Unit 9 9 (Panhandle)
Remote Mallard-Larkins backcountry — heavy timber, big bulls and one of Idaho's best mountain-goat units.
North-Central Idaho — North Fork Clearwater High Country; Shoshone & Clearwater Counties (Clearwater Region) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
204
sq mi
Public land
88%
approx.
Elevation
1,600–6,870
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 9 is rugged, heavily forested backcountry in the headwaters of the North Fork and Little North Fork of the Clearwater River, straddling Shoshone and Clearwater counties in the Mallard-Larkins and Snow Peak country. It is nearly 90% public — mostly Nez Perce-Clearwater (Clearwater and St. Joe) National Forest plus state endowment land — but access is on foot and rough roads, not easy driving. This is a Panhandle Elk Zone unit where mature bulls exist but hunting is genuinely hard due to dense timber and few glassing points, and it holds an excellent mountain-goat population centered on Snow Peak. Black bears are common, whitetail and a few mule deer live at opposite ends of the elevation band, and a rare once-in-a-lifetime Shiras moose tag is available.
Terrain
Steep, dissected timber country dropping from a rim of peaks between roughly 6,600 and 6,870 ft — Mallard Peak, Larkins Peak, Crag Peak, Heart Peak — into the deep North Fork and Little North Fork Clearwater canyons near 1,600-2,500 ft.
Cover: Dense moist grand fir, cedar and subalpine fir forest with limited natural openings, old burns and brush fields, avalanche chutes and rock on the high south-facing slopes of Snow Peak, and brushy riparian bottoms along the river forks.
Landmarks: North Fork Clearwater River · Little North Fork Clearwater River · Snow Peak / Snow Peak WMA · Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area (Mallard, Larkins, Crag, Heart Peaks) · Canyon Creek
Access
Predominantly National Forest and state land, but this is remote, roaded-then-roadless backcountry — expect long, rough Forest Service roads, gated spurs and foot or stock travel to reach the high country. There is no designated wilderness but large de-facto roadless terrain around Mallard-Larkins. No Access Yes! properties operate here; the challenge is effort and terrain, not permission.
Managers: USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater NF (Clearwater & St. Joe) (~79%), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment (~9%), Private (~12%)
Access points: North Fork Clearwater River road corridor · Little North Fork drainage roads · Surveyors Ridge / Forest Service road system · Getaway Point area · Snow Peak / Canyon Creek trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA Panhandle Elk Zone unit that can produce a mature bull, but hunting is difficult — heavy timber and a scarcity of glassing sites make elk hard to locate. Success is low, and the reward goes to hunters willing to work the steep, roadless timber.
- →Get deep off the road system into the roadless timber and burns
- →Bugle and cow-call from ridges and old-burn openings in September
- →Still-hunt slow through dense cover — you will hear more than you see
- →Hunt the North Fork breaks and Little North Fork drainages where bulls hold
Mountain Goat
common trophyAn excellent mountain-goat population — a coveted once-in-a-lifetime controlled tag. The bulk of the goats occupy Canyon Creek and the south-facing slopes of Snow Peak.
- →If drawn, focus Snow Peak and Canyon Creek's south faces
- →Glass rock, cliffs and avalanche chutes above the timber
- →Plan a physically demanding backcountry hunt with camp near the goats
- →Scout in summer to locate billy groups before season
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityModest whitetail numbers, concentrated in the lower river bottoms and brushy breaks rather than the high timber. Deer harvest and hunter numbers are low in this remote unit.
- →Hunt the lower North Fork and Little North Fork bottoms and brush
- →Use tracking snow to still-hunt timbered draws
- →Focus edges near old burns and openings
- →Expect low deer density — pair with an elk or bear hunt
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA few mule deer use the higher, more open country and the Mallard-Larkins ridges. A bonus for hunters already high for elk or goats.
- →Glass the high open faces and burns above timber
- →Hunt the ridge country near the peaks
- →Identify species carefully in mixed deer country
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common in this productive timber and burn country, with spring green-up and fall berry seasons. A worthwhile add-on where glassing points exist.
- →Spring: glass green-up on south slopes, avalanche chutes and old burns
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and brush fields
- →Watch for color-phase bears
- →Use the few open faces and burns to spot from
Moose
limited trophyA rare once-in-a-lifetime Shiras moose controlled tag with high success for the few who draw. Bulls hold in willow-brush river bottoms and wet timber.
- →If drawn, scout willow and riparian bottoms along the river forks
- →Glass wet meadows and brush at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt slow through the brushy bottoms
- →Expect a long point wait for the tag
Pro tips
- →This is an effort unit, not an access unit — plan a backcountry trip deep off the roads
- →For elk, hunt old burns and the few openings; dense timber means calling and still-hunting over glassing
- →If you draw the goat tag, scout Snow Peak and Canyon Creek in summer
- →Carry backcountry navigation and camp gear — no services and no cell coverage
- →Watch the weather window; early snow can close roads and end access abruptly
Watch out for
- !Remote roadless terrain — self-rescue mindset; no cell service
- !Early-season snow can gate high Forest Service roads and strand vehicles
- !Heavy timber and scarce glassing make locating game genuinely hard
- !Long pack-outs from steep country — plan meat care and stock or partners
- !Wolves and bears are present; store food and game meat accordingly
Logistics
This is a backcountry unit with no towns inside it — stage out of Pierce or Headquarters to the south or Avery/Clarkia to the north, with Orofino (US-12) as the nearest full-service hub for fuel, groceries, lodging and processing. Come self-sufficient: long rough Forest Service roads, primitive camps, and foot or stock travel to reach the high country. Cell service is essentially nonexistent.
Nearest towns: Pierce, Headquarters, Avery, Clarkia, Orofino
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Idaho sources:
Research sources: IDFG Hunt Planner — Unit 9 · IDFG Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area Plan · USFS Hoodoo Roadless Area / Clearwater NF
FAQ
- How big is Unit 9 in Idaho?
- Unit 9 (9 (Panhandle)) covers about 204 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,600 to 6,870 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 9?
- Approximately 88% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Nez Perce-Clearwater NF (Clearwater & St. Joe) (~79%), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) endowment (~9%), Private (~12%). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 9?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, Whitetail Deer, 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 9 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.