Quick Tips
- Keep food from grizzlies and black bears
- Buy a wolf tag for $31.75
- Bring a rod for fishing for steelhead in the Salmon River
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 120"-130" | 140"+ |
| Elk | 260"-310" | 310"+ |
| Antelope | 60"-65" | 65"+ |
On The Ground
This unit is composed of fields, pastures, foothills and mountains west of the Lemhi River south of Salmon and holds good numbers of mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and increasing numbers of whitetail deer.
People who travel in Idaho see big game while driving through this unit between Idaho Falls and Salmon, so it attracts more attention than many out-of-the way units. There is good hunting for small to medium-size antelope.
Terrain
South of Salmon, this unit includes a large part of the Lemhi Range as well as much of the Lemhi Valley. The valley contains flat lands and river bottoms from less than 4,000 feet above sea level to about 7,000 feet as well as broad, arid, open foothills. Above those are forested foothills and steep mountains that rise quickly to more than 11,000 feet. High points include Big Creek Peak at 11,350 feet and Flatiron Mountain at 11,019 feet. Several other peaks and ridges exceed 10,000 feet.
Roughly 707 square miles
80.4% public land
Elevations from 4,000-11,000 feet
Vegetation
Timberline varies from about 9,000 to 9,500 feet. Above it grow lichens, mosses on stable rock outcroppings and low shrubs and wild grasses on thin soils and in alpine basins. The highest trees are sparse firs, pines and spruces. Below them are dense conifer forests. Lower forests have Douglas firs, Engelmann spruce, aspen and ponderosa pines. Some junipers and mahoganies grow on some foothills and low ridges and in some draws. The foothills below timber are mostly covered with sagebrush and wild bunchgrass.
Access
The main roads are U.S. Highway 93 south and southwest of Salmon and Idaho Highway 28, which enters the south at Gillmore Summit and roughly parallels the Lemhi River past Leadore and Lemhi to Salmon. County and forest roads branch off the main routes. Roads that are open to all motor vehicles include Mill Creek Road to Mill Lake, Forest Road 96 up Big Eightmile Creek to Big Eightmile Campground, Little Timber Creek Road to Timber Creek Reservoir and Forest Road 2 to Meadow Lake and Meadow Lake campground.
Hunters can drive ATVs only on roads built for full-size vehicles
Four-wheel-drive traction is recommended
Camping and Lodging
Some hunters camp along dirt roads or in Forest Service campgrounds. There are campgrounds at Meadow Lake, Timber Creek Reservoir, at the end of Forest Road 96 up Big Eightmile Creek and at Williams Lake. Lema’s Store and RV Park (phone: 208-768-2647) has 10 year-round campsites in Leadore. Salmon has many lodging options.
Sacajawea Inn is hunter-friendly and even has mounted animals in some rooms
Syringa Lodge (phone: 208-756-4424)
Stagecoach Inn is next to the Salmon River.
Williams Lake Campground, which has a boat ramp and offers trout fishing
Heald’s Haven RV Campground east of Williams Lake
Shoup Bridge Campground on Williams Creek Road near Lemhi
Cougar Point Campground on the North Fork of Williams Creek
Historical Temperatures
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Moon Phases
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