Unit 11 11 (Hells Canyon)
River-breaks unit where whitetail, mule deer and bighorns share the canyon rims below Lewiston.
North-central Idaho — Craig Mountain & Hells Canyon breaks (Nez Perce/Lewis County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
767
sq mi
Public land
35%
approx.
Elevation
700–5,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 11 wraps the Craig Mountain highlands and the deep breaks where the Snake, Salmon and lower Clearwater rivers converge near Lewiston. It is a classic three-river breaks unit: benchy grasslands and canyon draws giving way to timbered plateau country on Craig Mountain. Deer are the main draw and produce well, while elk and bighorn sheep are tightly capped, controlled-tag opportunities. The 115,000-acre Craig Mountain WMA anchors public access in a landscape that is otherwise heavily private ranch and farm ground.
Terrain
Steep river breaks rising from the Snake/Salmon confluence (~700 ft) to the timbered Craig Mountain plateau near 5,000 ft. Deeply dissected draws, benches and rimrock.
Cover: Bunchgrass and sagebrush on hot south breaks, hackberry and hawthorn draws, ponderosa pine and fir stringers, and mixed conifer/aspen on the higher Craig Mountain plateau.
Landmarks: Craig Mountain · Snake River / Hells Canyon · Salmon River confluence · Lower Clearwater River · Lewiston Grade
Access
The Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area (~115,000 acres) covers the southern quarter and is the core public block; BLM breaks line the Snake and Salmon canyons. Large private ranch and farm parcels dominate the benches and interior — knock on doors and verify boundaries.
Managers: Craig Mountain WMA (IDFG), BLM (Hells Canyon breaks), IDL endowment, private ranch/farm
Access points: Craig Mountain WMA roads (Waha, Zaza, Soldiers Meadow) · Hells Canyon breaks via Captain John Creek · Lewiston / Asotin river access · Salmon River road (White Bird side)
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common qualityWhitetail hold the brushy draws, creek bottoms and farm-timber edges, and combine with mule deer to drive the unit's strong ~44% deer success on nearly 700 animals.
- →Hunt hawthorn and hackberry draws where breaks meet ag ground
- →Glass field edges at first and last light
- →Still-hunt timbered stringers on Craig Mountain during the rut
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer occupy the open bunchgrass breaks and rimrock benches above the rivers; a rut-season migration can concentrate bucks on south-facing slopes.
- →Glass south-facing breaks from opposing ridges
- →Work rimrock benches at midday when deer bed in shade
- →Late-season, focus on lower breaks as snow pushes deer down
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityPart of the Hells Canyon Elk Zone, elk here are managed with a small capped rifle tag allotment (roughly 50 tags) and no archery elk hunt — success runs high (~57%) but opportunity is very limited.
- →Apply for the controlled rifle tag well ahead
- →Locate herds on Craig Mountain timber-meadow edges
- →Watch canyon benches at dawn where elk feed before retreating to cover
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA premier once-in-a-lifetime controlled sheep hunt in the Snake/Salmon breaks; the herd fell from roughly 230 to 150 animals after a 2023 pneumonia outbreak, so tags are scarce.
- →Draw the tag then scout rimrock and grassy benches above the rivers
- →Glass at long range from canyon rims
- →Hire local knowledge — the breaks are brutal and access is limited
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered Craig Mountain draws and brushy breaks; a general-season opportunity with steady harvest (~41/yr) for spot-and-stalk hunters.
- →Glass green draws and hawthorn thickets in spring
- →Focus on Craig Mountain timber edges
- →Check south breaks early season for bears on new grass
Pro tips
- →Craig Mountain WMA is the reliable public core — learn its road network before opening day
- →Time deer hunts to the late-season rut when bucks drop into the lower breaks
- →Confirm private boundaries carefully; the checkerboard of ranch ground is easy to trespass on by accident
- →Wet weather turns the WMA's clay roads to grease — be off the mountain before storms
- →For elk or sheep, plan around the controlled-hunt draw rather than expecting general opportunity
Watch out for
- !Extensive private ranch/farm inholdings between public blocks — verify boundaries
- !Craig Mountain roads become impassable when wet or snowed in
- !Bighorn herd is disease-stressed; respect closures and domestic-sheep separation concerns
- !Steep, unforgiving breaks terrain with limited water in early season
Logistics
Lewiston is the full-service hub in the unit's northeast corner with fuel, lodging and gear. Craig Mountain WMA roads are graded but become slick and impassable when wet; carry chains and recovery gear. The river breaks are steep and remote — plan for long pack-outs.
Nearest towns: Lewiston, Winchester, Craigmont, Cottonwood, Asotin (WA)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Unit 11 Hunt Planner · IDFG Moose/Sheep/Goat Seasons & Rules · GoHunt Idaho Unit 11 Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 11 in Idaho?
- Unit 11 (11 (Hells Canyon)) covers about 767 square miles, ranging from roughly 700 to 5,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 11?
- Approximately 35% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Craig Mountain WMA (IDFG), BLM (Hells Canyon breaks), IDL endowment, private ranch/farm. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 11?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 11 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.