This unit borders Washington and British Columbia, stretching south to the Pend Oreille River. Many Shiras moose can be found here.

Hunters take many moose every year in this largely public area located in the Kaniksu National Forest and Priest Lake State Forest. Bulls average about 35” in outside antler spread.

This unit is made up of mountains, hills and valleys in the Priest River and Pend Oreille River drainages. Much of the land is between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation and is heavily forested flat to moderately steep terrain. Terrain above 6,000 feet is steep and has a lot of exposed rock and cliffs. Farms and pastures lie along rivers and large creeks. Thousands of clearcuts are in various stages of regrowth and make ideal habitat for moose with timber edges for cover and saplings and brush for browse.

Spruces, firs, cedars and pines cover a lot of the land. The forests are a patchwork of old growth, clearcuts and tracts that are in various stages of regrowth. Many meadows, crop fields and pastures are along river valleys. Streams cut through many fields and are lined with brush. Chokecherries, aspens, junipers, ash trees, birches, serviceberries and hemlock are common plants.

Much private land is near the town of Priest River. Priest Lake State Forest covers 186,000 acres. Hundreds of miles of roads transect both forests, offering road access to hundreds of square miles of moose habitat.

Camping is permitted along forest roads in the Kaniksu National Forest, which maintains a campground near Priest Lake. Priest Lake State Park offers year-round camping and also offers yurts and cabins. Most campgrounds close in September. Luby Bay and Reed Bay campgrounds on Forest Service land remain open until Sept. 22 if weather permits. A lodging option in the southern part of the unit near the Washington border is Eagle’s Nest Motel.