Loading intel...
Idaho
Unit 61.
Planning guide for Game Management Unit 61, with sourced terrain, public-land percentages, published schedules, and links to the connected Pro map.
Boundary Map Locked
Pro includes the interactive GMU map, BLM surface-management context, terrain tools, and current wildfire overlays for Unit 61.
See Pro pricingTerrainHigh Desert/Basin
OwnershipLand breakdown unavailable
Access DifficultySee IDFG
Key SpeciesBlack Bear
Season TypeGeneral & Controlled
ZoneIsland Park
Unit 61 Overview
Idaho Game Management Unit 61 (GMU 61) is a premier hunting destination located in the Island Park Elk Zone. Home to Black Bear, Deer, Elk, Gray Wolf, Mountain Lion, White-tailed Deer, this unit features open sagebrush steppe, where stalking prowess and early morning glassing are critical. Public-land breakdown for Unit 61 is not yet integrated into our database — verify acreage with Idaho Fish and Game's Hunt Planner before scouting.
2026 Regular Schedule
Official Regulation Feed
Species
Weapon
Tag
Dates
Deer
Any Weapon • Regular Deer Tag
Any Weapon
Regular Deer Tag
Oct 10 - Oct 24
Deer
Archery • Regular Deer Tag
Archery
Regular Deer Tag
Aug 30 - Sep 30
White-tailed Deer
Any Weapon • White-tailed Deer Tag
Any Weapon
White-tailed Deer Tag
Oct 10 - Oct 31
White-tailed Deer
Any Weapon • White-tailed Deer Tag
Any Weapon
White-tailed Deer Tag
Nov 10 - Dec 9
White-tailed Deer
Any Weapon • White-tailed Deer Tag
Any Weapon
White-tailed Deer Tag
Oct 10 - Oct 31
White-tailed Deer
Any Weapon • White-tailed Deer Tag
Any Weapon
White-tailed Deer Tag
Nov 10 - Dec 9
White-tailed Deer
Archery • White-tailed Deer Tag
Archery
White-tailed Deer Tag
Aug 30 - Sep 30
Elk
Archery • A Tag
Archery
A Tag
Aug 30 - Sep 30
Elk
Muzzleloader • A Tag
Muzzleloader
A Tag
Nov 15 - Dec 9
Black Bear
Any Weapon • General
Any Weapon
General
Aug 30 - Oct 31
Black Bear
Any Weapon • General
Any Weapon
General
Apr 15 - June 30
Mountain Lion
Any Weapon • General
Any Weapon
General
July 1 - June 30
Gray Wolf
Any Weapon • General
Any Weapon
General
July 1 - June 30
Gray Wolf
Trapping • General
Trapping
General
Dec 1 - Feb 28
Prepare for the Hunt
Success in Unit 61 requires understanding the high desert/basin terrain and public land boundaries. Use Roam Idaho for connected trip planning, then carry an official offline map before leaving service.
- GMU Boundary Overlay
- BLM Surface-management Context
- Current Wildfire Overlay
- Slope, Road, and Wind Tools
Common Questions
Where is Unit 61?
Located in the Island Park Zone with high desert/basin terrain.
Is it public land?
Unit 61 is approximately 82.4% public. See full breakdown below.
Land Ownership
USFS70.88%
Private17.4%
State5.72%
BLM4.98%
Other0.86%
Source: IDFG Hunt Planner · Inside Idaho
Unit 61 Boundary
Those portions of CLARK and FREMONT COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning at the junction of Old Highway 91 and Interstate 15 (at Spencer), then east to and then east on Spencer-Kilgore Road to Idmon, then east on old (south) Shotgun Valley Road to U.S. 191, then south on U.S. 191 to State Highway 47, then southeast on State Highway 47 to North Hatchery Butte Road, then east on North Hatchery Butte Road to Pineview, then north on Pineview-Island Park Road to Baker Draw-Black Mountain Springs Road, then east on Baker Draw-Black Mountain Springs Road to Fish Creek Road, then south on Fish Creek Road to the North Fork of Partridge Creek, then upstream to the Yellowstone Park boundary, then north along the Yellowstone Park boundary to the Idaho-Montana State line, then west to Monida Pass, then south on Interstate 15 to the point of beginning.
Island Park Zone Context
Eastern Idaho — Yellowstone Plateau
Island Park sits in the Henrys Fork caldera on the western edge of Yellowstone, with rolling lodgepole timber, vast meadow systems, and grizzly-country protocols. Elk move heavily between Yellowstone's western boundary and the Targhee, making this one of Idaho's most pressured but high-density zones during the rut.
Roads stay drivable from June through October. Bear-aware camping, secure food storage, and bear spray are standard. Rexburg, Ashton, and Island Park itself are the practical staging towns.
See all units in the Island Park ZonePlanning
Primary Region
Upper Snake / Island Park
Nearest Supplies
Hunters typically basecamp or resupply in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Driggs.
Climate Outlook
Continental climate. Yellowstone-adjacent ecosystem with grizzly presence.
Authorities
Always verify regulations with official government entities before heading into the backcountry.
Explore Island Park Zone Units
Season dates and tag rules sourced from Idaho Fish and Game proclamations. Original IDFG entry for Unit 61: view source.