Unit 10A 10A (Dworshak)
Roaded Dworshak Reservoir timber country — one of Idaho's best over-the-counter whitetail units.
North-Central Idaho — Clearwater Region; Clearwater, Idaho & Shoshone Counties (Dworshak Zone) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,556
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
1,000–6,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 10A, the Dworshak Elk Management Zone, wraps the Dworshak Reservoir and the North Fork Clearwater River in a maze of timbered ridges spanning Clearwater, Idaho and Shoshone counties. It is a strong whitetail unit — general deer harvest is high with solid success — layered over a general/controlled elk opportunity, abundant black bears, and a coveted once-in-a-lifetime moose tag that produces excellent success. High road density and over-the-counter tags mean crowds and vulnerable, road-close bulls, so the payoff goes to hunters who leave the trucks behind and work the steep breaks.
Terrain
Steep, dissected timber country falling from ridgelines near 6,000 ft to the North Fork Clearwater canyon and Dworshak Reservoir (full pool ~1,600 ft), with the river breaks dropping toward 1,000 ft.
Cover: Moist grand fir, cedar and Douglas-fir on the slopes with abundant clearcuts, plantations and brushy logging edges; riparian brush and hardwoods along the reservoir arms and creek bottoms that whitetails favor.
Landmarks: Dworshak Reservoir · North Fork Clearwater River · Dworshak Dam · Dworshak State Park · Elk Creek / Orofino Creek drainages
Access
A patchwork of National Forest, state endowment timber and private industrial timberland threaded by one of the densest logging-road networks in the region. Corps of Engineers land rings the reservoir. Much access is drive-to, which is both the appeal and the problem — bulls near roads are highly vulnerable and pressure is real. Boat access off Dworshak Reservoir opens up otherwise hard-to-reach ridges.
Managers: USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private industrial timber (e.g. PotlatchDeltic), US Army Corps of Engineers (Dworshak Reservoir/State Park)
Access points: Orofino (US-12) · Dworshak Dam & State Park · Ahsahka boat launches · North Fork Clearwater / Elk River road corridors · IDL and USFS logging-road grids
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
abundant qualityThe strength of Unit 10A — a productive whitetail population with high harvest and strong success on general over-the-counter tags. The timber-and-clearcut mosaic grows deer well.
- →Hunt clearcut and plantation edges at dawn and dusk
- →Rattle and grunt through the November rut for mature bucks
- →Use tracking snow to still-hunt cedar and fir draws
- →Boat the reservoir arms to reach lightly hunted ridges
Mule Deer
limited opportunityLow numbers compared to whitetails; muleys turn up mostly on the higher, more open ridges and breaks. A bonus more than a target here.
- →Glass high open faces and clearcuts early
- →Hunt the ridge transitions above the whitetail bottoms
- →Distinguish species carefully in mixed country
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general and controlled elk opportunity with modest success; high road densities make bulls vulnerable, so herds are managed carefully and mature bulls hold in the roadless pockets.
- →Get off the road grid into the steep, timbered breaks
- →Bugle and cow-call the September ridges away from traffic
- →Use the reservoir to boat into less-pressured drainages
- →Cut sign early and hunt where the ATVs don't go
Black Bear
abundant qualityStrong black bear numbers with spring and fall opportunity; green logging roads, clearcuts and berry fields concentrate bears.
- →Spring: glass green-up on south slopes and logging roads
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and mountain-ash brush fields
- →Watch for color-phase bears
- →Cover ground by truck between glassing points on the road grid
Moose
common trophyShiras moose are a standout controlled draw here — a once-in-a-lifetime tag with very high success. Willow bottoms and the reservoir arms hold good bulls.
- →If drawn, scout creek willows and reservoir-arm wetlands early
- →Glass riparian edges at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow through the brushy bottoms where bulls hold
- →Expect a long point wait to draw the tag
Pro tips
- →This is a whitetail-first unit — build the trip around the rut and edge habitat for best odds
- →Beat the crowds by leaving the road grid; road-close elk are heavily hunted and vulnerable
- →A boat on Dworshak Reservoir unlocks lightly pressured ridges and drainages
- →Fresh tracking snow is your single best tool for both deer and elk here
- →Apply and be patient for the once-in-a-lifetime moose tag — success is very high once drawn
Watch out for
- !Mixed ownership — verify boundaries between USFS, IDL and private industrial timber before hunting or driving in
- !Very high road and ATV density means crowding and quick access for other hunters
- !Corps of Engineers land around the reservoir may carry its own access and camping rules
- !Seasonal and timber-company road gates can cut off access without notice
- !Steep river breaks make pack-outs from the canyon bottoms strenuous
Logistics
Orofino on US-12 is the main hub with fuel, groceries, lodging and processing; Ahsahka at the dam offers reservoir boat access and Dworshak State Park camping. A dense grid of Forest, IDL and private timber roads reaches most of the unit — many are gated seasonally or by timber companies. A boat on Dworshak Reservoir is a real advantage for reaching quieter country.
Nearest towns: Orofino, Ahsahka, Elk River, Pierce, Kamiah
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 10A · IDFG Dworshak Zone A-Tag Elk Hunt · USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
FAQ
- How big is Unit 10A in Idaho?
- Unit 10A (10A (Dworshak)) covers about 1,556 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 10A?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private industrial timber (e.g. PotlatchDeltic), US Army Corps of Engineers (Dworshak Reservoir/State Park). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 10A?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 10A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.