Portneuf Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Portneuf Wildlife Management Area is 3,950 acres in Bannock County, in Idaho Fish and Game's Southeast Region, inside game management unit 71, established in 1970. A slice of the Portneuf Mountains from 4,700 feet on the river to 7,500 feet on timbered ridges, part of a mule deer winter range that wraps from Inkom to Lava Hot Springs.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Portneuf WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 3,950 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Bannock County |
| Established | 1970 |
| IDFG region | Southeast |
| Game management unit | 71 |
| Elk zone | Bannock |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Preserve and enhance deer winter range and sharp-tailed grouse habitat. |
| Habitat (IDFG) | Sagebrush steppe and shrubland, riparian woodland, aspen forest. |
| Camping | Primitive camping, no facilities, no open fires or firewood cutting. |
What is Portneuf WMA?
A slice of the Portneuf Mountains from 4,700 feet on the river to 7,500 feet on timbered ridges, part of a mule deer winter range that wraps from Inkom to Lava Hot Springs. It is also managed for sharp-tailed grouse, and turkeys released in 2002 are now huntable. Robber's Roost Canyon, a cutthroat spawning stream, is named for the 1860s stage robbers who hid there.
What can you hunt on Portneuf WMA?
Most visitors are big game and upland hunters, on the WMA or headed into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest; it is also good for youth hunting.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, horseback riding and camping.
How do you get onto Portneuf WMA, and when is it closed?
Eleven miles of primitive road, closed to vehicles November 15 to May 15. Four parking areas on the edges and pull-outs inside.
Can you camp on Portneuf WMA?
Primitive camping, no facilities, no open fires or firewood cutting.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Portneuf WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 50 | 10% | 222 | 20% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Portneuf WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Portneuf WMA?
Most visitors are big game and upland hunters, on the WMA or headed into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest; it is also good for youth hunting. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Unit 71.
Can you camp on Portneuf WMA?
Primitive camping, no facilities, no open fires or firewood cutting.
How do you get onto Portneuf WMA?
Eleven miles of primitive road, closed to vehicles November 15 to May 15. Four parking areas on the edges and pull-outs inside.
Which hunting unit is Portneuf WMA in?
Unit 71, in the Bannock elk zone.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, access, camping and uses: IDFG, Portneuf WMA, written up by FilledTag in its own words.
- Outline: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), land managed by Idaho Fish and Game. Units: IDFG's unit boundaries.
- Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics.
FilledTag is not part of Idaho Fish and Game. WMA rules change: check IDFG's page and its posted rules before you go.