Quick Tips
- Fish for steelhead and sturgeon in the Salmon River
- Hungarian partridges are common along the Salmon River
- Watch for bighorn sheep along the Salmon River
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 120"-130" | 130"+ |
| Elk | 260"-300" | 300"+ |
On The Ground
West and south of Grangeville, this unit has elk, whitetail and mule deer on a mixture of private and Nez Perce National Forest land and includes the western reaches of the Gospel Hump Wilderness.
Elk tags are sold over-the-counter, but the state caps the number of rifle tags each year. Mule deer tags are issued through the state draw. Whitetails are common, especially on private land.
Terrain
This unit is a mixture of private and public land. Most property west and south of Grangeville is private. Riggins and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area lies at the southwest corner of the unit. The western boundary is mostly along rivers and is private, while the property farther east is in the Nez Perce Wilderness. The southeast corner is in the Gospel Hump Wilderness. Most private land is flat or moderately steep, but the northwest corner has some steep canyons. National forest land is mostly composed of broad, flat mountains that are separated by steep canyons. The Salmon River Canyon along the western edge of the unit is steep, broken and mostly open. Some of the rivers and creeks that drain into the Salmon River cut through open country and have steep sides.
Roughly 574 square miles
66.4% public land
Elevations from 1,900-7,400 feet
Vegetation
Lowlands are mostly grassy meadows, agricultural fields and steep, rugged river canyons lined with grass, brush such as hackberry and scattered conifers. Foothills are a mixture of timbered slopes and open, grassy ridges with brushy hollows. National forest land is mostly timbered with firs, spruces and pines. Some slopes are grassy and open on southern exposures with a great deal of exposed rimrock, while north slopes are often heavily forested.
Access
Access points to public land are limited by the Salmon River Canyon on the south and by private land along the western edge of the unit. Road 35, which leaves U.S. Highway 95 on the west and goes up Slate Creek morphs into Forest Road 354, which leads to good hunting sites, such as Hurley Creek, past the Slate Creek Forest Ranger Station and to Slide Creek and North Business Creek. Forest Road 441 also starts at U.S. Highway 95 north of Riggins and is known as Nut Basin Road, leading to Waterspout Creek and other parts of the forest. The Grangeville-Salmon Road leads to Forest Roads 243 and 398 along the North Fork of Slate Creek. The Mill Creek Road leaves Highway 14 along the South Fork of the Clearwater River and runs south into the forest, branching into many forest roads, eventually leading to the Moore Station Road that provides access to trailheads leading into the Gospel Hump Wilderness.
ATVs are recommended on rough, primitive roads
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended
No vehicles are allowed in the Gospel Hump Wilderness
Camping and Lodging
Hunters in early seasons mostly camp on forest land. Spring Bar Campground east of Riggins is open year round and has 16 campsites but no hookups. Fish Creek Campground is about 8 miles from Grangeville and has 10 tent or RV sites that are open through October. Lodging is available at the Elk City Hotel and Gift Shop and at several motels in Grangeville, including the Gateway Inn and the Evergreen Suites. Some lodging choices in Riggins include the Big Iron Motel, Riggins Motel, Salmon River Motel and Salmon Rapids Lodge.
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