Unit 25 25 (McCall)
Roadless backcountry elk and mule deer in the burned, brushy South Fork high country east of McCall
Central Idaho — South Fork Salmon River / Warm Lake–Yellow Pine (Valley County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
886
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–9,000
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 25 is deep, roadless-feeling backcountry east of McCall, built around the South Fork of the Salmon River, Warm Lake, and the mining hamlet of Yellow Pine. Nearly the entire unit is Payette National Forest public land, most of it between 5,500 and 8,000 feet, much of it reshaped by large wildfires that left dead standing timber, downfall, and thick brush-and-grass regrowth that feeds elk and deer. This is a boots-and-backcountry unit — the few roads run the canyon bottoms far below where elk and mule deer actually live in hunting season.
Terrain
Deep forested canyons of the South, East, and Johnson Creek forks of the Salmon River cut between high timbered ridges; flat meadows and pastures open up near Warm Lake and the river bottoms, with Yellow Pine on a flat in the north.
Cover: Heavily forested mixed conifer, extensively burned in recent decades — dead standing and downed timber with dense brush, shrub, and tall-grass regrowth in the burns providing excellent feed and cover.
Landmarks: South Fork Salmon River · East Fork South Fork Salmon River · Johnson Creek · Warm Lake · Yellow Pine · Lick Creek Summit
Access
Almost entirely Payette National Forest public land — aside from scattered mining claims, one state section, and a few small deeded tracts, it is all public. Access is via canyon-bottom roads (Johnson Creek, Lick Creek, East Fork and South Fork roads); away from those corridors it is steep, trail-only backcountry. At least 18 public and private campgrounds cluster at Warm Lake and along the river forks.
Managers: USFS Payette NF, USFS Boise NF, IDL
Access points: Warm Lake Road · Johnson Creek Road · Lick Creek Road (McCall–Yellow Pine) · South Fork Salmon River Road · East Fork Salmon River Road
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityCapped McCall Elk Zone backcountry elk with general A/B-tag opportunity. Success is low (single digits) — a function of steep, roadless terrain and general-season pressure, not absence of elk. Burn regrowth grows quality feed, and the effort to reach it thins the crowd.
- →Hike well above the canyon roads to the ridges and basins where elk summer and hold
- →Hunt burn edges and regrowth pockets for feed at first and last light
- →Use the roadless terrain — plan for backpack or spike camps away from the trailheads
- →Glass long across the big burned drainages to locate bulls before committing
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer are the primary deer here, using the high burned ridges and open basins well above the roads; general-season hunting in demanding backcountry.
- →Glass high open ridgelines and burn slopes at dawn
- →Hunt the transition between regrowth brush and standing timber
- →Be prepared to climb — the bucks live above the road system
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityA limited number of whitetail use the lower South Fork Salmon River bottoms and riparian corridors alongside the dominant mule deer.
- →Work riparian brush and river-bottom benches along the South Fork
- →Still-hunt cover near the canyon floor early and late
- →Expect them as a bonus to a mule-deer-focused hunt
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear inhabit the burned brushy drainages and berry country; lower overall harvest than the neighboring units mainly reflects the difficult backcountry access.
- →Glass green-up slopes and avalanche chutes in spring
- →Hunt berry-rich burns and creek bottoms in late summer and fall
- →Cover ground on foot along the river forks and side drainages
Pro tips
- →This unit rewards effort over roads — the animals live above the canyon-bottom road system, so plan to hike or pack in
- →Target the burn mosaics: dead timber and brushy regrowth are where the feed and the elk are
- →Base out of Warm Lake or the river-fork campgrounds and hunt outward on foot
- →Watch the first snow — an early storm can strand you if Lick Creek or the higher roads close
- →Come fully self-sufficient; Yellow Pine has minimal services and resupply is a long drive
Watch out for
- !Very limited road access — most of the unit is steep, trail-only backcountry with no quick exit
- !Early snow can close Lick Creek and other high access roads and trap vehicles
- !Extensive burns mean standing dead timber (widowmakers) and heavy downfall — camp and travel carefully
- !Scattered active mining claims and small private tracts exist amid the public land — verify before crossing
Logistics
This is a remote unit — Yellow Pine is a tiny outpost, and Warm Lake offers seasonal lodges and campgrounds, but full resupply means Cascade or McCall. Roads in are long, slow gravel (Warm Lake, Johnson Creek, Lick Creek); come self-sufficient with fuel, recovery gear, and food for the duration.
Nearest towns: Yellow Pine, Cascade, McCall, Warm Lake
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 25 (terrain, ownership, roads, habitat) · IDFG McCall Elk Zone · USFS Payette National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 25 in Idaho?
- Unit 25 (25 (McCall)) covers about 886 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 25?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Payette NF, USFS Boise NF, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 25?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, 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 25 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.