In the northeastern corner of the state, this mostly public unit borders Idaho and includes part of the Hells Canyon Wilderness and has hunting for elk, mule deer, mountain goats, whitetail deer and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

Hunters need to be in good shape to take advantage of tags in this unit because the country is mostly steep and rugged and includes part of the deepest river gorge in America.

Bordering the deepest river gorge in the nation, Hells Canyon of the Snake River, this unit is steep and rugged except for some flat-top ridges and river and creek bottoms. The Imnaha River is on the western boundary; the Snake River on the east. Other than a few parcels of private land along river and creek bottoms, land is managed by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and is part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. The eastern half is mostly in the Hells Canyon Wilderness.

There’s an amazing variety of plant life because of drastic altitude changes and steep terrain that provides niches for hundreds of species of grasses, shrubs, forbs and trees. Most trees are conifers such as pines, spruces and firs. Bitterbrush, sagebrush, elderberry and other brush species provide food for deer, while bighorn sheep and elk graze mainly on wild grasses, and mountain goats eat a wide variety of forbs, grasses and even browse plants.

Hunters must hike to hunt most of this unit effectively, either climbing several thousand feet above river bottoms or dropping off ridges to hunt slopes below. A few roads provide access, including Upper and Lower Imnaha Roads along the Imnaha River, Hat Point Road out of Imnaha and Highway 100 along Horse Creek. Some roads branch high onto ridges. Lord Flat Road north of Warnock Corral and Summit Ridge Road north of PO Saddle are closed to motor vehicles during hunting seasons. The wilderness is closed to vehicles. The Snake River also provides access but is not recommended for the inexperienced or poorly equipped boaters. Floating can be all but impossible due to rapids and obstructions. Permits are needed to boat the river. Click here for details.

Most hunters camp along dirt roads or pack tents in by backpack. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest maintains a few campgrounds including some campgrounds in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Boat launches, campgrounds and interpretive sites within a quarter mile of the Snake River are listed here. Pittsburg Landing on the Idaho side of the Snake has 28 campsites. Saddle Creek Campground has seven walk-in tent campsites on the rim of Hells Canyon along Hat Point Road.