Quick Tips
- Carry a GPS and hike around private property
- Use a dirt bike for trails reserved for motorcycle riders
- Buy an archery elk tag if hunting in September
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-160" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-120" | 120"+ |
| Elk | 270"-310" | 310"+ |
| Antelope | 55"-65" | 65"+ |
On The Ground
Hunters can buy over-the-counter tags for rifle and archery deer seasons and archery elk season in this Sun Valley unit. Tags for rifle elk and antelope seasons are issued through a computerized drawing.
Terrain
This area is in the west side of Sun Valley and the mountains west and north of Ketchum and is mainly in the Sawtooth National Forest. Entirely in Blaine County, the terrain varies from lowland farm fields to low foothills to forested mountains with rough, rugged terrain above timberline. The foothills have a mixture of private, BLM and state land, while the flats are mainly private pastures and farmland. Big Wood River runs from north to south through Ketchum and Hailey and Trail Creek runs along the eastern boundary north of Ketchum before draining into Big Wood River.
Roughly 610 square miles
83.6% public land
Elevations from 4,900-10,300 feet
Vegetation
Vegetation varies because of extreme elevation differences. Lowlands are mostly farm fields planted in alfalfa, grass hay and other crops and grassy pastures with lots of low brush. Willows, birches, alders, grasses and sedges grow in wet areas with cottonwood groves growing along the Wood River and Trail Creek and in other places along the valley. Douglas firs, Engelmann, blue spruces, aspens, subalpine firs and pines grow above 6,500 feet on eastern and northern slopes. Huckleberries, snowberries, white spirea, mallow ninebark, Oregon grape and other shrubs and forbs can be found on forest floors. Southern and western slopes are covered with grass and sagebrush. Most terrain above 9,000 feet is open with a lot of rock slides in some places and grassy and brushy basins and draws.
Access
Most of the land along the eastern and southern boundaries is private. Farm fields are south of Hailey. Foothills also are a mixture of BLM, state and private property. Most large public tracts have roads that branch from paved and good gravel roads. The main routes are U.S. Highway 20, the southern boundary and the Sun Valley Highway on the east. There are a few miles of ATV trails, but most off-road trails are limited to horses or motorcycles. A lot of high terrain is roadless, requiring 6-7-mile hikes or more to reach remote canyons and peaks.
ATVs are useful on forest roads and on a few miles of trail
Four-wheel-drive is recommended
The Forest Service publishes a local motor vehicle use map
Hunters on motorcycles can access a lot of backcountry
Camping and Lodging
Some hunters camp along dirt roads, which is allowed almost anywhere on public land. More than a dozen public campgrounds and several private campgrounds are in the unit or around its edges. Among them are Boundary Campgrounds north of Ketchum and several campgrounds along Big Wood River. Ketchum and Sun Valley have several lodging options, including Knob Hill Inn and Tamarack Lodge.
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