At a Glance
Quick Tips
- Fish for rainbow and cutthroat trout in the Selway River
- Steelhead fishing in the West Fork of the Clearwater River
- Buy a wolf tag; wolves are legal game in the fall
Terrain
Access
Historical Temperatures
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Low
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Located south and east of Kooskia, this large, mostly public unit has a few moose in the Nez Perce National Forest on both private land and in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness.
This area typically sees low success, but bulls can grow antlers with 34-40” spreads.
A lot of the eastern three-fourths of this area is made up of mountainous terrain in the Nez Perce National Forest. East of Harpster and south and east of Kooskia are broad flats and foothills that are mostly private and divided by steep draws like those along Leitch, Rabbit and Clear creeks. The Middle Fork of the Clearwater River forms part of the northern boundary and is bounded by steep terrain that rises to Peterson, Lodge, Hot, Falls, Sob and Stillman. The river is at 1,600 feet above sea level while the points are 3,000-4,000 feet higher. The eastern part of the unit is made up of steep, rocky mountains in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. Parts of the wilderness are fairly open with brushy slopes, thinly scattered timber, many small lakes, avalanche chutes and meadows.
The Nez Perce National Forest is well-roaded except for the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness and some steep sections. Access roads start at Clearwater, Lowell and Kooskia. Highway 12 along the West Fork of the Clearwater River leads to the Selway River Road along the river of the same name.
The high parts of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness are rocky and brushy with scattered firs and spruces. Lower mountains are typically heavily forested with pines, firs and spruces. Steep south-facing slopes are usually open with grass and brush and scattered woods. Low elevations along the West Fork of the Clearwater River are forested with many open and easy to glass hills above. Flat dry farm fields and pastures are in the west with scattered pines and other conifers, brush, poplars and cottonwoods in draws and on some slopes.
Roughly 388 square miles
80% public land
Elevations from 1,600-6,800 feet
ATVs are recommended on rough, primitive roads
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended
No vehicles are allowed in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness
Some hunters camp along dirt roads. Wild Goose Campground, 20 miles east of Kooskia on the West Fork of the Clearwater River, has eight tent/RV sites. Kooskia has several lodging options including a couple of bed and breakfasts, Western Motor Inn and River Junction RV Park. River Dance Lodge is east of Kooskia on Highway 12 and has rooms, cabins and luxury tents. Hunters must backpack or pack camps by horse or llama to hunt in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness and some of the roadless parts of the Nez Perce National Forest.