Unit 13 13 (Hells Canyon)
Canyon-country mule deer and Hells Canyon elk in the Snake–Salmon river breaks
North-Central Idaho — Salmon River / Hells Canyon breaks, Idaho County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
344
sq mi
Public land
27%
approx.
Elevation
1,200–7,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 13 is the wedge of Idaho County framed by the Snake River on the west, the Salmon River on the east and north, and the White Bird–Pittsburg Landing Road on the south. It is classic river-breaks country: deep, steep-walled canyons of grass, brush, and scattered timber climbing from river level toward the Snake–Salmon divide. Part of the Hells Canyon Elk Zone (with Units 11 and 18), it offers strong deer success and respectable elk numbers, but the land is overwhelmingly private, so access is the defining challenge.
Terrain
Extremely steep breaks country rising thousands of feet from the Snake and Salmon rivers to benchy ridgetops and the canyon-rim divide. Vertical relief is punishing and slopes are sun-baked and rocky.
Cover: Bunchgrass and shrub-steppe on south-facing breaks (53% forest / 47% rangeland overall), with pockets of Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and brushy draws in the timbered stringers and north slopes.
Landmarks: Snake River / Hells Canyon · Salmon River canyon · White Bird Hill and grade · Pittsburg Landing · Snake–Salmon divide
Access
Roughly 72% private — mostly working ranches on the benches and river bottoms. Public ground is a patchwork of BLM breaks, scattered Forest Service and state parcels; much of the best canyon habitat sits behind private gates, so secure permission or target the public breaks directly off the rivers.
Managers: BLM, Nez Perce–Clearwater NF (USFS), IDL (State of Idaho)
Access points: Pittsburg Landing (Snake River / NRA access) · White Bird–Pittsburg Landing Road · US-95 corridor at White Bird · Salmon River Road from Riggins · jet-boat access on the Snake and Salmon
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe signature animal — the Snake and Salmon breaks are traditional mule deer winter range and hold mature bucks. Deer success runs around 40%, strong for Idaho.
- →Glass south- and east-facing grass breaks at first and last light from a high vantage across the drainage
- →Hunt the transition benches where timber stringers meet open grass
- →Late-season cold pushes bucks down toward river-level winter range
- →Be ready for long, steep pack-outs — get bucks off the slope before dark
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails hold in the brushy bottoms, timbered draws, and agricultural benches, mixed among the muleys. Not the primary deer here but a real secondary opportunity.
- →Work brushy creek bottoms and field edges at dawn and dusk
- →Still-hunt timbered north-slope stringers
- →Watch the private-ag interface where whitetails feed
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityPart of the Hells Canyon Elk Zone; elk success near 39% is solid for a general-tag zone. Herds ride the canyon rims and timbered heads of drainages.
- →Hunt the timbered ridgetops and heads of drainages near the divide
- →Elk drop into steep timber pockets under hunting pressure
- →Glass open canyon faces at daylight before elk bed in shade
- →Zone tags are capped — plan around the general framework early
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are well distributed through the brushy breaks and timber; a steady spring and fall harvest (about 53 bears) comes off this unit.
- →Spring: glass green south-facing slopes and avalanche-style brush chutes for feeding bears
- →Fall: focus on chokecherry, hawthorn, and berry draws
- →Cover country with optics — bears use the same open breaks as deer
Pro tips
- →Access is everything here — line up private-land permission early or commit to hunting the public BLM/Forest breaks directly off the Snake and Salmon
- →Carry top-end optics and a good tripod; this is a glass-first, walk-second unit
- →A jet-boat drop at Pittsburg Landing or off the Salmon opens breaks that road hunters can't touch
- →Plan pack-outs before you shoot — recovering game from these near-vertical slopes is the real work
- →Hydrate and pace yourself; the vertical relief and heat break down hunters fast
Watch out for
- !About 72% private land — trespass risk is high and boundaries are poorly marked on the benches
- !Extreme, unforgiving terrain with loose rock and rattlesnakes in early season
- !Steep gravel roads become dangerous when wet; carry recovery gear
- !Hells Canyon National Recreation Area rules apply on the Snake side — know the boundaries
- !Cell coverage is nonexistent deep in the canyons
Logistics
White Bird and Riggins along US-95 are the practical bases, with fuel, lodging, and the Salmon River corridor. Pittsburg Landing (via the White Bird–Pittsburg Landing Road) is the main Snake-side portal and a launch for jet-boat access into Hells Canyon. Expect long drives on steep gravel and very limited services once off the highway.
Nearest towns: White Bird, Riggins, Lucile, Grangeville, Cottonwood
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 13 · IDFG Hells Canyon Elk Zone · Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 13 in Idaho?
- Unit 13 (13 (Hells Canyon)) covers about 344 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,200 to 7,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 13?
- Approximately 27% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Nez Perce–Clearwater NF (USFS), IDL (State of Idaho). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 13?
- Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 13 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.