Unit 40 40 (Owyhee)
Big desert muleys, capped-zone bulls and Silver City high country above the Snake
Southwest Idaho — Owyhee County (Owyhee Mountains & Snake River) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,260
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
2,200–8,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 40 anchors the northern Owyhee Elk Zone, running from the Snake River and C.J. Strike Reservoir up into the conifer-capped Owyhee Mountains around historic Silver City. It pairs true desert sage flats with forested peaks over 8,000 feet, holding good numbers of mule deer, capped-zone elk, pronghorn on the benches, and California bighorn in the river canyons. Road access is excellent, but the country is big, dry and unforgiving of poor planning.
Terrain
Snake River lowlands and irrigated benches near Grand View rise through sagebrush steppe and juniper hills into the forested Owyhee Mountains, topped by War Eagle Mountain and the Silver City peaks. Deep canyons of the North Fork Owyhee River cut the western edge.
Cover: Sagebrush-grass steppe on the flats, scattered juniper on the hills, and ponderosa pine and fir on the higher mountains; riparian ribbons along the Snake and North Fork Owyhee.
Landmarks: Owyhee Mountains · Silver City (ghost town) · War Eagle Mountain · Snake River / C.J. Strike Reservoir · North Fork Owyhee River · North Fork Owyhee Wilderness
Access
No National Forest land in the unit — public ground is BLM and state, roughly three-quarters of the area, with about 24% private (irrigated ground and ranches near the Snake). The 44,684-acre North Fork Owyhee Wilderness (about 3% of the unit) is non-motorized. Respect ranch gates and private inholdings on the bench lands.
Managers: BLM, IDL (State of Idaho endowment), Bureau of Reclamation
Access points: State Highway 78 (Marsing–Grand View) · Silver City Road · Poison Creek–Mud Flat Road · Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway · Grand View / C.J. Strike
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's marquee opportunity — desert and mountain mule deer that can grow to trophy size where tags cap pressure. Densities are moderate and success runs low, so this is a low-density, high-reward hunt.
- →Glass sage draws and juniper edges at first and last light
- →Work the transition from mountain timber down to the flats as fall progresses
- →Hunt water sources and rimrock on the desert benches early season
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the capped Owyhee Elk Zone — limited tags let bulls reach mature age class, so rifle hunters who draw have a genuine shot at a big bull. Elk favor the timbered Owyhee Mountains and juniper stringers.
- →Focus on the forested high country around Silver City and War Eagle
- →Glass timber pockets and north slopes mid-day
- →Still-hunt juniper benches connecting bedding and water
Pronghorn
common qualityControlled-hunt pronghorn scattered across the open sage flats and benches. Herds are visible and huntable, with decent success for drawn tag holders.
- →Spot-and-stalk across open sage using terrain to close distance
- →Set up on fence crossings and water in dry early-season conditions
- →Glass from vehicle-accessible high points, then plan a stalk
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyCalifornia bighorn live in the rugged rimrock and gorges of the Owyhee canyon country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag with very few permits and a true trophy standard.
- →Glass rimrock and cliff bands along the river canyons
- →Scout for months before the hunt with a good spotting scope
- →Be prepared for steep, broken volcanic terrain
Pro tips
- →This is a limited-tag zone for elk — plan around the draw, not an over-the-counter hunt
- →Big muleys are here but density is low; put in glassing time rather than covering ground blind
- →Scout the Silver City high country for elk and the desert benches for deer as separate strategies
- →Fill water and fuel in Grand View — there is nothing in the interior
- →Watch weather; the clay two-tracks strand trucks fast when wet
Watch out for
- !Large private/irrigated inholdings along the Snake River bench — verify boundaries before crossing
- !North Fork Owyhee Wilderness is non-motorized
- !No National Forest land and no developed services inside the unit
- !Rugged rimrock and canyon edges — dangerous footing and vehicle hazards
- !Extreme heat and no water on the flats early season
Logistics
Grand View and Marsing are the practical staging towns for fuel, ice and last supplies; Boise is roughly 60–90 minutes for full resupply. Cell coverage is spotty to nonexistent off the highway. Carry extra water, fuel and recovery gear — services in the interior are essentially none.
Nearest towns: Grand View, Marsing, Murphy, Homedale, Jordan Valley, OR
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 40 description · BLM Owyhee Field Office / Owyhee Uplands Byway
FAQ
- How big is Unit 40 in Idaho?
- Unit 40 (40 (Owyhee)) covers about 2,260 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,200 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 40?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, IDL (State of Idaho endowment), Bureau of Reclamation. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 40?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, 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 40 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.