Unit 54 54 (South Hills)
A forested island in the desert — the South Hills mix aspen-and-fir uplands with sage foothills for pronghorn, deer, elk and a coveted moose tag.
South-central Idaho — South Hills / Sawtooth NF Cassia Division (Cassia & Twin Falls Counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,370
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,200–8,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 54 is the South Hills, a surprising forested highland rising out of the Snake River Plain south of Twin Falls in the Cassia Division of the Sawtooth National Forest. Ringed by sagebrush foothills and farm country, the higher core holds aspen groves, Douglas-fir and mountain-mahogany, springs and small streams (Rock Creek, the Magic Valley's classic drainage). Pronghorn work the open sage margins and post the unit's best success; mule deer and a general elk opportunity live in the timbered uplands; and a small, high-success Shiras moose herd makes this a genuine once-in-a-lifetime draw. It's a compact, well-watered mountain island offering more variety than its desert surroundings suggest.
Terrain
An isolated forested upland — the South Hills — climbing from sagebrush foothills near 4,200 ft to timbered ridges and peaks over 8,000 ft, drained by Rock Creek and other small streams cutting canyons back toward the Snake River Plain.
Cover: Sagebrush and bitterbrush foothills give way to mountain-mahogany, aspen groves, Douglas-fir and subalpine fir on the higher slopes, with willow-lined creek bottoms, wet meadows and springs feeding good browse.
Landmarks: South Hills (Sawtooth NF Cassia Division) · Rock Creek Canyon · Magic Mountain / Pomerelle areas · Monument Peak · Diamondfield Jack / City of Rocks region (south)
Access
The forested core is Sawtooth National Forest with a good road-and-trail network out of Rock Creek and the Magic Mountain corridor, wrapped by BLM foothill sage. The lower fringes and canyon mouths are private farm and ranch land, so reach the public timber via the main Forest Service access up Rock Creek and adjacent drainages. Popular recreation area near Twin Falls means company on the main roads.
Managers: USFS Sawtooth NF (Minidoka RD / Cassia Division), BLM (foothill sage), Private agriculture (fringes), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment
Access points: Rock Creek Road (south from Twin Falls) · Magic Mountain / Diamondfield Jack corridor · Nat-Soo-Pah / Berger area · Oakley & Goose Creek approaches (east) · Sawtooth NF Cassia Division road network
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn on the sage foothills and open margins post the unit's highest success — a controlled-hunt draw and classic spot-and-stalk antelope opportunity around the forest fringe.
- →Glass the open sage benches and foothill flats at first light
- →Use terrain and draws to close on bucks in the open
- →Hunt the transition where farm/sage meets the forested foothills
- →Watch water sources and green draws during dry early seasons
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the aspen, mahogany and fir of the South Hills uplands and the brushy canyon breaks; a general-opportunity deer with good habitat variety in a compact range.
- →Hunt aspen and mountain-mahogany edges at dawn and dusk
- →Glass open subalpine slopes and burns up high early season
- →Work the brushy Rock Creek canyon breaks and side draws
- →Push into the timbered pockets away from the main recreation roads
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA general-season elk opportunity in the South Hills timber with modest success typical of this small forested island; elk hold in the fir and aspen and use the meadows and springs.
- →Bugle and cow-call the timbered ridges in September
- →Hunt the wet meadows, springs and aspen pockets at the edges of light
- →Get back off the main Rock Creek and Magic Mountain roads into quieter drainages
- →Cut fresh sign on Forest roads then still-hunt the dark timber
Moose
limited trophyA small Shiras moose herd makes the South Hills a genuine once-in-a-lifetime controlled draw with very high success for those who pull the tag — moose use the willow creek bottoms and wet aspen draws.
- →If you draw, scout the willow-lined creek bottoms and wet meadows early
- →Glass riparian aspen and willow at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow — bulls hold tight in the brushy bottoms
- →Expect a long point wait for this coveted tag
Pro tips
- →Play the variety — pronghorn on the sage fringe, deer and elk in the timber, and a moose tag as the lottery prize
- →Get off the popular Rock Creek / Magic Mountain recreation corridor to find undisturbed game
- →Hunt the aspen, mahogany and spring-fed meadows — the water and browse concentrate animals here
- →Apply and be patient for the once-in-a-lifetime South Hills moose tag; success is very high once you draw
- →Reach public timber via the Forest Service arteries — the canyon mouths and foothills are private
Watch out for
- !Lower canyon mouths and foothills are private farm/ranch land — verify boundaries and get permission
- !Popular Twin Falls recreation area means crowding and pressure on the main roads and trailheads
- !Upper South Hills roads close with early snow — plan access before the mountain socks in
- !Compact unit ringed by private ground — public/private lines are close together, so map carefully
- !Fire-season closures can affect the Sawtooth NF Cassia Division in dry late summers
Logistics
Twin Falls is the full-service supply hub to the north with fuel, groceries, lodging and processing; Kimberly, Hansen and Oakley are closer small-town options. Rock Creek Road is the main artery into the South Hills, with a developed Forest Service road-and-campground network around Magic Mountain and Diamondfield Jack. Upper roads gain snow and close in late fall.
Nearest towns: Twin Falls, Kimberly, Oakley, Hansen, Rogerson
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Game Management Units · USFS Sawtooth National Forest — Cassia Division / South Hills · IDFG Big Game Seasons & Rules (moose controlled hunts)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 54 in Idaho?
- Unit 54 (54 (South Hills)) covers about 1,370 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,200 to 8,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 54?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Sawtooth NF (Minidoka RD / Cassia Division), BLM (foothill sage), Private agriculture (fringes), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 54?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 54 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.