Quick Tips
- Don't pack into areas where you can't get out if snow gets deep
- Cell phone service is poor throughout the unit
- Get in excellent shape
On The Ground
Terrain
Vegetation
Access
Camping and Lodging
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
High
Low
On both sides of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, this unit offers goat hunting in rough terrain. Most of the unit is in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.
This is one of the most remote hunting units in the lower 48. With alot of the unit covered by steep and rugged mountain, this can be a physically challenging hunt.Access by raft, small airplane, backpacking or horsesMost goats have horns around 8” in length
Most of this unit is in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and consists of a lot of canyons and mountains. This unit includes the Marble Creek drainage on the west, the Little Loon Creek drainage on the east and all terrain upstream to Morehead Mountain. Peaks include 9,112-foot Chinook Mountain, 8,506-foot Morehead Mountain, 8,995-foot Greyhound Mountain and 9,178-foot Pistol Rock.
Much of the land above 8,500 feet in elevation is open with bare rock, grasses, wildflowers, forbs and low shrubs. At that elevation there are a few scattered conifers and some timber patches. Throughout the unit there are high mountain meadows, alpine basins, many grassy and brushy avalanche chutes and barren talus slopes. North and east-facing slopes and deep draws are mostly timbered with spruces, pines and firs. Some areas have been burned by forest fires and have new growth starting to grow. Goats are commonly seen in and near the steepest terrain.
Motel lodging not really an option. Plan to stay in a tent. Most hunters will backpack camp or use horses to haul a larger camp in. Camping is allowed almost anywhere in the unit.
Roughly 677 square miles
99.8% public land
Elevations from 4,100-9,100 feet
Most land is accessible by horseback or foot. Hunters can drive close to goats on some roads, including Sea Foam Road (Forest Road 8) and Beaver Creek Road (Forest Road 172). There are some airstrips close to goat country. Flying services include Sawtooth Flying Service, Arnold Aviation and McCall Aviation.