Unit 48 48 (Smoky - Bennett)
Timbered mountain unit in the Smoky-Bennett zone — strong mule deer, high-country elk and a rare Shiras moose tag
Magic Valley — Blaine County, Smoky & Soldier Mountains north of Fairfield · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
609
sq mi
Public land
83%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 48 sits in the Smoky and Soldier Mountains of Blaine County, spanning the country between Ketchum, Hailey and the Camas Prairie south to U.S. 20. It is a genuine mountain unit — roughly 38% timbered forest over 52% rangeland — climbing from valley sage into subalpine peaks near 10,000 feet. Mule deer drive the harvest here (well over 600 animals a year); elk are managed within the Smoky-Bennett Zone with capped tags, and the unit also offers a very limited controlled Shiras moose hunt plus black bear and mountain lion.
Terrain
Sagebrush valleys and foothills rising into steep, timbered mid-mountain slopes and rocky subalpine ridges of the Smoky and Soldier Mountains, drained by creeks feeding the Big Wood River and Camas Prairie.
Cover: Valley big sagebrush and bitterbrush grading into aspen pockets, Douglas-fir and lodgepole/subalpine fir on the higher slopes, with mountain-mahogany on rocky faces and willow/riparian along the creeks.
Landmarks: Smoky Mountains · Soldier Mountains · Big Wood River · Camas Prairie · Croy Creek · Deer Creek · Couch Summit · Soldier Mountain ski area
Access
About 69% Sawtooth National Forest (Fairfield and Ketchum Ranger Districts) with roughly 12% BLM in the foothills and small IDL parcels; private (about 17%) concentrates in the Wood River and Camas valleys. Access is via Forest Service roads and trails off State Highway 75, U.S. 20 and the Croy Creek/Deer Creek corridors. Three Access Yes! properties add hunting ground. No designated wilderness in the unit, but high country goes non-motorized by trail quickly.
Managers: USFS Sawtooth NF, BLM, IDL
Access points: Ketchum / Hailey (Highway 75) · Croy Creek Road · Deer Creek Road · Couch Summit · U.S. 20 from Fairfield · Soldier Mountain / Fairfield Ranger District roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
abundant qualityThe backbone of the unit — mule deer produce the largest harvest of any species here (600-plus bucks in recent years at healthy success), with deer summering in the high Smoky/Soldier basins and migrating to lower sage foothills as snow pushes them down.
- →Hunt high in early seasons — glass timberline basins, aspen edges and mountain-mahogany faces
- →As storms arrive, intercept deer on migration to the foothills and Camas Prairie edges
- →Work the transition where timber meets sage at dawn and dusk
- →Get off the Forest roads and into the drainages to find older bucks
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityPart of the Smoky-Bennett Elk Zone, whose herd has been managed downward in recent years to reduce ag depredation. Tags are capped by zone; the unit holds elk in the timbered mid-mountain country with a steady if modest bull harvest.
- →Hunt the timbered north slopes and dark-timber pockets where elk hold during the day
- →Work benches and wallows near water in the archery rut
- →Push into roadless drainages away from pressure
- →Watch elk shift onto private ag in the valleys — line up permission early
Moose
limited trophyA very small controlled Shiras moose hunt with high success for the lucky drawn tag-holders. Moose key on willow-lined creek bottoms and riparian pockets in the drainages.
- →Glass willow bottoms and beaver-pond riparian along the creeks at first and last light
- →Once-in-a-lifetime, hard-to-draw tag — scout the specific drainages before the season
- →Bulls water and feed in the same wet stringers day after day — pattern them
- →Coordinate with the IDFG Magic Valley regional biologist on bull locations
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears inhabit the timbered slopes and berry-brush of the Smoky and Soldier Mountains, with a fair annual harvest across spring and fall seasons.
- →Spring: glass south-facing avalanche chutes and green-up slopes for feeding bears
- →Fall: hunt berry patches, aspen and creek bottoms
- →Cover ground glassing timbered openings early and late
- →Check current baiting/season rules before planning a method
Mountain Goat
limited trophyThe high, rocky crest of the Smoky Mountains holds a small mountain goat population managed under an extremely limited controlled hunt — a once-in-a-lifetime tag for hunters willing to work the highest, steepest country.
- →Glass the highest cliff bands and subalpine crags near timberline
- →Expect steep, physical, multi-day backcountry hunting
- →Draw odds are minimal — confirm the current huntable areas with IDFG before applying
- →Pre-scout access to the high country while snow-free
Pro tips
- →Hunt elevation with the calendar: high and timbered early, low and sage-edge once snow moves deer down
- →This is primarily a deer unit — the mule deer harvest dwarfs everything else
- →Elk tags are zone-capped in Smoky-Bennett; plan around the quota rather than assuming OTC
- →Moose and goat are once-in-a-lifetime controlled tags — scout hard if you draw
- →Private clusters in the Wood River/Camas valleys; use a mapping layer near the ag edges
Watch out for
- !High-country roads and trailheads can be snowed in early and late — check access before committing
- !Private inholdings in the Wood River and Camas valleys along the low-elevation edges
- !Smoky-Bennett elk tags are capped and can sell out — don't assume availability
- !Steep, physical terrain in the Smoky/Soldier high country; plan for backcountry conditions
- !Wildfire closures possible on the Sawtooth NF in dry late summers
Logistics
Ketchum and Hailey (Wood River Valley) offer full services, lodging and gear; Fairfield covers the west side with fuel and basics. Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed camping are plentiful on the Sawtooth NF. Higher trailheads can be snowed in early or late — check road status, and carry chains and recovery gear for the mountain roads.
Nearest towns: Fairfield, Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 48 · Idaho Mountain Express — Fish and Game proposes reducing elk hunts (Smoky-Bennett) · Sawtooth National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 48 in Idaho?
- Unit 48 (48 (Smoky - Bennett)) covers about 609 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 48?
- Approximately 83% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Sawtooth NF, BLM, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 48?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Black Bear, 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 48 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.