Hunters discussing Idaho's Unit 66A provide a mix of perspectives on the area's challenges and opportunities. The terrain is physically demanding, similar to Unit 76, and hunting pressure during peak seasons can be high, especially during archery season. Concerns arise over limited deer populations, with some suggesting the unit is poor for deer hunting and proposing closure for recovery. Despite its challenges, Unit 66A offers scenic beauty and varied wildlife, with some successfully spotting elk and moose, underscoring the importance of detailed scouting and possibly considering alternative hunting methods like hound hunting for bears, given their low reported numbers.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 300"-330" | 330"+ |
High
Low
Between Palisades Reservoir and Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge, this eastern Idaho area has good numbers of elk and some mule deer. Buck tags are sold over the counter. Elk tags are limited and are issued by lottery to rifle hunters and are on a first-come first-served basis to archers.
A good place for hunting mature bull elk, which are protected from overhunting by a limit on the number of tags that are issued yearly. Mule deer can sometimes reach record book size. Elk archery tags are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bordering Palisades Reservoir south of McCoy Creek and near Wyoming down to Freedom, this unit includes some high mountains and the drainages off the peaks. Caribou Mountain rises above the marshes of the Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge at about 6,800 feet in elevation. The mountains are almost entirely inside Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
Road access to the national forest can be found at Jackknife Creek west of Etna, Wyoming off Highway 34. The McCoy Creek Road, the northern boundary, and the Grays Lake Road east of Grays Lake. Interior trails are closed to motor vehicles.
Spruces, firs and pines cover a lot of the mountains along with large aspen groves. Most basins and meadows are grassy. Lower elevations have a lot of bigtooth maple brush, chokecherries, serviceberries and scattered junipers with sagebrush and grassy meadows. The Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is mostly covered in cattails and bulrushes with willows and other brush growing on high points and along streams.
Some hunters camp along the McCoy Creek Road, Jackknife Creek Road or Highway 34, where several flat places are good for tent or trailer camping. Backcountry hunters can camp almost anywhere. No Forest Service campgrounds are in the unit, but hunters can use the Alpine Campground on the eastern side of Palisades Reservoir before the campground closes on September 12. Calamity Campground in bordering Unit 66 on the west side of the reservoir has a loop that remains open with campsites that have no services. Lodging is available in Thayne, Wyoming, which is about 10 minutes from Unit 66A. Thayne lodging options include:
Roughly 268 square miles
70.8% public land
Elevations from 5,700-8,900 feet
ATVs can only be used on roads that full-size vehicles use
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended
Note where you park with a GPS
Dutch Oven Inn
Snider's Rustic Inn
Wolf Den
Star Valley Ranch RV Park
Cabin Creek Inn