Unit 28 28 (Salmon)
Salmon breaks and high divides — a broad big-game menu on the east edge of the Frank
Central Idaho — Salmon River country, Salmon-Challis NF (Lemhi County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,311
sq mi
Public land
88%
approx.
Elevation
3,200–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 28 covers the rugged country between the main Salmon River and the high divides east and south of it, in the Salmon-Challis National Forest near the town of Salmon. Where the wilderness units to the west are float-and-fly only, Unit 28 mixes true backcountry with a network of forest roads on its fringes, giving it the widest practical big-game spread in the region — pronghorn on the open flats, mule deer and elk through the breaks and timber, bighorns on the river rims, and strong bear numbers.
Terrain
Steep Salmon River breaks and side canyons rising to timbered ridges and open high basins, with sagebrush benches and valley flats on the eastern margins toward the Lemhi Valley.
Cover: Sagebrush and bunchgrass on lower flats and south faces, bitterbrush and mountain-mahogany on the breaks, Douglas-fir and lodgepole on mid-to-high slopes, and subalpine basins up top.
Landmarks: Main Salmon River · Panther Creek · North Fork Salmon River · Salmon River breaks · Salmon-Challis high divides
Access
Predominantly national forest and BLM, with a wilderness/roadless core on the west and a road-accessed periphery. Forest roads up drainages like Panther Creek and the North Fork open the mid-country to trucks and ATVs, while private ranch ground and irrigated flats line the Salmon and Lemhi valley bottoms — check boundaries where public meets private.
Managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, BLM, IDL
Access points: Panther Creek Road corridor · North Fork Salmon River access (US-93 corridor) · Salmon River Road · Forest roads off US-93 near Salmon and North Fork
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityThe unit's top big-game harvest. Good buck numbers use high basins early and pour into the Salmon breaks and sage benches as weather and the rut arrive.
- →Hunt high basins and timberline early season, then key on bitterbrush and mahogany breaks with the first storms
- →Glass sage benches and canyon faces at dawn for feeding bucks
- →A late migration/rut window can concentrate mature bucks on the lower breaks
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunitySolid elk herds through the timber and breaks with a strong annual harvest; low percentage success reflects general-season pressure over big country rather than scarcity.
- →Bugle-locate rutting bulls along dark-timber edges and burns in September
- →Hunt north-slope timber pockets and wallows in the heat
- →Push into roadless country away from the road corridors to escape pressure
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn hold on the sagebrush flats and benches on the eastern, lower-elevation margins toward the Lemhi Valley. A capped controlled hunt with modest but real success.
- →Glass open sage flats and low benches at long range, then plan a terrain-hidden stalk
- →Use rolling ground and draws to close distance on wary bucks
- →Water sources and fence lines can pattern movement on hot early-season days
Black Bear
abundant qualityStrong black bear numbers with color-phase potential, feeding on spring green-up in the breaks and fall berry crops on the higher slopes.
- →Glass green south-facing draws and avalanche chutes on spring evenings
- →Target berry benches and old burns in early fall
- →Cross-canyon glassing over the breaks turns up feeding bears
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophySalmon River bighorns work the steep breaks and rimrock along the main river. A very limited controlled tag with excellent success for the few who draw.
- →Glass the rocky rims and grass benches above the Salmon River breaks
- →Focus cliff-and-escape terrain; hunt the same rams over multiple days
- →Approach from above and let optics do the work before a stalk
Pro tips
- →Base out of Salmon or North Fork and use the Panther Creek / North Fork road network to reach country fast
- →Push past the road corridors into roadless breaks for lower-pressure deer and elk
- →Time deer hunts to a storm-driven migration onto the lower breaks and sage benches
- →Verify public/private boundaries where forest meets ranch ground in the valley bottoms
Watch out for
- !Private ranch and irrigated ground along the Salmon and Lemhi valley bottoms — respect boundaries and access
- !Steep, loose Salmon River breaks make footing and pack-outs demanding
- !High forest roads can close quickly with early snow
- !Wildfire and smoke can restrict access in late summer and early fall
Logistics
Salmon and North Fork on US-93 make the best staging towns for fuel, tags, lodging, and outfitters. Road corridors up Panther Creek and the North Fork open much of the unit to truck and ATV access, while the western roadless country still rewards foot and stock hunters. This is far more road-accessible than neighboring wilderness units, though the breaks are steep.
Nearest towns: Salmon, North Fork, Challis, Leadore
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: Idaho Department of Fish and Game — Big Game Hunt Planner · USFS Salmon-Challis National Forest · BLM Idaho — Salmon Field Office
FAQ
- How big is Unit 28 in Idaho?
- Unit 28 (28 (Salmon)) covers about 1,311 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,200 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 28?
- Approximately 88% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, BLM, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 28?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 28 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.