Hunters discussing Idaho's Unit 25 highlight several insights and challenges that could inform those planning a hunt in the area. The consistent mention of high wolf pressure appears to be a significant factor influencing elk behavior, making the animals elusive and particularly quiet during the archery season. It's important for hunters to note the area receives heavy hunting pressure, with many using motorcycles, in addition to wolves, impacting elk movements and patterns. This unit requires navigating rugged terrain filled with old burns and deadfalls, suggesting that hunting deeper into more remote areas might not yield better results, as animals tend to be scattered and hard to locate. Engaging in early and thorough scouting, prepared for vast terrain and potential surprise encounters with other hunters or wildlife, could improve hunt success in this challenging yet expansive environment.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 130"-150" | 150"+ |
| Elk | Raghorn-300" | 310"+ |
High
Low
This mountainous unit around Warm Lake in the Payette National Forest has good numbers of elk and mule deer and a small population of whitetail. There are not as many roads as in the McCall area units, which offers more hunting away from roads and trails.
This is not a good unit for hunters who like to ride roads because there are not very many and those that exist are usually well below the level at which elk and mule deer live during hunting seasons. A limited tag late deer season offers good success on mature bucks.
The south end of the unit has some flat pastures and wide meadows, like the ones near Warm Lake and the South Fork of the Salmon River. The tiny town of Yellow Pine is also on a flat spot in the northern part of the unit. The south end has some rolling hills that range up to about 7,000 feet above sea, otherwise this unit is almost entirely mountainous. A high ridge runs north and south through the center of the unit, and both the eastern and western edges have high ridges with peaks above timberline. Most land is between 5,500 and 8,000 feet in elevation. The high ridges and peaks have some extremely steep slopes, but few cliffs.
Most land is heavily forested or has been burned in big forest fires, leaving a lot of dead standing and fallen trees. Tree species include ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, larch, Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine and subalpine fir. Dense brush and high grass has grown in some of the burns, providing great feed and cover for deer and elk. In a lot of the high terrain areas, altitude, rock slides and exposed rock prevent trees from growing. Most slopes above 8,000 feet are either treeless or have scattered and sparse timber. Alpine terrain has shrubs, grass, moss, lichens and forbs.
Roughly 900 square miles
99.5% public land
Elevations from 5,200-9,100 feet
Except for a few mining sites, one state section and few other small tracts of deeded ground, all land is public in the Payette National Forest. A Forest Service motor vehicle use map is available online. The main roads are Johnson Creek Road, Lick Creek Road and East Fork and South Fork roads, which follow forks of the Salmon River for miles. A few roads and some motorcycle and hiking trails branch from those roads. The best way to get away from other hunters in this unit is to ride a horse or dirt bike on one of those trails and then hike away from the trail.
ATVs are not necessary
Four-wheel-drive vehicles with tire chains are recommended
Hunters can camp along roads on public land. At least 18 private and public campgrounds are in the unit, most of them at Warm Lake or along the east and south forks of the Salmon River. Warm Lake Campground is a fee site about a mile from a swimming beach. A no-fee campground is Trout Creek, which is near a trailhead to Thunderbolt Lookout and several trails into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. North Shore Lodge near Warm Lake offers cabins for rent and a restaurant.