Unit 5, Idaho

Unit 5 covers mixed topography across portions of Kootenai and Benewah Counties. The northern ridges and foothills are steep and densely forested, while the bulk of the unit consists of rolling terrain at modest inclines. Elevations range from approximately 2,300 feet in valley bottoms to around 5,200 feet on the higher peaks, with most land falling between 2,500 and 3,500 feet. Lake Coeur d'Alene forms the eastern boundary of the northern half of the unit. Creek drainages and draws dissect the landscape between timbered ridges and open farmground.

U.S. Highway 95 is the central spine of the unit, running north-south through Plummer. Secondary county and forest roads provide access to most hunting areas. Adjacent national forests are the Clearwater National Forest and the St. Joe National Forest (part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests administrative unit), which lie along the unit's fringe. No Access Yes! properties are currently enrolled in Unit 5. The Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation (BIA lands, ~12.4% of the unit) requires a tribal permit for access and is not freely open to the public. Heyburn State Park, located within or adjacent to the unit, is closed to hunting. Public land overall is severely limited: approximately 75.7% of the unit is private. Four-wheel drive is recommended on many secondary roads. No wilderness areas or formal trailhead infrastructure exist within Unit 5. Seasonal motorized-vehicle closures apply in fall per the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM); hunters should download the IPNF MVUM before the season.

Forested hills support ponderosa pine, western white pine, western red cedar, and western hemlock. Lower slopes and draws transition to mixed shrubs, willow thickets, and riparian alder. Roughly 46% of the unit is forested and 47% is dryland agriculture — wheat fields, hay meadows, and pastures interspersed with woodlots and brushy draws. This edge habitat of forest meeting open agriculture is the primary driver of the unit's strong white-tailed deer population. No federally designated wilderness areas occur within Unit 5 boundaries.

White-tailed deer are the dominant big game species and are abundant, making up 99% of the deer harvest. Mild winters in recent years have produced high overwinter survival for both adults and fawns. Some mule deer are present but rare. Elk occupy the forested ridges and drainages; Unit 5 is a secondary elk unit relative to Units 1, 4, and 6 in the Panhandle Zone. Moose are present in small numbers. Black bear and mountain lion are common throughout forested areas; gray wolf is present as part of the recovering Panhandle population. Grizzly bears have not been documented in Unit 5 but occur in Unit 1 nearby — hunters should maintain bear identification skills. Upland birds include forest grouse, pheasant, turkey, gray partridge, quail, and chukar. Waterfowl use Lake Coeur d'Alene and creek drainages. White-tailed deer are year-round residents, shifting between agricultural feeding areas and timbered cover seasonally rather than making long migrations. Elk tend to move into lower private farmland edges in fall.

1. public_land_pct (24%) = USFS 0.51% + BLM 0.34% + State of Idaho 4.85% + Other 6.16% + BIA/Indian Reservation 12.41%; BIA land requires tribal permit — freely-huntable public land is under 12%. 2. Deer harvest (1,055 / 2,814 hunters / 37%) and elk harvest (369 / 2,166 hunters / 17%) are confirmed Unit 5-specific figures from IDFG 2025 stats. 3. Elk harvest breakdown: 333 antlered (approx 36% spikes, 38% 6+ pt bulls), 36 antlerless. 4. Specific season dates for archery/general/muzzleloader should be confirmed against the official 2025-26 IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules PDF — the B-tag general window (Oct 10-24) is sourced from the Panhandle Zone hunt planner. 5. The 3-day rifle cow elk season (Oct 15-17) in Panhandle B Zone has been eliminated for 2025. 6. Adjacent national forests per IDFG Hunt Planner: Clearwater NF and St. Joe NF. 7. Heyburn State Park is closed. 8. No wilderness areas in Unit 5. 9. No Access Yes! properties enrolled in Unit 5. 10. CWD mandatory testing applies only to a portion of Unit 1 (not Unit 5) but voluntary testing is encouraged region-wide.