In this unit, which is mostly inside the boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation, the tribe issues tags to tribal members, and the state issues tags by lottery to non-Native Americans and Native Americans alike.

Moose hunters in this unit rarely have difficulty in finding bulls. The terrain here tends to be more open than other Panhandle units.

Most of this unit is inside the 1873 boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation along about 40 miles of the Washington border from the Spokane River toward the south and southeast. Some ridges and mountains are steep, but most of the land is flat or at modest inclines. A couple of mountains exceed 5,000 feet in elevation. Most land is between 2,500 and 3,500 feet above sea level.

Most of the unit is composed of private farms and pastures. Some draws and woodlots give variety as well as security cover for moose. Some tall trees grow in these areas and on the hills and mountains, including Ponderosa pines, cedars, hemlocks and white pines. Low shrubs, tall bushes and willows grow along creeks, in draws and along edges.

Most of Unit 5 is within the reservation boundaries, and the tribe still maintains ownership of wildlife there even though private landowners and the state and federal governments have inholdings. Much land inside the reservation is private, so you’ll also need to get permission of the private landowner. The main road is U.S. Highway 95, which runs through the center of the unit and passes through Plummer. The state park is on Highway 5. Secondary roads snake through the area and some of them reach the strip of national forest land along the Washington line.

Camping is allowed along roads on Forest Service or BLM land. Campsites are available at Heyburn State Park until Oct. 1. Lodging is available in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and St. Maries, which are the largest towns in or near the unit. In the interior are the Couer d’Alene Casino hotel, the Plummer Motel (phone: 208-686-1205) and the Hiway Motel in Plummer (phone: 208-686-1310).