Unit 16 16 (Elk City)
Roaded Nez Perce timber from the Clearwater farms up into the Selway breaks — a whitetail stronghold with general elk.
North-Central Idaho — Clearwater Region, Idaho County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
394
sq mi
Public land
78%
approx.
Elevation
1,400–7,800
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 16 sits in the Elk City Zone, stretching from dryland farms and river bottoms near Kooskia and Harpster southeast into the mountainous Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Roughly three-quarters of the unit is forested, well-roaded timber country that transitions to a small tail of Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness on its eastern edge. Whitetails dominate the western half and lower drainages; elk and mule deer live higher, with elk sold as a mostly general/OTC tag that keeps opportunity broad even as success stays modest.
Terrain
River-bottom farmland and canyon breaks along the South and Middle Fork Clearwater climb into steep, timbered ridges and the Fog Mountain high country toward the Selway divide.
Cover: Mixed conifer (grand fir, Douglas-fir, cedar, ponderosa) on north slopes and drainages, brushy clearcuts and old burns, dryland grain and pasture in the northwest, open grassy benches and rangeland on south exposures.
Landmarks: South Fork Clearwater River · Middle Fork Clearwater River · Fog Mountain · Sally Ann Creek · Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness (east tail)
Access
Extensively roaded on the Nez Perce side via Forest Service arterials; a substantial ~19% private block of farms and river-bottom ground in the northwest requires permission. Small tribal and endowment inholdings. Only the far-east wilderness tail is roadless.
Managers: Nez Perce-Clearwater NF (USFS), Private, Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL), Nez Perce Reservation (BIA)
Access points: State Highway 13 / South Fork Clearwater corridor · FR 443 and FR 464 (Sally Ann / Fog Mountain area) · FR 319 and FR 284 · Harpster and Stites river access
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
abundant qualityThe signature animal here — whitetails are common through the western half, farm edges, and every timbered creek bottom, sold general/OTC with strong success in the high-40s percent range.
- →Glass ag-forest edges and clearcut margins at first and last light
- →Still-hunt cedar and fir draws during the November rut when bucks chase
- →Focus benches between the ridgetop and the river breaks
- →Post logging-road systems where does funnel between cover and feed
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer share the higher, more open south-facing ridges and the Fog Mountain country, thinner than whitetails but a genuine general-season option up high.
- →Hunt open grassy benches and burns on south exposures
- →Glass high ridgelines at dawn before deer bed in timber
- →Push toward the wilderness tail for less-pressured bucks
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk City Zone bulls draw a general/OTC deer-elk crowd; rifle bull tags are capped by the state but overall opportunity stays broad. Success runs about a fifth of hunters — typical for roaded general elk country.
- →Work old burns and clearcut regrowth for feed
- →Get off the main roads onto foot into steep timber pockets
- →Hunt north-slope holding cover midday
- →Bugle timbered basins early in the archery rut
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are numerous in the brushy drainages and old burns; spring green-up on south slopes and fall berry patches both produce.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and grassy south slopes in spring
- →Watch huckleberry and serviceberry benches in late summer
- →Check clearcut edges at dusk
Pro tips
- →Whitetails are the highest-odds tag in the unit — don't over-index on elk.
- →Secure permission early on the northwest farm ground; it holds concentrated whitetails.
- →Rifle bull elk tags are capped, so confirm the current cap/OTC status before planning an elk-only trip.
- →Get a few hundred yards off the road system to escape the general-season crowd.
- →Late-season snow pushes deer down toward the river bottoms and ag edges.
Watch out for
- !Roughly 19% private plus Nez Perce Reservation and IDL inholdings in the northwest — verify boundaries before hunting near the farms.
- !Steep, greasy native-surface roads after rain; early snow can strand vehicles on high roads.
- !Capped rifle bull elk tags mean elk opportunity is narrower than the OTC deer tag suggests.
- !The eastern wilderness tail is foot/stock only — no motorized access.
Logistics
Kooskia and Grangeville anchor fuel, groceries, and lodging, with Elk City a small forward base to the southeast. The Forest Service road net makes day-hunting and truck camping practical across most of the unit; motels and Highway 13 access keep this an easy roaded hunt by Idaho backcountry standards.
Nearest towns: Kooskia, Harpster, Stites, Grangeville, Elk City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 16 · IDFG Hunt Planner — Elk City Zone · Nez Perce-Clearwater NF (USFS)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 16 in Idaho?
- Unit 16 (16 (Elk City)) covers about 394 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,400 to 7,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 16?
- Approximately 78% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Nez Perce-Clearwater NF (USFS), Private, Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL), Nez Perce Reservation (BIA). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 16?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule 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 16 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.