Quick Tips
- Hunters may use deer tags to take mountain lions
- ATVs may be driven on most dirt roads and some trails
- No mountain bikes or deer carts are permitted in the Sawtooth Wilderness
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-130" | 130"+ |
| Elk | 270"-300" | 300"+ |
| Antelope | 60"-65" | 70"+ |
On The Ground
This scenic area around the Stanley Basin, Redfish Lake and Sawtooth Valley gives hunters the chance to hunt elk, mule deer and antelope and a few whitetail deer.
Efforts to increase elk numbers in this unit and three other units in the Sawtooth Elk Management Zone are starting to pay off. Whitetail deer are very low in number.
Terrain
Topography varies from the flat Sawtooth Valley to the White Cloud Peaks and the Sawtooth Range, some of the highest and steepest terrain in the state. Most of the mountain basins drain into the Salmon River and its Middle Fork and includes Redfish Lake and several other big lakes, as well as the Stanley Basin, part of the Sawtooth Range, part of the Smoky Mountains, part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and part of the Salmon River Mountains. Most land is in the Salmon Challis National Forest and the Sawtooth National Forest, including part of the Sawtooth Wilderness.
Roughly 1,051 square miles
96.3% public land
Elevations from 6,200-9,803 feet
Vegetation
Though much of the ground above timberline is bare rock in the form of talus slopes, cliffs, outcroppings and rock slides, low shrubs, forbs, lichens, mosses and wild grasses provide food for big game. Most land below 9,000 feet is forested, though many southern and western slopes are largely treeless and covered with sagebrush and other shrubs or grass and forbs. Forests in this area include aspens, spruces, firs and pines. Many meadows are scattered through the woods and lie along both sides of many creeks. Vegetation on foothills varies from conifer forests and aspen stands to mahogany ridges with a lot of sagebrush knolls and grassy hills. Farm fields and pastures take up most private land at low elevations. Large acreages are covered with trees that have died in forest fires or insect infestations. In some areas most tree trunks are still standing, but in other areas they have fallen down making for difficult hiking through downfall timber.
Access
Most land is public property managed by the Salmon Challis and Sawtooth national forests. Motor vehicles are prohibited in the Sawtooth Wilderness and in most of the White Cloud Peaks, otherwise forest roads can be driven within a couple of miles of almost anywhere in the unit. Some private land is in Stanley Basin, along Valley Creek and in Sawtooth Valley east and south of Redfish Lake along the Salmon River to Pole Creek.
Camping and Lodging
Campgrounds are scattered throughout the unit. Some popular campgrounds are along the shores of Alturas and Redfish lakes, along Idaho Route 75 and along Idaho Route 21. Most hunters camp along dirt roads in the mountains. Lodging is available in Stanley, where some choices are Sawtooth Hotel, Stanley High Country Inn and the Mountain Village Resort.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
April 2025
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3