The Sawtooth elk zone is found in central Idaho and features excellent public access and good elk numbers. With the exception of a few small areas, this zone is primarily rugged mountainous terrain and hunters willing to put in the effort can distance themselves from any competition. Most of the hunting here is conducted through over-the-counter tags but a few controlled hunt options do exist.
With the exception of a few small river valleys, most of this zone is mountainous and rugged. Hunters will find plenty of public land to pursue elk on and those willing to put in the work can distance themselves from the crowds. This area is mostly heavy timber but south-facing exposures will commonly see less timber and more natural openings such as meadows or avalanche chutes. In some areas, glassing opportunities can be good. Some of the highest elevation areas can become very rocky and impassable at times.
Public access is excellent here and with a healthy road system, hunters will find little trouble in locating huntable country. Studying maps can easily lead hunters to remote country and the opportunity to escape most of the existing hunting pressure. Accessing some of the higher elevation areas can be a physically demanding undertaking so conditioning prior to the hunt will be important.