The state has been issuing a few moose tags each year in this unit, which borders Montana and is mostly inside the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

This is area provides hunters with the possibility for highly successful hunt. Trophy-size moose are uncommon, but most hunters can find a bull with 30-36” antlers. Bulls in the past five seasons have averaged about 33 ½” in outside antler spread.

This unit includes the mountains west of the road between Henry’s Lake and Island Park Reservoir. Terrain varies from sagebrush flats and lowland marshes to foothills that rise gradually to forested mountains on the Montana line. Big and Little Table mountains on the Montana border rise to 9,100 feet and 8,620 feet respectively. Several other peaks and ridges lie between 7,000 and 8,700 feet. Most of the mountains are moderately steep, but there are some severely steep sections above West Camas Creek, Antelope Valley and Hancock Lake. Moose are rarely seen on sagebrush flats and spend most of their time above 6,500 feet. Sometimes bulls take up quarters in marshy lowlands.

Most of the flat and sand hills in Shotgun Valley are covered with grass and low sagebrush. The lowlands around Henry’s Lake are grassy meadows and pastures. Vegetation changes directly from grass to conifer forests as elevations rise. The mountains have some open basins full of grass, forbs, wildflowers and some grassy ridges, but most slopes are heavily forested. Aspens grow in places. Dense willows grow along creeks in places.

Gravel and dirt public roads provide access to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Main access roads branch from U.S. 20 on the eastern edge of the unit and from Kilgore-Yale Road on the south. ATVs can be used on designated primitive roads and trails. Some good interior roads in the east include Sawtell Peak Road, Forest Roads 455, 104 and 52. Get a travel plan map from the U.S. Forest Service before hunting. A road goes up the East Fork of Dry Creek on the western edge of the unit. Before hunting, get a travel restriction map from the U.S. Forest.

Click here for details on renting cabins or condos at Island Park. An RV park, cabin rentals and riverfront condos are available at Mack’s Inn Resort on Highway 20 on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River.