Unit 43 43 (Smoky - Bennett)
High, near-solid-public Smoky Mountain country and the deer engine of the Smoky-Bennett zone
Central Idaho — Smoky Mountains, Camas/Elmore County (Magic Valley) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
703
sq mi
Public land
96%
approx.
Elevation
4,200–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 43 climbs into the Smoky Mountains above the South Fork Boise River and Anderson Ranch Reservoir, west of the Ketchum/Sun Valley high country. It is overwhelmingly public — better than 94% U.S. Forest Service — and is the standout mule deer producer among the Smoky-Bennett units, with a solid annual buck harvest. Elk are general-season opportunity here, while moose and mountain goat exist only through tightly capped controlled tags.
Terrain
Steep, glaciated Smoky Mountain ridges and drainages falling to the South Fork Boise River and Anderson Ranch Reservoir; roughly three-quarters forest, one-quarter high rangeland.
Cover: Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber on north slopes and high basins, aspen pockets, sagebrush and bitterbrush on south faces, alpine fescue and rock above timberline.
Landmarks: Smoky Mountains · South Fork Boise River · Anderson Ranch Reservoir · Fall Creek · Sawtooth National Forest
Access
Nearly wall-to-wall national forest with an extensive but rough Forest Service road and trail network; small private inholdings along the South Fork Boise and reservoir. No designated wilderness inside the unit, so motorized access reaches most drainages.
Managers: Sawtooth NF, Boise NF, BLM, IDL, Bureau of Reclamation
Access points: South Fork Boise River road below Anderson Ranch Dam · Fall Creek drainage · Baumgartner/Big Smoky area from the north · Featherville corridor
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityThe zone's top deer unit by a wide margin, with the highest buck harvest and a fair success rate for central Idaho general country.
- →Glass high sage/bitterbrush benches and timber edges at first and last light
- →Push into higher basins early season, then hunt migration onto south slopes after the first hard snow
- →Focus transition zones between forest and rangeland where bucks feed and bed
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityGeneral Smoky-Bennett zone elk with modest success — a numbers-and-effort hunt rather than a trophy draw, best where timber meets high open feed.
- →Hunt dark north-slope timber pockets and creek heads where elk hold off pressure
- →Work benches above the South Fork Boise at dawn
- →Cover country — elk shift drainages fast once rifle pressure arrives
Black Bear
common opportunitySteady black bear numbers through the timbered drainages and aspen/berry pockets.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and green south slopes in spring
- →Hunt fall berry and oak-brush concentrations
- →Check aspen draws and creek bottoms at dawn/dusk
Moose
limited qualityA very small resident moose population; harvest is one or two animals a year on tightly capped controlled tags.
- →Hunt willow-lined creek bottoms and riparian benches
- →Glass wet meadows at first and last light
- →A rare draw — scout riparian corridors thoroughly if you hold a tag
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA prized once-in-a-lifetime controlled goat hunt in the high Smoky Mountain crags; only a handful of tags and near-certain harvest for those who draw.
- →Glass cliff bands and alpine basins near the highest peaks
- →Plan a physical backcountry hunt with spike camps
- →Identify billies carefully and be ready for technical terrain
Pro tips
- →This is the deer unit of the Smoky-Bennett zone — prioritize it over 44/45 for a general mule deer hunt.
- →Elk are general-tag opportunity; expect to hunt hard and cover ground rather than sit a honey hole.
- →Watch the weather — a hard snow pushes deer onto south slopes and can strand a truck up high the same day.
- →The steep, near-total public land rewards hunters willing to climb above the roaded lower slopes.
- →Goat and moose are lottery-only; build points and treat a tag as a lifetime hunt.
Watch out for
- !Scattered private inholdings along the South Fork Boise River and reservoir — verify boundaries before crossing.
- !Early-season snow can close upper Forest Service roads and strip access fast.
- !Steep, remote terrain with no cell coverage; injuries and breakdowns are serious.
- !Wolves and black bears are present — store food and game meat accordingly.
Logistics
Fairfield and Mountain Home are the practical resupply towns; Featherville and Pine offer fuel and lodging closer to the South Fork Boise. Access is via forest roads off the Anderson Ranch/Featherville corridor. Cell service is essentially nonexistent in the drainages — carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Fairfield, Featherville, Pine, Ketchum, Mountain Home
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 43 · IDFG Hunt Planner — Smoky-Bennett Elk Zone hunts · Sawtooth National Forest — Fairfield/Ketchum Ranger Districts
FAQ
- How big is Unit 43 in Idaho?
- Unit 43 (43 (Smoky - Bennett)) covers about 703 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,200 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 43?
- Approximately 96% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Sawtooth NF, Boise NF, BLM, IDL, Bureau of Reclamation. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 43?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Moose, 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 43 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.