How big is Unit 73 in Wyoming?

Unit 73 (Targhee-Alta (Area 73)) covers about 384 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for Unit 73?

Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Unit 73 Targhee-Alta (Area 73)

Rugged west slope of the Tetons — a small, backcountry elk herd on 96% national forest, hunted mostly from the Idaho side.

Teton Range (West Slope) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Bull elk standing at the edge of dark timber

Area

384

sq mi

Public land

96%

approx.

Elevation

6,000–11,100

feet

Motorized

limited

access

Overview

Hunt Area 73 covers the Wyoming west slope of the Teton Range, held almost entirely inside the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. It stretches from Wyoming Highway 22 north to the Yellowstone boundary, bordered by Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks on the east and the Idaho state line on the west. This is steep, timbered, high country home to the small Targhee elk herd, managed for recreational opportunity — a place to earn a branch-antlered bull in remote basins rather than a numbers game. It is also well-known grizzly country, and most practical access comes from the Idaho (Teton Valley) side.

Terrain

Moderate rolling forested hills near the Idaho line giving way to steep, rugged canyon-and-basin country as you climb the west face of the Tetons; timberline sits near 9,000-9,500 ft with alpine peaks above.

Cover: Lodgepole and spruce-fir forest with aspen stringers, open subalpine meadows and burns, sagebrush and grass on the lower benches, alpine tundra on the highest ridges.

Landmarks: Teton Range crest · Jedediah Smith Wilderness · Table Mountain · Teton Canyon · Darby Canyon · Alta / Teton Valley (ID) foothills

Access

No Union Pacific checkerboard in this northwest corner — the land question here is terrain, not ownership. The great majority of access reaches the unit from the Idaho (Teton Valley) side via forest roads and trailheads; the Wyoming face is a steep wilderness wall. Much of the high country is designated Jedediah Smith Wilderness (no motorized or mechanized travel). Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks on the boundary are closed to hunting.

Managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, USFS Jedediah Smith Wilderness, private ranch (valley fringe)

Access points: Teton Canyon trailhead (Alta, ID) · Darby Canyon trailhead · Caribou-Targhee NF roads out of Driggs/Victor, ID · WY Highway 22 / Teton Pass corridor on the south · backcountry trails into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness

Species notes

Rocky Mountain Elk

common quality

The small Targhee elk herd is the marquee animal — a limited but genuine chance at a mature branch-antlered bull for hunters willing to work remote basins and canyons. Numbers are modest and elk migrate off the high country as fall progresses.

→Get above the road-hunted fringe into remote basins and canyon heads
→Locate bugling bulls at first light, then still-hunt the dark timber
→Plan for a backpack or horse hunt; day hunts work only on the lower fringes
→Hunt early before migration pulls elk toward winter range and the parks
→Glass meadow parks and old burns at the timber edge morning and evening

Moose

limited quality

Shiras moose inhabit the willow bottoms, aspen and riparian draws of the west-slope drainages; a coveted, very-limited-draw resource in this country.

→Glass willow flats and beaver-pond complexes in the canyon bottoms at dawn and dusk
→Work aspen-and-conifer edges near water
→Move slowly and glass — moose hold tight in cover

Mule Deer

common opportunity

Mule deer use the aspen benches, sage foothills and open ridges of the lower west slope, thinning out into the high timber.

→Glass sage-and-aspen foothills near the Idaho line at first and last light
→Hunt open ridges and burns above the valley
→Push higher for older bucks in the rougher country

Black Bear

common opportunity

Black bears work the berry fields, burns and aspen of the west slope. This is also core grizzly-bear range — grizzlies are protected and must not be taken; correct bear identification is mandatory.

→Glass avalanche chutes, burns and berry patches in late summer and fall
→Be absolutely certain of black vs. grizzly before any shot
→Carry bear spray and hunt with grizzly precautions in place

Cougar

common opportunity

Mountain lions follow the deer and elk through the canyon and timber country; primarily a snow-tracking pursuit resource.

→Cut fresh tracks on forest roads and canyon rims after snow
→Focus on rugged timber and rimrock holding deer

Pro tips

→Plan to access from the Idaho side — the Wyoming face is a steep wilderness wall with few entry points
→Hunt early; once snow flies the elk migrate toward winter range and the closed national parks
→Be prepared to backpack or pack in with horses to reach the bulls
→This is core grizzly country — carry spray, keep a clean camp, and confirm bear ID before any shot
→Know the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and national-park boundaries cold — no motors in wilderness, no hunting in the parks
→Certified weed-free hay is required for stock on national forest land

Watch out for

!Grizzly bears throughout — protected species, mandatory precautions and careful bear identification
!Steep, rugged terrain and rapid mountain weather; timberline conditions can turn dangerous fast
!Limited public access from the Wyoming side; most entry is through Idaho
!Jedediah Smith Wilderness closed to motorized/mechanized travel
!Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks on the boundary are closed to hunting
!Fall elk migration can empty the high country early

Logistics

Practical staging is in Idaho's Teton Valley — Driggs and Victor offer fuel, lodging, groceries and gear; Alta is the tiny Wyoming community at the mouth of Teton Canyon. Jackson lies over Teton Pass (WY 22) to the southeast. Forest roads are rough and can close early with snow; cell service is spotty to nonexistent in the canyons.

Nearest towns: Driggs, ID, Victor, ID, Alta, WY, Jackson, WY, Tetonia, ID

Nearby units

Unit 72 · Berry Creek (Area 72) Unit 78 · Wilson (Area 78) Unit 75 · Snake River (Area 75) Unit 77 · National Elk Refuge (Area 77)

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Wyoming sources:

Research sources: WGFD Elk Hunting Guide · GOHUNT — Wyoming Elk Unit 73 (Targhee-Alta) Profile · WGFD 2023 Elk Hunt Area Maps

FAQ

How big is Unit 73 in Wyoming?: Unit 73 (Targhee-Alta (Area 73)) covers about 384 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in Unit 73?: Approximately 96% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Caribou-Targhee NF, USFS Jedediah Smith Wilderness, private ranch (valley fringe). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for Unit 73?: Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Wyoming agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

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