Quick Tips
- Keep game carcasses and food away from grizzlies
- Buy a wolf tag
- Don't get stuck in backcountry by snowstorms
- Blue-ribbon cutthroat fishing in Kelly Forks
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 120"-130" | 140"+ |
| Elk | 280"-310" | 310"+ |
On The Ground
A lot of mountains here and almost entirely in the Clearwater National Forest and bordering Montana, this area holds elk, mule deer and whitetail.
Though this isn't the premier elk hunting area it was before the wolves cut the elk herd in half. There are not a lot of mule deer here, but whitetails can be found scattered throughout the area.
Terrain
Mountains cover most of this unit, which border Montana north of Lolo Pass and is in Clearwater County except for small parts in the north and south. Parts of the terrain are steep and rugged. Most of the land is made up of forested hills, ridges and mountains in every direction. Creeks for the most part drain into the North Fork of the Clearwater River. Dworshak Reservoir sits on the western edge and the southern half of the Mallard Larkins Pioneer Area can also be found in the western end of the unit.
Roughly 1,185 square miles
99.7% public land
Elevations from 2,200-8,000 feet
Vegetation
From rocky peaks and subalpine meadows in the high country to large forests, creeks and the rivers below them, plants are diverse. Lodgepole pines, western red cedars, western white pines, firs and western hemlocks fill huge forests. Sword, maidenhair and lady ferns grow in groups on the forest floor. Brush and saplings, including aspen grow on the edges of meadows and timber cuts.
Access
The majority of this area is in the Clearwater National Forest. A lot of it is roadless, including the southern half of the 30,000-acre Mallard Larkins Pioneer Area, the centerpiece of a larger 260,000-acre roadless area that has been under consideration as a designated wilderness since the 1960s. Forest roads provide access to some areas, including mountains drained by tributaries of Moose Creek. The most heavily used road is usually North Fork Road, which runs along the North Fork of the Clearwater River.
Travel plan maps are available online
Henry Ridge-Wallow Mountain Trail is open to motorcycles but not ATVs
A motorcycle trail runs from Mush Saddle and past Elizabeth Mountain
Camping and Lodging
Some hunters camp along dirt roads. Campgrounds can be found throughout the unit. No fees are charged to use The Cedars Campground along Long Creek. Kelly Forks Campground is a developed fee site with 14 spots and a group campground. Other campgrounds can be found in the North Fork of the Clearwater River corridor, some of them outside the unit, include:
Aquarius Campground
Hidden Creek Campground
Washington Creek Campground
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