Unit 39 39 (Boise River)
Boise's backyard giant — trophy-caliber muleys and general elk in the pressured Boise River foothills.
Southwest Idaho — Boise Mountains, east of Boise (Boise/Elmore County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,433
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
2,700–9,451
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 39 is a sprawling 1.5-million-acre unit that begins in Boise's foothills and stretches east and northeast into the Boise Mountains and Boise National Forest, reaching toward the Trinity Mountains and the South Fork Boise River. It holds high numbers of mule deer, a general-season elk herd in the Boise River Zone, pronghorn on the drier fringes, black bear in the timber, and a coveted once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat hunt in the high peaks. Its proximity to Boise means heavy pressure — the biggest mule deer bucks turn nocturnal and hard to kill despite genuine trophy potential.
Terrain
Rises from the Boise River foothills and Lucky Peak country (~2,700-3,000 ft) through steep chaparral and timbered canyons into the Boise Mountains, cresting near 9,400 ft in the Trinity Mountains.
Cover: Foothill sagebrush, bitterbrush and cheatgrass give way to bitterbrush-mahogany brushfields, then ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and lodgepole in the mid and high country, with subalpine fir and granite basins on the Trinity peaks.
Landmarks: Boise Mountains · Trinity Mountains · Boise River (Boise River WMA) · Lucky Peak Reservoir · Arrowrock Reservoir · South Fork Boise River · Mores Creek / Idaho City
Access
Overwhelmingly public — Boise National Forest and BLM behind a dense road network out of Idaho City, Mores Creek and the Boise River corridor. The lower foothills and valley edges near Boise are increasingly private/subdivided, so push up onto the forest. A motorized hunting rule applies to designated portions during the fall seasons.
Managers: USFS Boise NF, BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private (foothills & valley)
Access points: ID-21 (Boise-to-Idaho City) · Blacks Creek Road · Arrowrock/South Fork Boise River Road · Boise River WMA (foothills) · Idaho City / Mores Creek gateways
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityThe backbone of Unit 39 with high deer numbers and genuine trophy-buck potential, but intense pressure from nearby Boise makes big bucks nocturnal and hard-earned.
- →Hunt hard away from roads and trailheads to escape pressure
- →Glass high mahogany and brush basins at first light before deer bed
- →Late seasons and storms push migrating deer down into the foothills
- →Focus on remote pockets other hunters skip
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general-season elk opportunity in the Boise River Zone with modest success typical of a heavily hunted OTC unit — the elk are here but hold in steep, timbered escape cover.
- →Get into the steep dark timber and north slopes the crowds avoid
- →Bugle and cow-call the September ridges early
- →Work the transition between burns/brushfields and heavy timber
- →Beat the motorized-rule areas on foot or horseback
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears inhabit the timbered mid and high country with spring and fall opportunity; berry fields and green-up draws hold bears.
- →Spring: glass green south slopes and old logging roads
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and brushfield feed
- →Watch for color-phase (cinnamon/blonde) bears
- →Cover ground and glass canyon-to-canyon
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn occupy the drier open fringes of the unit and are taken on a controlled hunt with solid success for drawers, though this is not primary antelope country.
- →Glass the open sage flats on the unit's lower, drier edges
- →Use terrain to close the distance on wary bucks
- →Hunt water and green feed in dry stretches
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA true once-in-a-lifetime prize — a highly limited controlled mountain goat tag in the high Boise/Trinity peaks with essentially guaranteed success for the rare hunter who draws.
- →If you draw, scout the highest granite and cliff basins in summer
- →Glass rock faces at dawn and plan safe stalks on steep terrain
- →Be in top physical shape and prepared for exposed climbing
- →Take your time — this is a lifetime tag
Pro tips
- →Effort and distance from roads are everything here — the deer are big but pressured and nocturnal
- →Escape the Boise crowds by hunting steep, remote timber other hunters won't
- →Late-season storms push migrating muleys down toward the foothills — time it right
- →Learn the Boise River Zone boundary and the fall motorized hunting rule before you go
- →Apply for the once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat tag — success is near certain if you draw
Watch out for
- !Extremely heavy hunting pressure due to Boise's population
- !Growing private/subdivided land in the lower foothills near town — verify boundaries
- !Fall motorized hunting rule restricts vehicle use in designated areas Aug 30-Dec 31
- !High-country roads close quickly with early snow
- !Steep, fire-scarred terrain with deadfall and washboard roads
Logistics
Boise sits right at the unit's doorstep — full services, gear, fuel, lodging and processing are minutes away, making this one of the most accessible big-game units in the state. ID-21 climbs to Idaho City for closer-in supplies and forest access, with Blacks Creek and Arrowrock roads reaching the interior. Convenience is a double-edged sword: easy access means crowds.
Nearest towns: Boise, Idaho City, Mountain Home, Eagle, Garden City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 39 · GoHunt Idaho Unit 39 Profile · USFS Boise National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 39 in Idaho?
- Unit 39 (39 (Boise River)) covers about 2,433 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,700 to 9,451 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 39?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Boise NF, BLM, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment, Private (foothills & valley). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 39?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Pronghorn, 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 39 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.