Quick Tips
- GPS with land ownership memory cards are recommended
- Rifle hunters are guaranteed a buck tag if they apply
- Private lands block easy access to some public mountains
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 260"-300" | 300"+ |
On The Ground
Largely private, this area has big numbers of mule deer and decent numbers of elk on a few narrow mountain ranges near Malad and west of Downey. Rifle bull tags are limited and available only through the annual drawing. Archery tags are sold over the counter.
Mule deer thrive in this unit and are recovering from drought, severe winters, predation, overhunting and other factors. Elk hunters can buy archery tags over-the-counter or draw rifle tags.
Terrain
Bordering Utah, this area consists of the mountains on both sides of Malad, including the Malad Range and the Samaria Mountains, and the southern part of the Bannock Range up to about Arimo. There is also the Pleasantview Hills west of Daniels Reservoir, the North Hansel Mountains near Utah, the valley around the Daniels Reservoir, parts of March and Arbon valleys, and the farm lands and foothills around Dayton, Weston, Clifton and Oxford. Some peaks, including Elkhorn Ridge and Oxford Peak are rugged and have cliff faces. A lot of the mountains are steep, rising several thousand feet above the valleys, which lie mostly at elevations ranging from about 4,600 to 5,500 feet. Most valley land is private and divided into farm fields and cattle pastures with some large meadows and marshes in certain places.
Roughly 1,238 square miles
36.2% public land
Elevations from 4,800-9,300 feet
Vegetation
Low country is mostly made up of agricultural land separated by draws and washes full of sagebrush and grass with willows and brush along some creeks. Most fields are rectangular, some of them in the Conservation Reserve Program, others in dry farm grain and others in irrigated hay. Some foothills are covered in sagebrush and maple brush with juniper woodlands and patches of aspens. Mountains are mostly open on western and southern exposures and timbered or heavily brushed on north and east exposures. Firs, pines, spruces and aspens grow in the mountains. Serviceberry, snowberry, chokecherry, bitterbrush, elderberry and sagebrush are the main browse plants. Dense bigtooth maple brush gives cover for deer and elk.
Access
Hunters can get within a short hike of most public land on public access roads. Parts of the unit are far enough from roads to discourage most hunters, offering an opportunity for hunters who don’t mind hiking 2-4 miles. It’s hard to get more than a mile from roads in the Pleasantview Hills with routes up almost every big canyon on the east side and roads up East Canyon. The west side of Elkhorn Mountain is mostly roadless. The west side of Wakley Peak is steep and roadless, as well.
ATVs can be used only on roads that can be used by full-size vehicles
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended
Camping and Lodging
Some hunters camp on public land along dirt and gravel roads. Cherry Creek Campground is at the end of the South Cherry Creek Road, which leaves the Old Malad Highway a few miles southeast of Downey. Third Creek Group Site Campground is 12 miles northeast of Malad on the Weston Highway near Deep Creek Reservoir. Summit Campground is east of Malad Summit on Powerhouse Road. Dry Creek Campground is on Dry Canyon Road that goes through Route 36 northwest of Weston. Curlew Campground on the Curlew National Grassland just west of the Pleasantview Hills offers seven campsites. Most lodging options are available in Pocatello. Malad Inn offers basic rooms in Malad as well as Abigail’s Bed & Breakfast.
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