Unit 10 10 (Lolo)
Steep, roadless Bitterroot backcountry — the storied Lolo elk country, now a hard-earned wilderness hunt.
North-Central Idaho — Clearwater Region, Idaho County (Lolo Zone) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,180
sq mi
Public land
96%
approx.
Elevation
1,600–8,100
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 10 is the northern half of the legendary Lolo Zone, a rugged block of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest straddling the North Fork Clearwater and Lochsa drainages against the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Once one of Idaho's most famous elk units, the herd has fallen sharply — down roughly 57% zone-wide since the mid-2000s as wolves, bears and lions took hold in the maturing post-burn habitat. Today it is a low-density, high-effort hunt: general elk opportunity for the fit and self-reliant, thin but real deer numbers in the breaks, abundant bears under liberal predator seasons, and rare controlled moose and mountain-goat tags in the high country.
Terrain
Deeply incised river-breaks and canyon country rising from the North Fork Clearwater and Lochsa bottoms near 1,600 ft to the Bitterroot divide above 8,000 ft along the Montana line.
Cover: Grand fir and cedar in the moist bottoms, dense lodgepole and post-fire brush on the mid-slopes, then subalpine fir, beargrass and open rock toward the crest. Decades-old burns have grown into thick timber that shelters predators and thins elk forage.
Landmarks: North Fork Clearwater River · Lochsa River · Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness boundary · Bitterroot Divide (Idaho-Montana crest) · Kelly Creek · Lolo Motorway country
Access
Almost entirely National Forest, with wilderness and roadless backcountry making up much of the unit. A skeleton of Forest roads and the historic Lolo Motorway corridor provide the main motorized access; beyond them it is trail, horse and foot only. This is deep, remote country — plan for self-sufficiency and long approaches.
Managers: USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
Access points: Lolo Pass / US-12 (Lochsa corridor) · North Fork Clearwater / Kelly Creek roads · Lolo Motorway (FR 500, seasonal) · Powell / Lochsa Ranger Station area
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityThe famous Lolo elk herd is a shadow of its peak after a roughly 57% zone-wide decline, but a general-season opportunity remains for hunters willing to go deep. Low density means low success — this is a physical, backcountry hunt, not a numbers game.
- →Get miles from any road into wilderness and roadless pockets
- →Hunt old burns and north-slope timber where scattered elk hold
- →Bugle sparingly and be ready to cover country to locate a herd
- →Success favors backpack and horseback hunters who stay out for days
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails hold in the river bottoms, lower breaks and moist timber; overall deer harvest is modest with success typical of this steep, low-density country.
- →Work the North Fork and Lochsa bottoms and brushy benches
- →Still-hunt cedar and grand-fir draws on quiet, wet days
- →Hunt the rut for the best chance at a mature buck
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA minority of the deer harvest, muleys favor the higher, more open slopes and ridgelines away from the timbered bottoms.
- →Glass high open faces and burns at first light
- →Hunt the transition where subalpine parks meet timber
- →Expect to hike high and look hard
Black Bear
abundant qualityBlack bears are numerous and managed with liberal seasons as part of predator-reduction efforts to help elk; spring green-up and fall berry fields both produce.
- →Spring: glass green south slopes, avalanche chutes and roadside forage
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and mountain-ash brush
- →Watch for color-phase bears
- →Take advantage of generous bag opportunity in this zone
Moose
limited qualityA rare once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag; few are issued but drawn hunters find bulls in the willow bottoms and mid-elevation riparian pockets.
- →If drawn, scout wet meadows and creek willows early
- →Hunt slow along drainage bottoms
- →Glass at dawn and dusk when bulls feed in the open
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA very limited controlled-hunt opportunity on the high Bitterroot crags — only a couple of tags but high success for those who draw and can reach the goats.
- →If drawn, glass the highest cliff bands and talus along the divide
- →Be prepared for extreme, exposed terrain and a hard pack-out
- →Scout access and camps well before the season
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a wilderness backpack or horseback elk hunt — road hunting won't produce here
- →Manage expectations: low elk density means low success, but pressure is light and country is vast
- →Use liberal bear seasons to your advantage — spring bear over green-up is excellent
- →Have a snow plan; the Lolo Motorway and high roads shut down fast
- →No cell service across most of the unit — carry a satellite communicator and paper maps
Watch out for
- !Extremely steep, remote terrain with long approaches and difficult pack-outs
- !Wolf, lion and bear densities are high — this drove the elk decline and affects your hunt
- !Seasonal snow closes the Lolo Motorway and high Forest roads with little warning
- !Wilderness regulations apply within Selway-Bitterroot — no motorized/mechanized travel
- !No services or cell coverage across the backcountry — plan full self-sufficiency
Logistics
US-12 along the Lochsa is the primary artery on the south side, with Kooskia, Kamiah and Orofino the nearest full-service towns for fuel, food and processing. Interior access is via long Forest roads (Kelly Creek, North Fork) and the seasonal Lolo Motorway — expect slow gravel, no services and no cell coverage. Many hunters base out of Powell or backpack/pack-string in.
Nearest towns: Kooskia, Kamiah, Orofino, Lowell, Powell (US-12)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Lolo Zone · IDFG Lolo & Selway Elk Predation Management Plan · Idaho's Clearwater elk barely eke out a living (Spokesman-Review) · USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
FAQ
- How big is Unit 10 in Idaho?
- Unit 10 (10 (Lolo)) covers about 1,180 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,600 to 8,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 10?
- Approximately 96% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 10?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Moose, Mountain Goat. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 10 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.