Unit 19A 19A (McCall)
McCall's wild backdoor — South Fork Salmon and Secesh country for DIY general-season elk and deer
West-Central Idaho — South Fork Salmon / Secesh backcountry, Idaho & Valley County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
460
sq mi
Public land
94%
approx.
Elevation
2,200–9,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 19A covers the south-side Salmon River drainages behind McCall — the South Fork Salmon River, the Secesh River, and the Bear Creek and Paradise Creek watersheds — reaching from the French Creek–Burgdorf–Summit Creek Road up into big, roadless mountains. It is remote general-season country where elk success runs low, reflecting a herd that has thinned in the South Fork over the years and terrain that demands real backcountry effort rather than any lack of opportunity. Whitetail and mule deer share the drainages, the Salmon River breaks hold a designated bighorn hunt, and black bear are common through the burns.
Terrain
Deep river and creek canyons rising to timbered ridges and high granite country of the Idaho Batholith. Long drainages, few roads, and large roadless blocks toward the wilderness.
Cover: Ponderosa and Douglas-fir on lower slopes, dense grand fir and lodgepole in the drainages, subalpine fir and open granite up high; extensive old burns create brushy regrowth and forage.
Landmarks: South Fork Salmon River · Secesh River · Bear Creek watershed · Warren / Burgdorf · French Creek–Burgdorf–Summit Creek Road · Salmon River breaks
Access
Overwhelmingly national forest, with the Frank Church wilderness bordering to the east. Access is via long gravel forest roads from McCall toward Warren and Burgdorf; interior high country is foot and stock only. Historic mining inholdings and private cabins cluster near Warren and Burgdorf.
Managers: USFS — Payette NF, USFS — Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness (adjacent), IDL, Private (Warren, Burgdorf, and scattered mining/ranch inholdings)
Access points: Warren Wagon Road (McCall to Burgdorf/Warren) · French Creek–Burgdorf–Summit Creek Road · South Fork Salmon River Road · Secesh River / Lick Creek Road corridor · Frank Church wilderness trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityGeneral-season backcountry elk behind McCall. Success is low — the South Fork Salmon herd has thinned and the country is big and roadless — but it remains a genuine DIY opportunity for the fit hunter willing to get deep.
- →Get miles beyond the road into wilderness benches and drainage heads
- →Hunt old burns and their regrowth where elk feed
- →Bugle timbered pockets in the rut and be ready to chase
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail hold in the timbered creek bottoms and brushy draws of the Secesh and South Fork drainages, a general-season option alongside elk.
- →Still-hunt north-slope timber and brushy bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Work the edges of old burns against standing timber
- →Hunt the rut window for cruising bucks
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the open Salmon River breaks and high granite basins, overlapping whitetail lower in the drainages.
- →Glass open south-facing breaks above the Salmon at first light
- →Hunt high early, follow deer down with weather
- →Plan for a long pack-out from the breaks
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Salmon River breaks along the unit's north edge hold a designated bighorn hunt — a very limited, hard-to-draw controlled tag and a trophy-caliber hunt in classic river-breaks sheep country.
- →Scout the rocky Salmon River breaks with high-power optics before season
- →Plan boat or trail access to the river corridor
- →Expect steep, broken, physically demanding ground
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common through the burns and timbered slopes, huntable spring and fall with frequent color-phase animals.
- →Glass south-facing green-up slopes in spring
- →Check berry brush and old burns in fall
- →Expect cinnamon and blonde color phases
Pro tips
- →Effort and access, not animal density, explain the low elk success — plan a real backcountry hunt
- →Old burns in the South Fork and Secesh drainages are the elk and bear magnets
- →Scout road conditions before season; the Warren Wagon and French Creek roads are long and weather-sensitive
- →Carry a satellite messenger — you will be well out of cell range
- →For sheep, put in scouting time on the Salmon breaks and expect a multi-year draw
Watch out for
- !Large roadless country bordering the Frank Church Wilderness — go self-sufficient and prepared to self-rescue
- !Warren, Burgdorf, and old mining inholdings are private — respect posted boundaries
- !Backcountry roads can snow in or wash out early, stranding vehicles
- !Rattlesnakes on the hot lower breaks early season
- !Fast weather changes at elevation; hypothermia and impassable creek crossings are real risks
Logistics
McCall is the full-service base with fuel, lodging, and outfitters; from there it is long gravel roads toward Warren and Burgdorf, then trails into the interior. Beyond the road it is a backcountry expedition on foot or stock. Cell coverage disappears quickly outside McCall — carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: McCall, Warren, Burgdorf, Yellow Pine, New Meadows
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 19A (boundary description) · USFS — Payette National Forest · USFS — Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is Unit 19A in Idaho?
- Unit 19A (19A (McCall)) covers about 460 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,200 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 19A?
- Approximately 94% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS — Payette NF, USFS — Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness (adjacent), IDL, Private (Warren, Burgdorf, and scattered mining/ranch inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 19A?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, 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 19A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.