Unit 36B 36B (Salmon)
Steep public-land breaks northwest of Challis with sheep, goats, and general mule deer
Central Idaho — Salmon River Mountains, Custer County (Challis) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
583
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–10,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 36B covers the Custer County portion of the Salmon River drainage on the north and west side of the river, from the Ellis Creek drainage upstream to (but excluding) the Yankee Fork, in the rugged eastern Salmon River Mountains northwest of Challis. It is a big, roughly 90%-plus public unit split between Salmon-Challis National Forest timber and steep BLM breaks, brushing the edge of the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. General-season mule deer carries the harvest here, while premium controlled tags for bighorn sheep and mountain goat draw hunters to the high country and river canyon. Elk numbers run below objective, so treat elk as a bonus.
Terrain
Deeply dissected canyons and ridges rising from the Salmon River corridor into forested peaks of the eastern Salmon River Mountains; timbered north slopes, open south-facing benches, and rocky escarpments above.
Cover: Roughly half rangeland, half conifer forest — sagebrush-bitterbrush and bunchgrass on lower breaks giving way to Douglas-fir, lodgepole, and subalpine fir on the high ridges, with mahogany pockets and riparian stringers in the drainages.
Landmarks: Salmon River canyon · Ellis Creek · Morgan Creek · Twin Peaks area · Yankee Fork (excluded, western boundary)
Access
About 61% Forest Service and 31% BLM, with only ~7% private clustered along the Salmon River bottom and creek mouths. A sliver (27 acres) touches the Frank Church Wilderness — no motorized access there. Most of the unit is reachable by forest and BLM roads off US 93 and the Challis area.
Managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, BLM Challis Field Office, IDL
Access points: US 93 / Salmon River corridor at Challis and Ellis · Morgan Creek Road (FR 055) · Challis Creek Road · BLM two-tracks off the river breaks
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe unit's workhorse general-season deer hunt; success rates run moderate but consistent, with some mature bucks using the timbered high country and steep breaks.
- →Glass south-facing sagebrush benches and mahogany pockets at first and last light
- →Push higher into Douglas-fir ridgelines for older bucks holding away from roads
- →Hunt the timber-rangeland transition where breaks meet forest
- →Late-season storms move deer down toward the river winter range
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA very limited controlled-hunt opportunity along the Salmon River canyon and adjacent rock — few tags, high success, true trophy potential.
- →Glass the rocky escarpments and canyon rims above the Salmon River
- →Scout well ahead of the season to pattern rams
- →Be prepared for steep, technical spot-and-stalk terrain
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA rare, capped controlled tag for the highest crags; near-certain success when drawn but a genuine once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
- →Focus on the highest rocky peaks and cliff bands
- →Spend scouting days locating billies before opening
- →Plan for physically demanding access to alpine escape terrain
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk are present but the population has run below objective with low bull ratios, so success is modest — a bonus rather than the main draw.
- →Hunt north-facing timber pockets and dark benches away from roads
- →Work the forest-rangeland edge at dawn
- →Cover country — bulls are thin and scattered
Pronghorn
limited qualityA small but high-success controlled pronghorn opportunity on the open valley and bench rangeland; few tags but excellent odds when drawn.
- →Glass the open sagebrush flats and low benches near the valley
- →Use terrain folds to close distance on bucks
- →Watch water sources and alfalfa edges in early season
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered drainages and brushy breaks; a general opportunity best in spring green-up and on fall berry slopes.
- →Glass green-up on south slopes and avalanche chutes in spring
- →Hunt berry patches and riparian stringers in fall
- →Check creek-bottom brush and old burns
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a mule deer unit first — the general tag is the reliable opportunity, with sheep/goat/pronghorn as premium draws
- →Glass the steep sun-facing breaks above the Salmon River early, then work up into timber as the sun climbs
- →The east-facing Frank Church boundary means the best backcountry deer live where roads end — hunt away from the ATV trails
- →Watch the Ellis Creek and Yankee Fork boundaries carefully; the unit line follows drainages, not roads
- →Carry water on the BLM breaks — reliable sources are limited between drainages
Watch out for
- !Private inholdings and irrigated ranch ground line the Salmon River bottom and creek mouths — know your boundaries before crossing
- !The 27-acre Frank Church Wilderness sliver is closed to motorized access
- !Steep, loose canyon terrain and rockfall on the river breaks
- !Early snow can close high forest roads quickly; carry recovery gear
- !Elk numbers below objective — don't count on filling an elk tag here
Logistics
Challis is the supply hub — fuel, groceries, motels, and the Salmon-Challis NF ranger district office. Public camping is abundant on Forest and BLM ground; the Morgan Creek and Challis Creek corridors offer good road-accessed base camps. Expect long gravel drives and rough two-tracks into the breaks.
Nearest towns: Challis, Ellis, Salmon
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 36B boundary, ownership, terrain · IDFG Salmon Region Deer and Elk Hunting Outlook · Salmon-Challis National Forest — Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 36B in Idaho?
- Unit 36B (36B (Salmon)) covers about 583 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 10,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 36B?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Salmon-Challis NF, BLM Challis Field Office, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 36B?
- Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, 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 36B on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.