Unit 23, Idaho

Unit 23 ranges from approximately 2,600 to 8,800 feet in elevation across roughly 745 square miles. The New Meadows valley floor (around 3,800 ft) is a broad agricultural basin 1–4 miles wide and about 12 miles long. Northward, the Little Salmon River cuts a narrow canyon with steep hillsides that quickly give way to heavily forested mountains and rocky ridges. The northwestern edge features dramatic terrain rising along the boundary with Hells Canyon. Eastern ridges reach 8,000–9,000 feet. Terrain outside the wilderness is accessible by road within roughly 2 miles of most points, though 4WD with tire chains is recommended for late-season travel.

Primary vehicle access is U.S. Highway 95, which follows the Little Salmon River corridor through the core of the unit, connecting Riggins (north) to New Meadows (south). The unit falls within the Payette National Forest (McCall Ranger District) and portions of the Nez Perce National Forest (USFS 66.13%, BLM 5.93%, State 3.43% = ~75.5% public). Forest Service roads branch off Highway 95 into the drainages on both sides; Hazard Creek Road and NFDR 1614 (accessed via Partridge Creek) are key forest routes on the east side. The east side of Highway 95 is generally preferred for big-game hunting due to higher game density. The Hells Canyon Wilderness (11,669 acres, approximately 2.45% of the unit) occupies the northwestern corner — no motorized vehicles are permitted within this boundary. Outside wilderness, many miles of motorcycle trails and some ATV-designated trails provide backcountry access. Access on the east side requires crossing private land in places (notably near Patrick Creek, Hell Creek, and Lake Creek drainages); gate status can vary seasonally. No IDFG Access Yes! properties are listed for Unit 23. Approximately 25 public and private campgrounds operate within or near the unit.

Lower canyon elevations below about 4,000 feet support grasses, low shrubs, scattered ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir, with cottonwoods and willows along riparian corridors. Between 4,000 and 7,000 feet, dense mixed-conifer forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, western larch, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir cover the majority of the unit (approximately 86% of the land area is classified as forested). Above 7,000 feet to the treeline near 9,000 feet, terrain transitions to open, rocky ridges and burned sections from past wildfires. Rangeland accounts for about 9% of the unit, concentrated on drier south-facing slopes and the valley fringe; irrigated agricultural land makes up roughly 5% in the New Meadows area.

Elk (Rocky Mountain) are the primary big-game draw; the unit is part of the McCall Elk Zone (Units 19A, 23, 24, 25) and herd levels have been at or above management objectives in recent years. Both mule deer and white-tailed deer are present — mule deer dominate mid-elevation slopes while whitetails favor riparian areas and timbered draws near the valley floor; white-tailed deer densities are noted as among the highest in the region in Units 23 and 24. Black bear are huntable and use the mixed-conifer forest throughout. Mountain lion are present and managed through unit-based harvest quotas. Gray wolf have been documented in the unit and are managed under Idaho general wolf hunting regulations. Mountain goat occur in the Hells Canyon terrain on the unit's northwestern edge and are available through controlled draw. Upland birds including forest grouse (ruffed, blue) are present in the timber. Steelhead run the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. CWD mandatory testing applies to all deer (mule deer and white-tailed deer) taken in Unit 23 within 10 days of harvest; carcass transport restrictions do NOT apply (Unit 23 is not in a CWD Management Zone as of 2026).

Season dates sourced from the 2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure (idfg.idaho.gov). Key corrections vs. draft: (1) No standalone general antlered elk any-weapon season — McCall Zone A tag is archery any-elk Aug 30–Sep 30, plus spike-only any-weapon Oct 5–14; B tag is antlered any-weapon Oct 15–Nov 3. (2) Regular Deer Tag Unit 23: antlered mule or whitetail Oct 10–Oct 31; antlerless white-tailed deer only under regular tag. White-tailed Deer Tag extends to Nov 20. (3) No muzzleloader-only deer or elk season is listed for Unit 23 in 2026 brochure. (4) Bear fall season Aug 30–Oct 31 (not concurrent with full elk/deer general). (5) Wolf hunting season Apr 1–Nov 14 (general), Nov 15–Mar 31 (expanded) — not Aug 30–Mar 31 as drafted. (6) Deer harvest figure corrected to 333 any-weapon / 20% success (2025 season data). (7) CWD: testing required within 10 days of harvest; NO carcass transport restrictions apply to Unit 23 (not in CWD Management Zone). (8) Brochure is 2026 season (July 2026–June 2027); nonresident general deer/elk tags now issued via random draw starting 2026.