Unit 28, Idaho

Unit 28 encompasses roughly 837,093 acres of steep mountain country and deep river canyons. Terrain is characterized by sharply dissected ridgelines and canyon walls above the Salmon River and Panther Creek corridors. Elevations range from approximately 3,200 feet at the Panther Creek–Salmon River confluence to around 8,500 feet on higher ridges, with hunters typically targeting the 8,000–9,000 foot zone for elk and mule deer. Cathedral Rock, Blackbird Mountain, Fishfin Ridge, and Indian Point are notable geographic landmarks within the unit.

Unit 28 is almost entirely public land — approximately 96.7% government-managed — with the Salmon-Challis National Forest comprising 87.7% of the unit, BLM 8.44%, State of Idaho 0.3%, and private land only 3.32%. The Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness occupies 116,412 acres (13.91% of the unit) within which all motorized vehicle use is prohibited; access inside the wilderness is foot or stock only. Motor vehicle access to the unit's edges is provided by Panther Creek Road, Blackbird Mountain Road, and Cathedral Rock Road. ATVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on the primitive boundary roads. The closest town with services is Salmon, Idaho, located to the east along US Highway 93. Seasonal mud conditions on forest roads can restrict trailer access. Jet boat travel on the Main Salmon River and primitive airstrips within the Frank Church Wilderness are also used by backcountry hunters. Idaho's Access Yes! program has no participating private properties in this unit. Hunters planning wilderness forays should obtain the Salmon-Challis National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for road status.

Forest cover dominates at 89.62% of the unit, composed of pines, spruces, and true firs across the majority of slopes, with significant areas of post-fire lodgepole pine and standing deadfall from historic wildfires. Old burns and logged areas produce grass, wildflowers, forbs, and early-successional shrubs that concentrate ungulates and attract bighorn sheep. Rangeland accounts for 8.56% of the unit and includes canyon-bottom and mid-elevation grassy openings. Rocky outcrops and barren ridgelines border the Salmon River corridor at lower elevations. The interior is generally dense forest with limited productive summer range despite the unit's large size.

Unit 28 supports elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. Elk are broadly distributed across the forested slopes; rut activity typically begins in early September. Mule deer concentrate at higher elevations (8,000+ feet) during summer and fall. Pronghorn inhabit the more open rangeland terrain within the broader Hunt Area 28-1, which extends into adjacent units. Wolf presence has been confirmed in the unit and broader Salmon zone. Bighorn sheep occupy the rocky ridgelines and cliff bands, particularly in areas of lush old-burn meadows. Black bear range widely across forested and riparian areas. Mountain lion are present year-round. The Salmon River drainage also supports raptors, upland birds including blue grouse, and waterfowl on portions of the river.