elk zone · Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Big Desert Elk Zone
Idaho, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Big Desert Elk Zone
Big Desert Elk Zone is a elk zone in Idaho, United States, set by Idaho Department of Fish and Game. It covers about 15,047 km² (5,810 mi²). Towns inside it include Twin Falls, Chubbuck, Jerome, Blackfoot, Rupert and American Falls.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Idaho Department of Fish and Game's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for Elk (wapiti).
- Unit code
- Big Desert
- Area
- 15,047 km²
- Area (miles)
- 5,810 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 8,968 km² of public or protected land inside it, 60% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Land Management | 6,406 | 43% |
| National Park Service | 1,837 | 12% |
| Idaho Department of Lands | 316 | 2% |
| Department of Energy (DOE) | 297 | 2% |
| Idaho Department of Fish and Game | 85 | under 1% |
| Unknown | 67 | under 1% |
| Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge | 12 | under 1% |
| MINIDOKA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | 12 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 21 | under 1% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Season dates, bag limits and licences for Big Desert Elk Zone are in Idaho Department of Fish and Game's official regulations. HuntGrid shows a season in the app only once a person has checked it against them.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
- Bannock Elk Zone
- Pioneer Elk Zone
- Smoky - Bennett Elk Zone
- Snake River Elk Zone
- South Hills Elk Zone
- Tex Creek Elk Zone
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- Duck Area 1
- White-fronted Geese Area 1 (white-fronted goose area)
- White-fronted Geese Area 2 (white-fronted goose area)
- Canada Geese Area 2 (Canada goose area)
- Duck Area 2
- Canada Geese Area 3 (Canada goose area)
- Light Geese Area 3 (light goose area)
- White-fronted Geese Area 3 (white-fronted goose area)
- Light Geese Area 4 (light goose area)
- Unit 52A (GMU)
- Unit 53 (GMU)
- Unit 68 (GMU)
- Unit 68A (GMU)
- Deer controlled hunt area 52A
- Deer controlled hunt area 53-1
- Deer controlled hunt area 66A-1X
- Deer controlled hunt area 68
- Deer controlled hunt area 68A
- Deer controlled hunt area 68AX
- Elk controlled hunt area 52A-1
- Elk controlled hunt area 68
- Elk controlled hunt area 68-1X
- Pronghorn controlled hunt area 52A-1
- Pronghorn controlled hunt area 68
What HuntGrid shows for Big Desert Elk Zone
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Big Desert Elk Zone?
About 15,047 km² (5,810 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Idaho Department of Fish and Game's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Big Desert Elk Zone?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 8,968 km² of public or protected land, 60% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Bureau of Land Management. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Big Desert Elk Zone?
In Idaho Department of Fish and Game's official regulations: https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/elk
Which units are next to Big Desert Elk Zone?
In the same unit system: Bannock Elk Zone, Pioneer Elk Zone, Smoky - Bennett Elk Zone, Snake River Elk Zone, South Hills Elk Zone and Tex Creek Elk Zone.
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Licence: Idaho Department of Fish and Game (published with a no-warranty disclaimer). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The official regulations and maps have the final word.