Unit 18 18 (Hells Canyon)
Idaho's steepest classroom — trophy mule deer, controlled elk, and Seven Devils goats above the Snake
West-Central Idaho — Hells Canyon / Seven Devils, Idaho & Adams County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
283
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
1,400–9,420
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 18 is the Idaho half of the Hells Canyon big-game unit, a vertical world stacked between the Snake River at roughly 1,400 feet and the granite spires of the Seven Devils Mountains, where He Devil and She Devil break 9,400 feet. It is one of Idaho's premier destinations for mature mule deer, holds a hard-earned reputation for physically brutal but rewarding elk hunting, and carries a small band of mountain goats in the high rock. Whitetail fill the Salmon River draws and timbered benches near Riggins while mule deer own the open breaks and high basins.
Terrain
Extreme relief from river grade to alpine — the deepest river gorge in North America meets glaciated granite peaks in a few horizontal miles. Slopes are long, steep, rocky, and unforgiving.
Cover: Bunchgrass and sparse shrub on hot south-facing breaks, ponderosa and Douglas-fir on benches and north slopes, subalpine fir and open rock in the Seven Devils high country.
Landmarks: Seven Devils Mountains (He Devil, She Devil ~9,420 ft) · Heavens Gate Lookout · Hells Canyon Wilderness · Rapid River · Salmon River breaks near Riggins · Snake River / Hells Canyon
Access
Predominantly public but private ranch inholdings line the Salmon River and lower creek bottoms near Riggins, Pollock, and White Bird. The Hells Canyon Wilderness is closed to all vehicles including mountain bikes and game carts; the best hunting is away from the few roads.
Managers: USFS — Payette NF (Hells Canyon NRA, Seven Devils), USFS — Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, BLM, Private (Salmon River corridor near Riggins/White Bird)
Access points: Seven Devils / Windy Saddle Road and Heavens Gate from Riggins · Rapid River Road · Salmon River Road (Riggins upstream) · Kleinschmidt Grade (from Council side) · Pittsburg Landing / Hells Canyon NRA trailheads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityUnit 18 is one of the better units in Idaho for taking a mature mule deer buck, with animals using the open breaks and high basins. Success reflects difficulty, not lack of deer.
- →Glass long, open south and west breaks from first light with a spotting scope
- →Hunt high in early season, follow bucks lower as snow pushes them toward the river
- →Be prepared for long, steep pack-outs — plan the shot around the recovery
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail hold in the timbered draws, creek bottoms, and benches of the Salmon River corridor, offering a general-season option alongside the mule deer.
- →Still-hunt north-slope timber and brushy draws off the Salmon River
- →Focus on transition edges between ag/river bottom and timber at dawn and dusk
- →Watch the rut window for cruising bucks on the benches
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk hunting here is controlled-hunt only within the Hells Canyon Zone framework — a coveted, low-density but high-quality tag that demands top physical condition and steep-country skills.
- →Get away from roads and into the wilderness benches and heads of drainages
- →Locate bulls by bugling the timbered pockets between rock faces in the rut
- →Budget days for the terrain — one good basin can hold animals all week
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA small band of mountain goats inhabits the granite of the Seven Devils; this is a once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with very few permits and a near-certain trophy for the drawn hunter.
- →Scout the high cirques and rock faces around He Devil and She Devil with optics
- →Plan a wilderness backpack hunt — access is on foot from Windy Saddle
- →Study weather; early snow moves goats and complicates the high country fast
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common on the brushy breaks and timbered slopes, huntable in spring green-up and again in fall.
- →Spring: glass south-facing green-up slopes for feeding bears
- →Check draws with serviceberry and hawthorn in fall
- →Watch color-phase variation — cinnamon and blonde bears are common in this country
Pro tips
- →Treat every stalk as a two-way problem — the pack-out out of Hells Canyon terrain is often the crux of the hunt
- →Optics over boots: this is glassing country, and burning miles blindly wastes the day
- →Carry more water than feels reasonable on the hot, dry breaks
- →For elk, apply with realistic point expectations — these are limited, hard-to-draw quality tags
- →Break down deep-country animals and get meat cooling immediately in early-season heat
Watch out for
- !Hells Canyon Wilderness bans all vehicles including bikes and game carts — know the boundary
- !Private ranch inholdings along the Salmon River near Riggins and White Bird — verify boundaries before crossing
- !Rattlesnakes are common on the hot breaks in early season
- !Steep, loose rock and extreme relief make falls and dehydration the real dangers
- !High Seven Devils roads and trails can close abruptly with early snow
Logistics
Riggins is the practical base with fuel, lodging, and river-corridor access; Grangeville and Council are larger service towns on the north and south flanks. Expect long drives on steep gravel to reach trailheads, and plan self-sufficient for anything past the road. Cell coverage is unreliable off the highway corridor.
Nearest towns: Riggins, White Bird, Pollock, Council, Grangeville
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 18 · USFS — Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (Payette NF) · GOHUNT — Idaho Unit 18 profile (cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 18 in Idaho?
- Unit 18 (18 (Hells Canyon)) covers about 283 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,400 to 9,420 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 18?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS — Payette NF (Hells Canyon NRA, Seven Devils), USFS — Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, BLM, Private (Salmon River corridor near Riggins/White Bird). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 18?
- Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, 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 18 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.