At a Glance
Quick Tips
- Fish for steelhead and sturgeon in the Salmon River
- Hungarian partridges are common along the Salmon River
- Watch for bighorn sheep along the Salmon River
Terrain
Access
Historical Temperatures
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This unit located west and south of Grangeville offers moose hunting on a mixture of private and Nez Perce National Forest land and includes the western reaches of the Gospel Hump Wilderness.
This unit is a mixture of private and public land. Most property west and south of Grangeville is private. The western boundary along rivers is private, while the property farther east is in the Nez Perce Wilderness. Most private land is flat or moderately steep, but the northwest corner has some steep canyons. National forest land is made up of broad, flat mountains that are separated by steep canyons. The Salmon River Canyon along the western and southern edges of the unit is steep, broken and open. Some of the rivers and creeks that drain into the Salmon River cut through open country and have steep sides.
Although there is a lot of private land, most moose can be found on public land. Access points to public land are limited by the Salmon River Canyon on the south and private land in places along the western edge of the unit. Road 35 leads to many good hunting sites like Hurley Creek, Slide Creek and North Business Creek. Forest Road 441 starts at U.S. Highway 95 north of Riggins and leads to Waterspout Creek and other parts of the forest. The Grangeville-Salmon Road leads to Forest Roads 243 and 398 along the North Fork of Slate Creek. The Mill Creek Road leaves Highway 14 along the South Fork of the Clearwater River and runs south into the forest, eventually leading to the Moore Station Road that provides access to trailheads leading into the Gospel Hump Wilderness.
Lowlands are made up of grassy meadows, agricultural fields and steep, rugged river canyons lined with grass, brush and scattered conifers. Foothills are a mixture of timbered slopes and open, grassy ridges with brushy hollows. National forest land is timbered with firs, spruces and pines. Some slopes are grassy and open on southern exposures with a great deal of exposed rimrock, while north slopes are often heavily forested.
Roughly 574 square miles
66.4% public land
Elevations from 2,600-7,800 feet
ATVs are recommended on rough, primitive roads
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended
Trailheads into wilderness are hard to reach when snow is deep
No motor vehicles are allowed in the Gospel Hump Wilderness
Hunters in early seasons can camp on forest land. Spring Bar Campground east of Riggins is open year round and has 16 campsites, but no hookups. Fish Creek Campground is about eight miles from Grangeville and has 10 tent or RV sites that are open through October. Lodging is available at the Elk City Hotel and Gift Shop and at several motels in Grangeville, including the Gateway Inn and the Evergreen Suites. Some lodging choices in Riggins include the Big Iron Motel, Riggins Motel, Salmon River Motel and Salmon Rapids Lodge.