At a Glance
100Square Miles
92.9%Public Land
5,000 - 7,600Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Fish for steelhead in the South Fork of the Clearwater River
- Forest grouse are common, bring a shotgun
- Bring a GPS to mark where you park
Hunters commenting on Idaho's Unit 15 highlight its challenging terrain, noting steep, densely forested areas that require good physical conditioning. The unit appears to offer rewarding opportunities for those prepared to navigate its difficult landscape, with elk being a primary target and hunting success increasing during cooler, late-season periods. Advice emphasizes the necessity of detailed planning for successful navigation and game strategy. Overall, sentiment reflects cautious optimism, with an understanding that patience and preparedness can yield positive outcomes in this unit.
Most of this unit is mountainous terrain in the Nez Perce National Forest around Elk City and has a lot of elk and whitetail deer along with a few mule deer.
Some bigger whitetails have been taken here in the past, but mature mule deer are not seen as often. Bowhunters can buy elk tags over-the-counter. There is a December archery season for elk and whitetail deer. Whitetail rifle tags are valid until late November.