Unit 60A

Split Rock anchors the northern section as a distinctive navigation marker visible from considerable distance. The volcanic buttes—Beacon, Raumaker, Split, Pine, and Big Grassy—dot the landscape and serve as excellent glassing platforms and orientation points. The South and North Juniper ranges define ridge systems offering elevated vantage points.

Rattlesnake Creek and its East and West forks provide the primary drainage features, supplemented by the Teton River system to the east. Hansen Basin occupies the central lowlands, while Egin Bench and Big Grassy Ridge offer higher-elevation terrain breaks useful for route planning and spotting.

The unit sits entirely in lower-elevation country between 4,770 and 6,581 feet, with the median elevation around 5,300 feet—firmly in the high-desert zone. Vegetation transitions from sagebrush-dominated flats in the lower basins to scattered juniper stands on ridges and buttes, with limited forest cover overall. The sparse timber distribution reflects the semi-arid climate; what trees exist cluster around water sources and on north-facing slopes of higher points.

This open country supports low-growing brush and grasses punctuated by volcanic features—buttes, craters, and ridges that rise 1,000-2,000 feet above the surrounding basins.

With 1,350+ miles of roads throughout the unit and a connected road network, access is straightforward. State highways, county roads, and ranch roads provide extensive vehicle routes, making the unit accessible to most hunters from nearby towns. The flat to rolling terrain means the landscape doesn't naturally funnel pressure or create bottlenecks—hunters can distribute across the entire unit.

The open country limits places to hide from human presence; any hunters in the area will be visible across considerable distances. The combination of good road access and sparse cover means hunting pressure can spread broadly, though the large size provides room for those willing to move away from main routes.

Unit 60A encompasses portions of Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, and Madison counties in southeastern Idaho, bounded by Spencer-Kilgore Road to the north and east, Interstate 15 serving as the western boundary, and Highway 33 and local roads defining the southern edge near Rexburg. The unit sprawls across the high desert basin between the Teton River drainage to the east and the agricultural lowlands near Rexburg to the west. Towns like Saint Anthony, Hamer, and Camas provide nearby services and staging points.

The area sits in the transition zone between the Snake River Plain agricultural belt and the volcanic plateau country extending toward Yellowstone.

Water availability is the limiting factor in this semi-arid unit. Rattlesnake Creek and its forks form the most reliable perennial water, flowing generally north through the central unit. The Teton River system to the east provides supplemental drainage.

Several reservoirs and lakes exist—Gardner Lake, Egin Lakes, Hamer Lake, and Davis Lake—though these are scattered and not abundant. Numerous irrigation ditches and canals thread through the unit reflecting the agricultural heritage, but these are not reliable for hunting purposes. Warm Slough and other seasonal drainages provide spotty water; hunters must plan carefully around the limited reliable sources, particularly in the sagebrush flats.

This is straightforward, wide-open country where glassing from buttes and ridges reveals large portions of the unit. Success depends on understanding which species are in season and where they use the available cover and water. The scattered juniper stands provide the only significant tree cover; concentrate efforts near these pockets and along creek drainages where riparian vegetation offers forage and shelter.

Early morning and late evening movement toward water sources is critical given the limited reliable sources. The volcanic buttes provide excellent elevated vantage points for surveying the surrounding country. Plan water logistics carefully—know where reliable sources exist before entering the unit.

The flat topography means long-range glassing and calling may be more effective than stalking through dense cover, as cover simply doesn't exist in abundance.