Unit 22 22 (Weiser River)
The Weiser River Zone — big, mixed timber-and-rangeland country from Snake River canyon rims to the Cuddy and West Mountains, with liberal general elk.
West-Central Idaho — Weiser River / Adams & Washington County (Region 3 — Southwest) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
859
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
1,800–8,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 22 is a large, varied unit spanning parts of Idaho, Adams and Washington Counties, running from the Snake River and Hells Canyon rim (Granite Creek up to Brownlee Dam) east across the Weiser River drainage to the divides near Council and Cambridge. It's roughly two-thirds forest and one-third rangeland, part of the Weiser River Elk Zone where the A-tag cap has been removed because the zone runs above elk objectives. General-season elk and deer dominate, with black bear common, a tiny capped mountain goat resource on the steep Snake River / Hells Canyon breaks, and whitetail mixed into the river bottoms.
Terrain
Enormous relief — from roughly 1,800 ft on the Snake River behind Brownlee Dam to near 8,000 ft on Cuddy Mountain and the West Mountain / Council Mountain highlands. Deep Snake River canyon breaks on the west grade into rolling timbered mountains and rangeland benches to the east.
Cover: Roughly 64% forest (Douglas-fir, ponderosa, grand fir, lodgepole), 32% rangeland (bunchgrass and sage on the canyon breaks and benches), with about 3% irrigated ag in the valley bottoms; brushfields and old burns scattered through.
Landmarks: Snake River / Hells Canyon (Brownlee Reservoir) · Cuddy Mountain · Weiser River · Rapid River divide / Purgatory Saddle · Council Mountain / West Mountains
Access
Largely Payette National Forest in the highlands with BLM on the Snake River breaks and substantial private ranchland along the Weiser River corridor and U.S. 95. U.S. 95 links Weiser–Cambridge–Council; State Highway 71 runs to Brownlee Dam. An extensive Forest road network reaches most of the high country, but Snake River canyon access is steep and limited.
Managers: USFS Payette NF, BLM, IDL, Private (Weiser River valley ranches)
Access points: Council (U.S. 95) · Cambridge (U.S. 95) · Highway 71 to Brownlee Dam · Payette NF roads onto Cuddy Mountain · Weiser River corridor
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant opportunityA general-season elk unit in the over-objective Weiser River Zone — the A-tag cap has been removed, so opportunity is liberal even though success runs in the high teens. Good numbers of elk use the timber-and-rangeland mosaic.
- →Hunt the timber/rangeland edges where cover meets feed at dawn and dusk
- →Work old burns, brushfields and reprod on Cuddy Mountain and the West Mountains
- →Get away from the dense road network to find undisturbed pockets
- →Glass big canyon breaks and basins at long range
Mule Deer
common opportunityGeneral-season mule deer across the breaks and higher benches; success near a quarter is typical for the region. Bucks favor the steep Snake River and Weiser breaks.
- →Glass canyon breaks and sage/timber transitions at first and last light
- →Hunt higher timber early, dropping to the breaks with weather
- →Cover ground to locate pockets of undisturbed bucks
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA secondary opportunity in the Weiser River bottoms and lower riparian draws where whitetail use ag edges and cover.
- →Still-hunt riverbottom brush and creek confluences
- →Watch field edges near the valley at dawn/dusk
- →Focus riparian corridors after snow pushes deer low
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA very small, capped once-in-a-lifetime goat resource on the steep Snake River / Hells Canyon breaks; the handful of tag holders see excellent success on billies.
- →Glass the highest, most broken canyon rimrock and cliff bands
- →Locate goats from a distance, then plan a route around the cliffs
- →Expect a hard controlled-hunt draw and technical, exposed terrain
Black Bear
common opportunityStrong black bear numbers through the timbered drainages and brushfields — a dependable spring and fall opportunity where legal.
- →Glass green-up on south slopes and old burns in spring
- →Hunt berry fields and brushy drainages in late summer/fall
- →Check creek bottoms and reprod for feeding bears
Pro tips
- →Liberal general elk tags make this a solid opportunity unit — success is modest, so hunt hard and cover country
- →Play the timber-to-rangeland edge; the mosaic here means feed and cover are often within a short move
- →Drop into the Snake River / Weiser breaks for muleys, especially once high roads snow shut
- →The dense Forest road system means you must walk away from it to escape pressure
- →Watch the valley bottoms for whitetail as a bonus on a deer tag
Watch out for
- !Extensive private ranchland along the Weiser River and U.S. 95 — verify boundaries before hunting
- !Steep, exposed Snake River / Hells Canyon breaks with real fall hazard
- !Hot, dry early seasons on the breaks — carry water
- !High Cuddy Mountain / West Mountain roads snow shut in fall
- !Black bears through the timber — secure meat and camp
Logistics
Council and Cambridge along U.S. 95 offer fuel, food and lodging; Weiser to the south is the largest town and has full services. Highway 71 reaches Brownlee Dam and the Snake River. The Payette NF road network is extensive, but Snake River canyon roads are steep, dusty and slow. Cell coverage is fair in the valley towns and drops off in the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Council, Cambridge, Weiser, Midvale
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 22 · IDFG Hunt Planner — Weiser River Zone · USFS Payette National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 22 in Idaho?
- Unit 22 (22 (Weiser River)) covers about 859 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,800 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 22?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Payette NF, BLM, IDL, Private (Weiser River valley ranches). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 22?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, 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 22 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.