Idaho GMU 65
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 65.
Unit 65 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 65 (GMU 65) is in the Palisades Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer. This unit features open sagebrush steppe, where stalking prowess and early morning glassing are critical. About 28% of Unit 65 is mapped as public land. This is not parcel-level access authorization; verify boundaries, closures, and legal access before entering.
Landscape Analysis
Surface Management
Agency shares from IDFG Hunt Planner; this is not parcel-level access authorization.
2026 season dates, from Idaho Fish and Game
Pulled from the IDFG Hunt Planner API (2026). Idaho re-issues seasons each year and corrects its own systems between editions, so Idaho Fish and Game remains the sole authority for legal dates, tags and restrictions. Confirm before you hunt.
Check the IDFG Hunt PlannerPublished Season Schedule
The earliest opening in our Unit 65 records is Apr 15. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlerless or Antlered · Area Units 64, 65, 67Season Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlered · Area Units 64, 65, 67Season Dates
WWhite-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
BBlack Bear Seasons
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponEither-sexSeason Dates
- GeneralDog TrainingGeneral Any WeaponEither-sexSeason Dates
MMule and White-tailed Deer Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral ArcheryAntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral Any WeaponAntleredSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 65
Seven seasons of hunter counts, harvest totals and success rates, broken out by weapon — straight from Idaho Fish and Game.
Controlled Hunt Draw Odds
Draw odds for every hunt in this unit
Resident and nonresident draw odds, permits offered, and applicant counts for the 2026 Idaho controlled hunt drawings.
Unit 65 Boundary
Those portions of BONNEVILLE, MADISON, and TETON COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning on Leigh Creek Road at the Idaho-Wyoming State line east of Tetonia, west to State Highway 33, then west on State Highway 33 to Milk Creek Road, then south on Milk Creek Road to Grandview Point, then south along the watershed divide between Canyon Creek and Teton River to Garns Mountain, then southeast along the watershed divide between Pine Creek and Teton River over Red Mountain to Pine Creek Pass, then east on State Highway 31 to Victor, then southeast on State Highway 33 to the state line, then north to the point of beginning.
Palisades Zone Context
Eastern Idaho — Palisades Reservoir
The Palisades zone groups Units 64, 65, and 67 in eastern Idaho. Reservoir and mountain place names are useful planning landmarks, but the individual unit boundary and hunt-area description determine where an elk tag can be used.
Consider Driggs, Victor, or Swan Valley when arranging supplies, according to your approach. Review current bear precautions, road closures, and the state boundary if your travel plan reaches Wyoming.
See all units in the Palisades ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 65
Where is Idaho GMU 65?
Unit 65 sits in the Palisades Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly high desert/basin, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 65?
Unit 65 season records list Black Bear, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer, Elk. Confirm current dates and weapon legality with Idaho Fish and Game before applying or buying tags.
Are offline maps useful in GMU 65?
Plan for gaps in cell service. Roam Idaho's current web map requires a connection, so download an official offline map or carry a paper map before entering the field.
Is Unit 65 mostly public land?
Unit 65 is approximately 28% public (mostly private). Public-land share is not parcel-level access permission; verify ownership boundaries, legal routes, and closures before entering.
Other Units in the Palisades Zone
Before hunting Unit 65
- Compare Idaho season and tag planning information against the specific hunt number and species you intend to pursue.
- Review public-land access and land-manager resources to check entry routes, road restrictions, and closures.
- Use the backcountry hunting preparation guide to plan navigation, weather protection, and the trip back out.
Terrain Breakdown
Included with Roam Pro — $3/month, 7-day free trial.
Land Access
Species associated with Unit 65. Open a guide for habitat, timing, and regulation context.
Field Reminder
Use this page and the connected map for planning, then carry an official offline map and confirm current seasons, closures, and access before heading out.