Mule deer, whitetail and elk are hunted in this unit, which borders Yellowstone National Park and features a series of forested mesas and buttes in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest northeast of Ashton.

Comparatively easy to negotiate, this unit is mostly flat to moderately steep, but elk and deer are hard to spot because of dense cover. Hunters have better success during seasons that correspond with the elk rut and the deer rut and usually harvest small bucks. Most deer tags and archery elk tags are sold over-the-counter. The limited tag late deer rifle season offers better hunting.

The southwest corner is farmland that is about 5,500 feet above sea level south of the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and near Ashton. North of the river are canyons that drain south from the Snake River Butte, dropping from 500-1,000 feet. The rest of the unit is mostly 6,000-7,500 feet above sea level and is composed of canyons, buttes and wide, timbered mesas with steep edges. Except for the southwestern corner, almost all land is managed by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Crop fields and agricultural land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program are in the southwestern corner along with river bottoms lined with willows and river birch with some junipers and aspens growing above the timber. Aspens, willows and other riparian brush line creeks flowing south from Snake River Butte can also be found here. The upper parts of those draws and the ridges between them are covered with firs and pines, while the lower ridges are flattened and grassy. The rest of the unit is mostly forested with conifers such as lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and spruces with grassy and brushy meadows and old logging areas. Marshy ground can be found in some places and has beaver ponds, muskeg and small creeks lined with willows, alders and other streamside vegetation.

Most hunters camp on national forest lands or at designated campgrounds either in a tent or RV. The Warm River and Cave Falls campgrounds are located just outside the unit boundaries, but camping is allowed in most areas of the national forest. Motels are available in St. Anthony, Ashton and Tetonia.

Except for the southwestern corner, private land is all but nonexistent and does not impede access to national forest land. A few sections of state land are scattered through the forest. Most roads follow creeks and ridges, providing access to most areas. The western half of the unit has a lot of roads, making it hard to get more than a mile from a road. The eastern half of the unit has a roadless area between Fish Creek Road and the western boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Carry a map and GPS unit to ensure that you stay out of the park if hunting that area. Another roadless area is between Fish Creek Road and the Warm River. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest has posted an Ashton-Island Park area vehicle use map on its website.