Unit 44 44 (Smoky - Bennett)
Split private-and-public prairie-to-mountain unit where pronghorn are the real draw
Central Idaho — Camas Prairie & Fairfield, Blaine/Camas/Elmore County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
555
sq mi
Public land
51%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–9,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 44 straddles the Camas Prairie around Fairfield, rising from farmland and sagebrush flats into the southern Smoky foothills. Ownership is nearly an even split — about 51% public (36% Forest Service, 9% BLM) and 49% private — which shapes where you can hunt. Pronghorn on the open prairie are the unit's best-known opportunity, with a respectable success rate on a controlled tag; deer and elk here are far thinner than in neighboring high-country Unit 43.
Terrain
Broad Camas Prairie basin of sage and dryland farm ground climbing to timbered Smoky foothills on the north; roughly three-quarters rangeland.
Cover: Sagebrush-steppe and dryland grain on the prairie, scattered aspen and Douglas-fir in the foothill draws, riparian willow and cottonwood along creeks.
Landmarks: Camas Prairie · Soldier Mountains foothills · Anderson Ranch Reservoir (north edge) · Camp Creek / Croy Creek · U.S. 20 corridor
Access
A patchwork: national forest and BLM in the foothills and reservoir margins, but much of the prairie floor is private farm and ranch land. No designated wilderness. Foothill forest roads give good motorized access; prairie hunting often requires knocking on doors or finding public parcels.
Managers: Sawtooth NF, BLM, IDL, Bureau of Reclamation
Access points: U.S. 20 through Fairfield · Camp Creek–Croy Creek Road · Anderson Ranch Dam area · Soldier Mountain foothill roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common opportunityThe unit's signature hunt — Camas Prairie pronghorn with the largest antelope harvest and best success in the Smoky-Bennett units on a controlled tag.
- →Glass the open sage-and-grain flats from high points and drive-glass section roads
- →Use terrain folds and irrigation berms to close the distance on spotted bucks
- →Hunt water and alfalfa edges in warm early-season weather
- →Scout private-vs-public boundaries in advance — the best ground is a checkerboard
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityGeneral Smoky-Bennett elk at low density; animals filter between private prairie ground and foothill timber, making access the main challenge.
- →Hunt the forest/private edge in the northern foothills
- →Glass foothill benches at dawn before elk move to private feed
- →Locate a public pinch point elk use to move between cover and crops
Mule Deer
limited opportunityThin deer numbers with very low harvest — a marginal deer unit; better mule deer hunting sits north in Unit 43.
- →Work foothill sage/aspen edges at first light
- →Focus creek draws and brushy transition ground
- →Treat deer as a bonus while hunting pronghorn or elk
Black Bear
limited opportunityA modest black bear harvest from the timbered northern foothills and creek drainages.
- →Glass green foothill slopes and aspen draws in spring
- →Hunt fall berry pockets on the forest edge
- →Check riparian bottoms at dawn and dusk
Moose
limited qualityA handful of moose in the riparian and foothill fringe; harvest is one to three a year on rare controlled tags.
- →Hunt willow creek bottoms and wet meadows
- →Glass riparian corridors morning and evening
- →Scout thoroughly — a draw-only lifetime opportunity
Pro tips
- →Come here for pronghorn — it is the strongest antelope opportunity in the Smoky-Bennett zone.
- →Sort out the private/public checkerboard before the season; the prairie is a patchwork and access makes or breaks the hunt.
- →For a serious mule deer hunt, go to Unit 43 instead — deer are thin here.
- →Elk lean toward private feed; find the public foothill pinch points they travel through.
- →Prairie two-tracks turn to gumbo after rain — carry recovery gear.
Watch out for
- !Roughly half the unit is private — trespass risk is real on the prairie floor; verify every boundary.
- !Wet fall storms make prairie roads impassable mud.
- !Game concentrates on private agricultural ground during harvest, limiting public opportunity.
- !Foothill roads can snow in early.
Logistics
Fairfield sits at the center of the unit on U.S. 20 with fuel, food, and lodging; Bellevue and Mountain Home are the larger resupply points. Prairie roads are drivable but muddy after rain; foothill forest roads are rougher. Cell service exists near Fairfield/U.S. 20 but drops off in the foothills.
Nearest towns: Fairfield, Bellevue, Mountain Home, Hailey
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 44 · IDFG Hunt Planner — Smoky-Bennett Elk Zone hunts · Sawtooth National Forest — Fairfield Ranger District
FAQ
- How big is Unit 44 in Idaho?
- Unit 44 (44 (Smoky - Bennett)) covers about 555 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 9,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 44?
- Approximately 51% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Sawtooth NF, BLM, IDL, Bureau of Reclamation. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 44?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 44 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.