Unit 38 38 (Owyhee)
High-desert mule deer and near-guaranteed pronghorn on the sagebrush sweep of the Owyhee Front.
Southwest Idaho — Owyhee County (Owyhee Front) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,002
sq mi
Public land
77%
approx.
Elevation
2,400–8,051
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 38 spans the Owyhee Front in Owyhee County, rising from the Snake River plain near Murphy and Marsing up into the north end of the Owyhee Mountains around War Eagle Mountain and the historic Silver City mining country. This is classic southern-Idaho high-desert: an ocean of sagebrush and bitterbrush cut by rimrock canyons, running mostly on BLM ground. Pronghorn are the marquee draw with very high controlled-hunt success, while mule deer offer a general-season opportunity managed under the Owyhee two-point restriction. Elk are essentially absent from public ground here — nearly all are tied to private ag.
Terrain
A stair-step from the Snake River plain (~2,400 ft near Murphy) up through sagebrush benches and rimrock canyons into the timbered north end of the Owyhee Mountains, topping out on War Eagle Mountain at roughly 8,000 ft.
Cover: Vast sagebrush-steppe and bitterbrush flats with scattered juniper, ribboned by riparian brush in the canyon bottoms; mountain mahogany, aspen pockets and scattered fir cap the higher Owyhee peaks.
Landmarks: Owyhee Mountains · War Eagle Mountain · Silver City (historic) · Snake River · Reynolds Creek · Sinker Creek canyon · Murphy
Access
Predominantly BLM high desert with a lattice of two-tracks and improved gravel roads off ID-78 and the Silver City Road. The Snake River bottomland and creek-fed valleys are private ranch and irrigated ag — public access is on the benches and up the canyons. Many desert roads are impassable clay when wet.
Managers: BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private ranch & agriculture
Access points: ID-78 (Murphy / Grand View corridor) · Silver City Road · Reynolds Creek Road · Sinker Creek Road · Murphy / Marsing gateways
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe premier tag in Unit 38 — a controlled pronghorn hunt on the open Owyhee sage with very high success for those who draw. Bucks are healthy on the bitterbrush flats.
- →Glass the wide sage benches at dawn and stalk using terrain folds
- →Use decoys or the rut in early season to pull curious bucks
- →Water sources and green ag edges concentrate animals in dry years
- →Long, patient stalks — the country is open, so use every draw and rise
Mule Deer
common opportunityA general-season mule deer opportunity managed under the Owyhee two-point (or-less) buck restriction, protecting yearlings. Numbers ride the winter, but a typical winter yields a decent yearling-buck crop.
- →Glass rimrock rims and brushy draws at first and last light
- →Hunt the mahogany and juniper transition between sage and the Owyhee peaks
- →Still-hunt canyon heads where bucks bed out of the wind
- →Know the two-point rule and count points carefully before shooting
Pro tips
- →This is a glassing unit — good optics and patience beat miles of walking
- →Pronghorn is the prize; apply for the controlled hunt and expect high success if you draw
- →For deer, hunt the sage-to-mountain transition and count points carefully under the two-point rule
- →Don't plan an elk hunt here without secured private-land permission — public elk are scarce
- →Carry ample water and avoid clay roads when wet — you will get stuck
Watch out for
- !Wet weather makes desert clay roads impassable and dangerous
- !Snake River bottoms and irrigated valleys are private ranch/ag — respect boundaries and get permission
- !Water and services are sparse; self-sufficiency is mandatory
- !Rattlesnakes and extreme early-season heat in the low desert
- !Two-point antler restriction on general mule deer — verify before shooting
Logistics
Murphy (the Owyhee County seat) and Marsing are the closest small towns; Nampa on the far side of the Snake is the full-service supply hub for fuel, groceries, lodging and processing. Access is via ID-78 along the Snake, then BLM gravel and two-track climbing south into the desert — carry extra water, fuel and recovery gear, as services vanish quickly.
Nearest towns: Murphy, Marsing, Grand View, Nampa, Melba
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 38 · IDFG 2025 Deer/Elk Hunting Outlook (Owyhee) · BLM Boise District Office
FAQ
- How big is Unit 38 in Idaho?
- Unit 38 (38 (Owyhee)) covers about 2,002 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,400 to 8,051 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 38?
- Approximately 77% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private ranch & agriculture. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 38?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 38 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.