Unit 51 51 (Lemhi)
Diamond Peak country — excellent pronghorn, drawn elk, and coveted sheep and goat tags
Central Idaho — Little Lost River / Lemhi & Lost River Ranges (Butte, Custer & Lemhi Counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
948
sq mi
Public land
78%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–12,197
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 51 fills the Little Lost River Valley and the flanking Lemhi and Lost River Ranges, remote high country crowned by 12,197-foot Diamond Peak. Pronghorn hunting on the valley sage is excellent, mule deer are decent through the foothills and high ridges, and elk are hunted under drawn Lemhi Zone rifle tags. The unit also offers rare once-in-a-lifetime moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep opportunities in the high ranges.
Terrain
A broad sage valley bottom framed by steep ranges whose main ridges run for miles above 9,500 to 10,000 ft and rise above timberline; Diamond Peak tops the unit at 12,197 ft.
Cover: Sagebrush and bunchgrass on the valley and lower foothills, mountain mahogany and Douglas-fir on mid slopes, spruce-fir and alpine tundra along the high ridges.
Landmarks: Diamond Peak · Lemhi Range · Lost River Range · Little Lost River Valley · Sawmill Canyon
Access
Good access to most public land — hunters can hike or drive around private tracts to reach the foothills and ranges above; the valley floor holds scattered private ranches. Public-land share is approximate.
Managers: USFS — Salmon-Challis NF, BLM, IDL
Access points: Little Lost River Highway north out of Howe · Sawmill Canyon Road · Forest roads into the Lemhi and Lost River Ranges
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityExcellent pronghorn hunting on the open Little Lost River sage — one of the unit's best-regarded hunts. Tags are drawn.
- →Glass the valley flats and low benches at dawn for feeding bucks
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds and dry washes
- →Focus near water and green feed in warm early season
Mule Deer
common opportunityDecent mule deer through the foothills and up onto the high ridges; success is modest but the country holds mature bucks in the high sage and mahogany.
- →Glass mahogany pockets and sage benches at first light
- →Hunt high on the long ridge systems early, then follow deer down with snow
- →Work canyon draws like Sawmill during midday
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityGood elk hunting managed under drawn Lemhi Zone rifle tags — a capped, controlled opportunity rather than general over-the-counter access.
- →Locate bulls in timbered mid-elevation basins and drainage heads
- →Hunt the timber-to-sage transition at dawn and dusk
- →Be prepared to hike well off the roads into steep range country
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyRocky Mountain bighorns of the South Lemhi PMU occur in the east side of the unit — a rare once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag.
- →Glass high rocky basins and ridgelines in the Lemhi Range
- →Scout early and plan a demanding backcountry hunt
Mountain Goat
limited trophyGoats hold on the highest crags near Diamond Peak; an extremely limited, prized once-in-a-lifetime tag.
- →Glass cliff bands and alpine ledges near the range crest
- →Plan a strenuous high-altitude pack hunt
Moose
limited qualityA small resident moose population in the willow bottoms and high drainages; a coveted controlled tag with high success.
- →Hunt willow-lined creek bottoms and riparian pockets
- →Glass north-facing timber edges at dawn and dusk
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears are present in the timbered mid-elevations but lightly hunted and harvested here.
- →Glass green south slopes and avalanche chutes in spring
- →Check berry and aspen pockets in fall
Pro tips
- →Pronghorn is the unit's strongest general draw — prioritize glassing the Little Lost River valley
- →For deer, hunt the high ridges early and let weather move bucks down to huntable sage
- →Fuel up and provision before you leave Mackay or Arco — services in the valley are minimal
- →The premium sheep, goat, and moose tags demand scouting and backcountry fitness
- →Map private ranch parcels on the valley floor before hunting the bottoms
Watch out for
- !Scattered private ranches along the Little Lost River valley floor — confirm boundaries
- !Very remote, low-service country with limited cell coverage — carry navigation and recovery gear
- !Steep, high-elevation ranges with altitude and exposure hazards
- !Elk, sheep, goat, and moose are controlled/drawn — not general/OTC hunts
Logistics
This is remote country — Howe at the valley's south end is tiny, so stock up in Mackay or Arco for fuel and supplies; Salmon and Idaho Falls are the nearest full-service towns. The Little Lost River Highway is the main artery, with Forest and BLM roads branching to trailheads. Expect little to no cell service in the valley and ranges.
Nearest towns: Howe, Mackay, Arco, Leadore
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 51 · IDFG Hunt Planner — Lemhi Elk Zone · Salmon-Challis National Forest — USFS
FAQ
- How big is Unit 51 in Idaho?
- Unit 51 (51 (Lemhi)) covers about 948 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 12,197 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 51?
- Approximately 78% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS — Salmon-Challis NF, BLM, IDL. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 51?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 51 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.