Unit 29 29 (Lemhi)
Steep Salmon-Challis breaks and arid foothills wrapping the upper Lemhi and Salmon River valleys.
East-central Idaho — Lemhi County, Salmon Region (Region 7) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
707
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
3,900–11,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 29 covers the Lemhi River drainage south and west of State Highway 28 and the east side of the Salmon River drainage upstream from the city of Salmon. It is roughly half forest and a third rangeland, climbing from river bottoms below 4,000 feet to peaks over 11,000 feet. The unit holds good mule deer numbers, a general-season elk opportunity in the Lemhi Zone, strong pronghorn success on the valley flats, and controlled moose and pronghorn tags. Whitetail are increasing in the river bottoms.
Terrain
Broad, arid foothills and river bottoms rise abruptly into steep, timbered mountains of the Salmon-Challis. Roughly 46% forest, 38% rangeland, 13% irrigated valley farmland. No designated wilderness.
Cover: Sagebrush-grassland and bitterbrush on the lower foothills; Douglas-fir, lodgepole and subalpine fir on north slopes and higher basins; cottonwood and willow riparian along the Lemhi and Salmon rivers; irrigated hay and pasture in the valley.
Landmarks: Lemhi River valley · Salmon River · State Highway 28 corridor · Poison Creek drainage · Salmon-Challis National Forest
Access
About 51% USFS and 27% BLM, with ~20% private concentrated in the irrigated valley floor. Forest and BLM roads follow the side creeks up out of the valley; the private ag bottoms often block direct access to foothill public ground, so scout entry points before the season.
Managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, BLM, IDL
Access points: State Highway 28 up the Lemhi valley · Forest/BLM roads up Poison Creek and side drainages east of the Salmon River · County roads out of the city of Salmon
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's mainstay big-game species, with good numbers spread from foothill sage into the high timber. General-season deer opportunity.
- →Glass the transition between sagebrush foothills and timber at first and last light
- →Push higher into subalpine basins in early season, then hunt lower as snow moves deer down
- →Focus on north-slope pockets and draw heads where bucks hold during warm weather
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityPart of the Lemhi Elk Zone with a general-season structure, so success runs modest but the opportunity is open. Elk favor the steep timbered mountains that rise off the valley.
- →Get above the roads and into the steep, dense north-facing timber where pressured elk retreat
- →Work the timber-meadow edges and wallows in the early archery window
- →Hunt the high basins early, then intercept elk on lower winter-range slopes as storms arrive
Pronghorn
common qualityControlled-hunt pronghorn on the open valley flats and arid foothills produce high hunter success — a strong draw tag.
- →Glass the broad open rangeland benches and stalk using terrain folds
- →Locate bucks near water and alfalfa edges in early morning
- →Be ready for long shots across open sage
Moose
limited trophyA capped controlled-hunt species with very high success for the few tag holders. Moose use willow bottoms and riparian pockets.
- →Hunt willow-choked river and creek bottoms early and late
- →Glass beaver-pond complexes and marshy meadows
- →Move slowly and use calling in the rut window
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are hunted across the timbered mountains, with spring green-up and fall berry crops concentrating animals.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and south-facing green-up slopes in spring
- →Key on huckleberry and serviceberry patches in fall
- →Watch old logging roads and burn edges at dawn and dusk
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail numbers are increasing in the river bottoms and lower ag edges — a secondary opportunity to the mule deer.
- →Hunt cottonwood and willow river bottoms along the Lemhi and Salmon
- →Watch field edges and irrigated pasture margins at last light
- →Look for whitetail using the brushy transition between farmland and foothill cover
Pro tips
- →Treat the valley private ground as a barrier and pinpoint legal public entry up the side creeks before opening day
- →In the general-season elk hunt, escape the road-accessible timber and grind into the steep upper drainages
- →Watch the sage-to-timber ecotone at dawn for mule deer moving off feed
- →Pronghorn draw odds and open terrain make this a rewarding stalk hunt for glass-and-plan hunters
- →Have a lower-elevation plan for whitetail and deer once snow closes the high country
Watch out for
- !Irrigated private ag bottoms along the Lemhi and Salmon can block access to adjacent public foothills
- !Terrain rises fast to over 11,000 feet — early snow can strand rigs on high forest roads
- !Arid, open range means long, exposed stalks and limited water for hunters
- !Wolves and mountain lions are present and can affect elk vocalization and movement
Logistics
Salmon is the regional hub with fuel, lodging, groceries and processors; Leadore is a small resupply point up the Lemhi valley. Highway 28 and Highway 93 provide the main access, with forest and BLM roads branching up the side creeks. Cell coverage drops quickly away from the valley floor.
Nearest towns: Salmon, Leadore, Tendoy, Baker
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 29 · Salmon-Challis National Forest — USFS
FAQ
- How big is Unit 29 in Idaho?
- Unit 29 (29 (Lemhi)) covers about 707 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,900 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 29?
- Approximately 80% 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 29?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Moose, Black Bear, Whitetail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 29 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.