Unit 21, Idaho

Elevation ranges from approximately 2,800 feet at the Salmon River canyon floor to 9,100 feet at high points such as Stripe Mountain, Allan Point, and Waugh Mountain. The majority of terrain falls between 5,000 and 8,000 feet — steep, heavily forested ridges and drainages. The Salmon River Canyon along the unit's southern boundary contains some of the most rugged, open country. The eastern portion of the unit is accessible by road; the western quarter is remote roadless wilderness requiring foot or horseback travel.

The unit is 98.59 percent U.S. Forest Service land (Salmon-Challis National Forest, Salmon and North Fork Ranger Districts) and 1.26 percent private. U.S. Highway 93 runs the eastern edge between Salmon and the Montana line, providing the primary vehicle corridor. Forest Road 30 follows the Salmon River along the southern boundary. A network of forest roads branches west from U.S. 93 into the unit interior. The western quarter of the unit, including the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness (71,611 acres, 21.98 percent of the unit), is motorized-vehicle-free and accessed on foot or horseback — hunters may also enter from Montana via Horse Creek Pass. No Access Yes! properties are currently enrolled in Unit 21.

Lower elevations along river corridors support ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, cottonwood, aspen, alder, birch, and juniper. Middle elevations transition to dense mixed-conifer forest of subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, and lodgepole pine. Some drainages show evidence of historical fire, with standing snags and regenerating grass, brush, and sapling communities providing productive browse habitat. The unit is classified as 98.77 percent forested with less than 1 percent rangeland.

Elk are present throughout, concentrating on mid-elevation timber and ridge edges; the unit is part of the Salmon Elk Zone (Units 21, 21A, 28, 36B). Mule deer are the primary deer species, comprising approximately 88 percent of the deer harvest; white-tailed deer occur in lower river-corridor habitat. Black bear range across the unit with a spring general season (April 1 – June 30). Mountain lion are present under a year-round general tag. Gray wolf packs inhabit backcountry areas. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep occupy the steep Salmon River canyon country. Grizzly bears have been documented in this area (North Fork Salmon/Bitterroot fringe) and hunters should exercise caution; grizzly is not a huntable species. Moose are listed as present by IDFG but no active controlled hunt unit is currently designated within Unit 21 boundaries.