Quick Tips
- Carry extra spare tires, lava rock is rough on tires
- Carry a GPS with land ownership data to stay on land open to hunting
- Be willing to walk away from roads to find places that other hunters haven't
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | Little-to-none | N/A |
| Elk | Raghorn-290" | 310"+ |
| Antelope | 70"-75" | 75"+ |
On The Ground
Antelope, mule deer and elk are hunted in this area, which is mostly high desert terrain covered by sagebrush, wild grasses, junipers and lava rock in a triangle with Arco, Minidoka and Shoshone at or near the corners.
This unit produces some big mule deer. Elk numbers are kept low to minimize impacts on private farms.
Terrain
This area has corners at Shoshone, Minidoka and near Arco and is mostly high desert terrain with flats and hills. Named Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve takes up a large part of the unit and features huge lava beds with ridges, draws, pockets and caverns. Thousands of acres of farmland are at the corners, especially near Minidoka in the southeast corner and Arco in the north. Most land here is flat to rolling. Some hills and buttes are Wildhorse Butte, Big Cinder Butte and Laidlaw Butte.
Roughly 1,738 square miles
91.2% public land
Elevations from 3,500-4,500 feet
Vegetation
Sagebrush, grass, shrubs and junipers are the plants that take up this area. Vast acreages are covered with lava rock left by ancient volcanoes. Farmland takes up much of the land near Minidoka, Arco and Shoshone. Most fields are irrigated by pivot-center sprinkler systems. Other fields are irrigated or dry-farmed. Alfalfa, grass, hay and potatoes are common crops. Bitterbrush and other browse plants that deer like along with forbs, grow on the edges of fields.
Access
A large part of Unit 52A is covered by Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Parts are closed to hunting, others are open. Consult the National Park Service for updates. A network of improved and primitive roads gives good access to most of the BLM land here. Shale Butte Wilderness Study Area is closed to motor vehicles. Private land does not take away access to most public property. Hunters need landowner permission to hunt on private land, which is mostly along the western boundary and near towns such as Shoshone and Minidoka.
Four-wheel-drive is recommended on rough routes
ATVs are helpful in some areas
ATVs may be used only on roads used by full-size vehicles
Camping and Lodging
Campers may hunt almost anywhere on BLM land. Lodging is available in Arco at the Arco Inn Motel, the D K Motel and the Lost River Motel. The Shoshone-Bannock Hotel can be found in nearby Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Indian Springs Resort & RV Park in American Falls has a large hot pool. Bingham County provides RV sites and tent sites at Sportsmans Park near American Falls Reservoir.
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