Unit 30 30 (Beaverhead)
A narrow, arid strip of the Lemhi Valley climbing east into the steep Beaverhead Mountains on the Continental Divide.
East-central Idaho — Lemhi County, Beaverhead Mountains along the Montana line · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
401
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–10,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 30 is a long, narrow unit covering the east side of the Lemhi River drainage north and east of Highway 28 and the mountains between the valley and the Montana border. It is mostly rangeland (about 67%) on the valley floor and foothills, with forested high country rising to the Beaverhead crest. The unit holds good mule deer and pronghorn on the open ground, a general-season elk opportunity, black bear in the timber, and rare controlled bighorn sheep tags. Whitetail are appearing in the river bottoms.
Terrain
A long, flat, narrow valley of pasture, farmland, marsh and Lemhi River bottoms, with mountains that rise steeply and rapidly from the foothills except at the wider, more moderate northern end. About 67% rangeland, 17% forest, 15% irrigated ag.
Cover: Sagebrush-grassland and bitterbrush across the foothills and benches; Douglas-fir, lodgepole and subalpine fir in the high drainages; willow, marsh and cottonwood along the Lemhi River bottoms; irrigated hay and pasture in the valley.
Landmarks: Beaverhead Mountains · Continental Divide / Montana border · Lemhi River valley · State Highway 28 corridor · Salmon-Challis National Forest
Access
About 47% BLM and 30% USFS, with ~20% private on the irrigated valley floor. Highway 28 runs the western edge; numerous roads leave it and follow creeks and canyons up the east-side mountains onto public ground. Units 30 and 30A have been removed from the Motorized Hunting Rules.
Managers: BLM, USFS Salmon-Challis NF, IDL
Access points: State Highway 28 along the western boundary · Creek and canyon roads leaving Highway 28 eastward into the Beaverheads · Access from Salmon, Tendoy and Leadore
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityHigh mule deer numbers use the sage foothills, canyon breaks and high timber. General-season deer opportunity across a mostly public unit.
- →Glass the sage-to-timber transition and canyon heads at first light
- →Hunt higher basins early season, dropping to foothills as snow arrives
- →Work the creek-canyon breaks where bucks bed on shaded slopes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityGeneral-season elk with modest success; elk hold in the steep, timbered east-side mountains and drop to winter range with weather.
- →Climb above the road-accessible foothills into the steep security timber
- →Hunt timber-meadow edges and wallows in early archery
- →Intercept elk moving onto lower slopes as the first storms hit
Pronghorn
common qualityControlled-hunt pronghorn on the open valley and foothill rangeland deliver strong hunter success.
- →Glass the open sage benches and stalk using terrain folds
- →Find bucks near water and alfalfa in early morning
- →Prepare for long open-country shots
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear inhabit the timbered high country, concentrating on spring green-up and fall berries.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and green south slopes in spring
- →Key on huckleberry and serviceberry in fall
- →Watch old roads and burn edges at dawn and dusk
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA rare, tightly capped controlled-hunt species when tags are offered — the steep Beaverhead breaks hold Rocky Mountain bighorns. Tag availability has changed over the years, so confirm current offerings.
- →Glass the steep rocky canyon walls and rim country from long range
- →Locate rams on high broken slopes and plan a careful stalk
- →Expect very rugged, physical terrain and a long scouting commitment
Pro tips
- →Use the creek-canyon roads off Highway 28 to gain the public east-side mountains fast
- →Glass the long sage foothills at dawn for mule deer and pronghorn before they move to cover
- →For general-season elk, get above the roads into the steep timber where pressured herds hold
- →If you draw a sheep tag, invest heavy pre-season scouting in the steep canyon breaks
- →Have a lower-elevation fallback for deer once early snow closes the high basins
Watch out for
- !Irrigated private valley bottoms can block access to adjacent public foothills — verify entry points
- !Bighorn sheep tag availability in the 30/30A area has changed; confirm current regulations before planning
- !Steep terrain rising near 11,000 feet takes early snow that can close high roads
- !Arid open range means exposed stalks, long shots and limited water
- !Wolves and mountain lions are present in the unit
Logistics
Salmon anchors the region with fuel, lodging, groceries and processors; Tendoy and Leadore are small resupply points along Highway 28. Roads up the east-side creeks reach BLM and forest ground quickly. Cell coverage is thin off the valley floor.
Nearest towns: Salmon, Tendoy, Leadore, 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 30 · Salmon-Challis National Forest — USFS
FAQ
- How big is Unit 30 in Idaho?
- Unit 30 (30 (Beaverhead)) covers about 401 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 10,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 30?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Salmon-Challis NF, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 30?
- 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 30 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.