Goat hunters in this area can hunt the terrain and mountains between Mackay and Sun Valley.

Hunters in this area have been highly successful because goats are concentrated in portions of the unit where much of the country can be seen from opposing ridges and peaks. Horns are typically 7-8” long

This unit includes both sides of the mountains between the Sun Valley/Ketchum/Hailey area and the Mackay/Big Lost River Valley area. Goats are found in the high, steep parts of the Pioneer Mountains and are rarely seen below 8,000 feet in elevation. Many peaks exceed 9,000 feet in elevation and several exceed 10,000 feet, including pyramid-shaped 11,878-foot Standhope Peak.

Timberline varies from 9,000 to 9,500 feet and goats are rarely seen far below it. Lichens, mosses on stable rock outcroppings, low shrubs and wild grasses on thin soils and in alpine basins can be seen growing above the tree line. The highest trees are sparse firs, pines and spruces with dense conifer forests growing below. Lower forests have Douglas firs, Engelmann spruces, aspens and ponderosa pines. Some junipers and mahoganies grow on foothills, low ridges and in some draws. The foothills below timber are covered with sagebrush and wild bunchgrass.

Most mountains are in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, while foothills are primarily on BLM or state land. Most of the flat lowlands are private, but some are on BLM land. Several public access roads cross private ground to reach the foothills and mountains. The main road is U.S. Highway 93, which enters the unit from the northwest and travels down along the Big Lost River. Several roads branch from U.S. 93 and access the mountains or branch into access roads. The high country is mostly roadless. Hikers can start from Copper Basin Loop Road on the eastern side of the high country, Wild Horse Creek Road on the north, Hyndman Creek Road from the southwest and Phi Kappa Creek Road from the northwest. Trail Creek Road provides good access to trails into the high mountains.

Hunters can camp along dirt roads or in Forest Service campgrounds. Some hunters camp along dirt roads as close as they can get to the high country. Campgrounds can be found within five miles of the higher peaks, but are several thousand feet below good goat habitat. Lodging is available in Mackay, Arco, Ketchum and Hailey. Mackay has The Bear Bottom Inn and Wagon Wheel Motel. Arco Inn Motel is on the southern edge of the unit. Ketchum and Sun Valley have many lodging options, including Knob Hill Inn and Tamarack Lodge. Places to stay in Hailey include A Wood River Inn and The Inn at Ellsworth Estate.