Unit 36A 36A (Pioneer)
Sun Valley's back range — Antelope Flats sage to 12,000-foot Pioneer peaks, with elk the headline and pronghorn, mule deer, moose, sheep and goats in the mix.
Central Idaho — Pioneer Mountains & Big Lost River country, Custer County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
771
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–12,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 36A runs from the sage flats and river bottoms south of Challis up into the Pioneer Mountains, one of Idaho's highest ranges, near Copper Basin and the Big Lost River. Terrain swings from barren 5,000-foot foothills and Antelope Flats to alpine peaks topping 12,000 feet. Elk on the Pioneer Zone tag are the strongest draw here, with a solid mule deer hunt, good-success pronghorn on the flats, and once-in-a-lifetime moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled tags in the high country.
Terrain
A dramatic range of relief — low desert flats, farm fields and river bottoms near 5,000 ft in the north and east climbing through endless foothills and draws to the alpine crest of the Pioneer Mountains, with peaks above 12,000 ft.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass flats and barren foothills give way to mountain mahogany, aspen pockets and Douglas-fir on the mid slopes, then lodgepole, subalpine fir and open alpine rock, tundra and cirque basins near the Pioneer crest.
Landmarks: Pioneer Mountains · Copper Basin · Big Lost River · Antelope Flats · East Fork Big Lost River · Hyndman Peak area · foothills south of Challis
Access
Largely public, split among Salmon-Challis and Sawtooth national forest in the high country and BLM/IDL across the lower foothills and flats. Private farm and ranch bottoms line the Big Lost River and the northern flats — get permission or hunt the surrounding public. The high Pioneer alpine is roadless, foot-and-horse country. Trail Creek Road and the Copper Basin road network are the main mountain access.
Managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, USFS Sawtooth NF, BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), Private (river-bottom ranches & farm fields)
Access points: Trail Creek Road (Ketchum–Mackay) · Copper Basin Road · Big Lost River / US-93 corridor (east) · Antelope Flats / foothill two-tracks · Mackay (east hub)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe unit's headline hunt, on the quota-limited Pioneer Zone A/B tags. Elk use the timbered mid-slopes, aspen pockets and high basins, dropping toward the foothills and river bottoms as snow builds — success is respectable for a capped mountain zone.
- →Bugle the September aspen and timber pockets on the mid slopes
- →Glass basin heads and burns morning and evening
- →Watch the sage-timber transition as snow pushes elk down
- →Hunt away from the Trail Creek and Copper Basin road corridors
Mule Deer
common opportunityA solid mule deer hunt across the foothills, mahogany draws and high basins; bucks scatter into the steep Pioneer country and slide to lower sage and mahogany as weather turns.
- →Glass mahogany draws and open foothill slopes at first and last light
- →Climb into the high basins for older bucks early
- →Hunt the transition zones on a snow push
- →Still-hunt aspen stringers and timbered pockets midday
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn thrive on Antelope Flats and the open sage foothills — a good-success antelope hunt by Idaho standards, on a controlled tag.
- →Glass the open flats early and use terrain to stalk
- →Locate bucks near water sources and green margins
- →Belly-crawl the final approach on the open sage
- →Judge horns carefully — this unit produces good bucks
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears are present but scattered, favoring the timbered mid-slopes, aspen and berry pockets of the Pioneer front. Spring green-up and fall berries are the windows.
- →Spring: glass green-up on south-facing slopes and aspen
- →Fall: hunt berry and mountain-ash brush in the timber
- →Watch for color-phase bears
- →Cover ground — bear density is lower here than the wetter ranges
Moose
limited trophyShiras moose hold the willow bottoms and riparian corridors of the Big Lost and Copper Basin drainages — a once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag for the rare hunter who draws.
- →If you draw, scout willow flats, beaver ponds and creek bottoms early
- →Glass wetland edges at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow — bulls hold in thick riparian brush
- →Expect a long point wait to draw
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyRocky Mountain bighorns inhabit the high Pioneer crags — a coveted once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with strong success for those who draw.
- →If you draw, scout the alpine cliffs and cirques for months ahead
- →Glass high rock and ridgelines at first light
- →Prepare for steep, technical alpine hunting
- →Be patient for the draw — this is a premier tag
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats live on the highest Pioneer peaks and cliff bands — a once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag, with very high success but demanding alpine terrain.
- →If you draw, scout the highest cliff bands and snowfields
- →Glass rock faces and alpine benches at dawn
- →Plan a multi-day backcountry alpine hunt
- →Respect exposed terrain and fast-changing high-country weather
Pro tips
- →Elk on the capped Pioneer Zone tag are the main event — confirm quota status before you plan
- →This unit spans desert to alpine — match the species to the elevation band you hunt
- →Antelope Flats offers genuinely good pronghorn success by Idaho standards
- →Time deer and elk to the first real snow that pushes animals off the Pioneer peaks
- →The moose, sheep and goat tags are lottery bonuses — apply and be patient, success is high once drawn
Watch out for
- !Private farm and ranch bottoms line the Big Lost River and northern flats — get permission or hunt public
- !Trail Creek and Copper Basin high roads snow in and gate early in fall
- !Extreme Pioneer alpine terrain in the sheep/goat country demands serious fitness and mountaineering care
- !Barren, water-scarce foothills mean planning water and access carefully on early hunts
- !Color-phase black bears require careful target ID
Logistics
Mackay on US-93 in the Big Lost River valley is the closest full supply town on the east side; Ketchum/Sun Valley to the southwest (over Trail Creek Summit) and Challis to the north round out the options. Trail Creek Road links Ketchum to Mackay through the range, and the Copper Basin road network opens the high country — both gain snow and gate early in fall.
Nearest towns: Mackay, Challis, Ketchum, Sun Valley, Arco
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 36A · IDFG Hunt Planner — Pioneer Zone · GOHUNT — Idaho Unit 36A Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 36A in Idaho?
- Unit 36A (36A (Pioneer)) covers about 771 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 36A?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, USFS Sawtooth NF, BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), Private (river-bottom ranches & farm fields). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 36A?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 36A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.