Unit 57 57 (South Hills)
A small, public-heavy island of timbered mountains on the Idaho-Utah line south of Malta.
South-Central Idaho — Cassia/Oneida County (Black Pine & Raft River Mountains) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
405
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–9,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 57 is a compact unit in southern Cassia and Oneida counties, wrapping the Black Pine and Raft River mountain ranges between Malta and the Idaho-Utah state line near Strevell. Unlike its farm-heavy neighbors, it is the most public unit of the South Hills group — roughly 70% public between the Sawtooth National Forest, BLM, and state ground. Sage valleys climb into forested ridges, giving a quiet, low-pressure feel. Deer and elk are both general-opportunity hunts here, with modest harvests but real public country to roam.
Terrain
Isolated timbered ranges — the Black Pine Mountains and the north flank of the Raft River Mountains — rise from broad sagebrush valleys near the state line, with steep forested upper slopes over juniper-sage foothills.
Cover: Sagebrush rangeland (~51%) blankets the valleys and lower slopes, giving way to forest (~37%) of juniper, aspen, Douglas-fir, and subalpine fir on the high ridges; a modest fringe of dryland farm ground (~10%) fills the valley bottoms.
Landmarks: Black Pine Mountains · Raft River Mountains · Malta · Strevell · Idaho-Utah state line
Access
The most public unit in the South Hills group at roughly 70%, with the Sawtooth National Forest's Black Pine Division and large BLM tracts forming a nearly contiguous public block through the mountains. Private ground is concentrated in the valley bottoms; Forest and BLM roads climb both ranges from the Malta-Strevell and Malta-Sublett road corridors. No Access Yes! properties are enrolled, but you need them less here.
Managers: Sawtooth NF (USFS, Black Pine Division), BLM, Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL)
Access points: Malta-Strevell Road · Malta-Sublett Road · Black Pine Division Forest roads (Sawtooth NF) · BLM roads off the valley county roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityA general-season opportunity hunt on modest deer numbers spread through the Black Pine and Raft River ranges. Harvest is small in this compact unit, but the high public-land ratio means room to hunt away from crowds.
- →Glass the juniper-sage transition and open basins of the Black Pine Mountains at first and last light
- →Hunt higher aspen and fir pockets early, dropping to winter range on the sage foothills as snow builds
- →Work the roadless upper slopes where bucks escape valley pressure
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityPart of the South Hills Elk Zone with scattered elk in the timbered high country. Success is low and numbers are limited, but the largely public terrain rewards hunters who grind the ridges.
- →Still-hunt the aspen and conifer pockets on the upper Black Pine and Raft River slopes
- →Hunt the forest-sage edge at dawn and dusk
- →Push into steep, roadless timber away from the valley roads to find undisturbed elk
Pro tips
- →This is the public-land bright spot of the South Hills units — roughly 70% public means you can roam without a checkerboard fight.
- →It's a small unit with modest harvest — treat it as a quiet opportunity hunt, not a trophy destination.
- →Both deer and elk are general-opportunity here; hunt hard and cover the timbered ridges to find animals.
- →Fuel and services are thin near Strevell and the state line — arrive topped off and self-sufficient.
- →Snow comes early to the high Black Pine slopes; watch the forecast to time the deer move to winter range.
Watch out for
- !Private ground is concentrated in the valley bottoms — mind boundaries at the low-country access points.
- !Remote tri-state-corner terrain with sparse services; cell coverage is unreliable.
- !Early snow and slick dirt roads can strand vehicles on the upper Forest and BLM roads.
- !No Access Yes! properties enrolled — rely on the Forest and BLM blocks for legal access.
Logistics
Malta offers limited fuel and supplies at the unit's edge; Burley (off I-84) is the nearest full-service town for lodging, licenses, and groceries. This is remote, lightly served country near the tri-state corner — top off fuel and carry recovery gear, as services thin out fast toward Strevell and the state line.
Nearest towns: Malta, Strevell, Burley, Snowville (UT)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 57 (boundary, ownership %, terrain, species list) · IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 55/South Hills Elk Zone context (Black Pine/Raft River ranges)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 57 in Idaho?
- Unit 57 (57 (South Hills)) covers about 405 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 9,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 57?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Sawtooth NF (USFS, Black Pine Division), BLM, Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 57?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Idaho agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 57 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.