as a general-season opportunity, with scattered elk in the Bear River Elk Zone (shared with Units 75 and 78), a small black bear presence, and a rare controlled moose hunt. Much of the low country is private, so access planning matters.
Terrain
Timbered Bear River Range ridges and steep canyons climb east from the Bear River and Cub River valleys, giving way to aspen benches, subalpine fir, and open sage parks along the crest.
Cover: About 41% forest (aspen, Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, maple-brush) and 37% rangeland sagebrush-bunchgrass, with roughly a fifth of the unit in irrigated farm ground in the valleys.
Landmarks: Bear River Range · Cub River drainage · Cherry Creek · Mink Creek · Franklin Basin · Bear River
Access
About 47% public — USFS makes up nearly all of it (~42%), concentrated on the Bear River Range high ground, while the valleys are ~53% private farm and ranch land. Forest roads climb the range from the Cub River, Cherry Creek, and Mink Creek drainages out of Preston and Franklin. Expect to cross or skirt private to reach some public, and note the Franklin Basin road connecting to Utah.
Managers: Caribou-Targhee NF (USFS), BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL)
Access points: Cub River Road from Preston/Franklin · Cherry Creek Road · Mink Creek Road · Franklin Basin Road · State Highway 34
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe headline species and a general-season opportunity hunt with the unit's largest harvest. Deer hold on the forested benches and canyon edges of the Bear River Range; success is modest, rewarding hunters who scout and cover country.
- →Glass aspen and maple-brush edges above the farm valleys at first and last light
- →Hunt higher in warm early season, then work down the Cub River and Cherry Creek canyons as snow builds
- →Still-hunt aspen and mahogany pockets during the late-October rut
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityPart of the Bear River Elk Zone (Units 75/77/78). Scattered elk use the timbered high country; success is low, but persistent hunters who work the dark timber and forest edges can connect on general opportunity.
- →Locate elk in the aspen and fir stringers along the Bear River Range crest, then still-hunt the timber
- →Hunt dawn and dusk on the forest-farm and forest-sage edges where elk feed
- →Push into steep, roadless canyon heads away from valley pressure
Black Bear
limited opportunityA modest black bear presence in the forested range, with light harvest — an incidental or spring/fall opportunity rather than a primary draw.
- →Glass green avalanche chutes, aspen, and maple-brush benches in spring and early fall
- →Hunt chokecherry and serviceberry pockets as fruit ripens
- →Work forest edges and old cuts at first and last light
Moose
limited qualityA very small controlled-hunt opportunity — only a handful of tags but strong success (around 75%) for those who draw. Bulls use the wetter drainages and aspen-willow bottoms of the Bear River Range.
- →Hunt willow bottoms, beaver ponds, and mountain meadows in the Cub River and upper drainages
- →Scout forage and water before the hunt to pin down bulls
- →Work aspen stringers on cool mornings when moose feed in the open
Pro tips
- →This is a general-season opportunity unit for average mule deer — hunt hard and cover ground rather than expecting trophy country.
- →Public is concentrated on the Bear River Range high ground; the valleys are majority private — map ownership before you hunt.
- →Access the range through the Cub River, Cherry Creek, and Mink Creek drainages out of Preston and Franklin.
- →Elk are part of the multi-unit Bear River Zone (75/77/78) — know the zone tag structure before you hunt.
- →Late season, focus the forest-farm edges where deer stage before dropping to valley winter range.
Watch out for
- !Roughly 53% private in the valleys — trespass risk is real; carry a current ownership map and secure permission where needed.
- !Early snow can close the upper Bear River Range forest roads.
- !The Franklin Basin road crosses into Utah — know which state you're hunting and its license/rules.
- !Heavy agricultural private ground fragments access to some public parcels.
Logistics
Preston is the full-service hub (fuel, lodging, licenses, groceries) on U.S. 91; Franklin and the smaller valley towns offer limited supplies close to the range. Caribou-Targhee National Forest access and campgrounds sit up the Cub River and Cherry Creek drainages, with the Franklin Basin road linking to Utah's Cache country.
Nearest towns: Preston, Franklin, Weston, Dayton, Clifton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 77 (ownership %, habitat %, boundary, species) · IDFG Bear River Elk Zone (Units 75/77/78) description
FAQ
- How big is Unit 77 in Idaho?
- Unit 77 (77 (Bear River)) covers about 267 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 77?
- Approximately 47% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Caribou-Targhee NF (USFS), BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 77?
- 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.
Put Unit 77 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.