A ribbon of green with towering cottonwoods meander through the rugged desert canyon of the Big Cottonwood WMA. Diverse habitats support a number of Idaho’s wildlife species and outdoor recreation opportunities.

The WMA is home to reintroduced California bighorn sheep, mule deer, upland birds, native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, wild turkeys, bobcat, and a multitude of other wildlife species.

For nearly 110 years, the property was privately owned and operated as a cattle ranch and farm. Idaho Fish and Game was interested in the property in 1993 because it provided important habitats for reintroduced California bighorn sheep, transplanted Rio Grande wild turkeys, and one of the few remaining populations of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. In addition, the acquisition secured public access to thousands of acres of adjacent federal lands.