Idaho GMU 68
Strategic hunting data, boundary maps, and published IDFG season dates for Game Management Unit 68.
Unit 68 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 68 (GMU 68) is in the Big Desert Elk Zone. Season records in this guide list Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, White-tailed Deer. This unit features open sagebrush steppe, where stalking prowess and early morning glassing are critical. About 63.6% of Unit 68 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.
Listed agency shares total 93.44%; 6.56% is not itemized in this breakdown.
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 68 records is Apr 15. Each species, tag, weapon, and hunt area has its own dates and restrictions below.
EElk Seasons
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlerless or AntleredSeason Dates
- GeneralArcheryGeneral A TagAntlerless or Antlered · Area Units 52A and 68Season Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt AntlerlessAntlerless · Hunt 2106 · 125 permitsSeason Dates
- GeneralAny WeaponGeneral B TagAntlerless · Area Units 52A and 68Season 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
- ControlledMuzzleloaderControlled Hunt MuzzleloaderAntlered · Hunt 1095 · 20 permitsSeason Dates
PPronghorn Antelope Seasons
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt ArcheryBucks Only · Hunt 4041 · 20 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledArcheryControlled Hunt ArcheryBucks Only · Hunt 4042 · 75 permitsSeason Dates
- ControlledAny WeaponControlled Hunt Either SexAntlerless or Antlered · Hunt 4023 · 25 permitsSeason Dates
Harvest Trends & Success
Harvest statistics for Unit 68
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 68 Boundary
Those portions of BINGHAM, BLAINE, BUTTE, CASSIA, MINIDOKA, and POWER COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning at Arco, then southeast on U.S. 26 to Blackfoot, then southwest on State Highway 39 to American Falls, then southwest on Interstate 86 to the Cassia-Power County line east of Raft River, then north along the Cassia-Power county line to the north bank of the Snake River, then northwest along the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge northern boundary to the Minidoka-Blaine County line, then north along the Minidoka-Blaine County line to East Minidoka Road, then east on East Minidoka Road approximately one (1) mile to Arco-Minidoka Road, then north on Minidoka-Arco Road to U.S. 93 approximately two (2) miles southwest of Arco, then northeast approximately two (2) miles on U.S. 93 to the point of beginning.
Big Desert Zone Context
Eastern Idaho — INL/BLM
The Big Desert zone groups Units 52A, 53, 68, and 68A. Idaho National Laboratory is a separate access consideration in this part of Idaho. A zone map does not grant entry to restricted federal property or establish that a road crosses it legally.
Choose fuel and supply stops after identifying your unit and approach. Check the legal hunt-area description, current INL access information, and the road route before scouting near restricted land.
See all units in the Big Desert ZoneCommon Questions About Unit 68
Where is Idaho GMU 68?
Unit 68 sits in the Big Desert Elk Zone. The landscape is predominantly high desert/basin, requiring appropriate gear and preparation.
What species can I hunt in Unit 68?
Unit 68 season records list Black Bear, Elk, Mule Deer. Confirm current dates and weapon legality with Idaho Fish and Game before applying or buying tags.
Are offline maps useful in GMU 68?
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 68 mostly public land?
Unit 68 is approximately 63.6% public (mixed public/private). Public-land share is not parcel-level access permission; verify ownership boundaries, legal routes, and closures before entering.
Other Units in the Big Desert Zone
Before hunting Unit 68
- 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 68. 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.