Unit 24 (Adams County / New Meadows / Cascade)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk

Unit 24 covers Adams County in west-central Idaho — a region of forested mountains, high valleys, and the Long Valley corridor between New Meadows and Cascade Reservoir. The Payette National Forest dominates the unit, with elk populations distributed across timbered ridges, subalpine parks, and the agricultural edges of Long Valley. The cascade area provides accessible trailheads for forest hunting, while the valley's private agricultural land creates a classic high-country elk magnet. Unit 24 is a general and controlled hunt area depending on the specific zone and season.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 24

Where to Find Elk in Unit 24

Unit 24 elk concentrate in the Payette National Forest terrain above Long Valley and around the Adams County farm country between New Meadows and Cascade. This is classic mixed-terrain elk country.

Long Valley Agricultural Edges

The Long Valley floor between New Meadows and Cascade Reservoir is surrounded by forested mountain terrain — and the agricultural ground in the valley bottom is a powerful elk attractor. Elk descend from the Payette NF timber each evening to feed on valley hay and grain fields. The forest-agricultural interface is the highest-value elk location in Unit 24, particularly in October and November.

Payette National Forest Mid-Elevation Terrain

The timbered ridges and parks on the Payette NF between 5,000 and 8,000 feet hold elk through the summer and into early fall. The combination of openings, aspen groves, and conifer cover creates ideal habitat. Access via forest roads off Highway 95 north of New Meadows and State Highway 55 along the Payette corridor.

Council Mountain and Adjacent Ridges

The high terrain above Council in the eastern portion of Unit 24 holds elk concentrations in the September rut. Council Mountain and the adjacent Salmon River Mountains ridge provide accessible high-country hunting from trailheads off the Hornet Creek Road and Forest Service roads east of Council.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 24

Unit 24's combination of accessible national forest terrain and private valley agricultural land creates diverse hunting strategies depending on your access situation.

Valley Edge Ambush Hunting

The most reliable elk hunting in Unit 24 involves setting up ambush positions at the forest-agricultural interface along Long Valley before dawn. Elk moving from night feeding on valley ground back to timber cover must cross predictable terrain features. Identify the forest entry points on BLM/forest land adjacent to private valley ground and post on these corridors at first light.

Payette NF Spot and Stalk

The forest parks and openings on the Payette NF are accessible from road-accessible ridges and trailheads for glassing. Drive forest roads at dawn and glass the meadows and parks from elevation. September bugling bulls in the aspen parks above 6,500 feet can be called aggressively. Use the road system to cover ground efficiently — this is big, accessible elk country.

Late-Season Timber Push

After the rut, elk in Unit 24 retreat to the densest timber cover on the Payette NF. Slow methodical pushes through lodgepole and Douglas fir, working into wind, are the primary method. Coordinate with a partner — one hunter still-hunts into timber while the other covers timber edges for animals that move. This two-person approach is far more effective than solo timber hunting in thick cover.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle10%

Archery14%

Muzzleloader30%

Unit 24 general season elk success averages 10–18% for residents hunting public land alone. Hunters with access to private valley agricultural land report success rates of 25–40% for the valley-edge ambush approach. The Payette NF terrain is accessible and productive, but elk in this heavily-hunted unit become call-shy quickly after the season opens. Archery hunters who scout pre-season wallows show the best success in the September window.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	0	0	0.0%	0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 24 has both OTC general season and controlled hunt tags depending on weapon type and season. General season archery and early rifle tags may be available over the counter for Idaho residents. Controlled hunt numbers within the unit — particularly for late-season bull or antlerless opportunities — draw through the IDFG system. Use hunt numbers 024 and 24 when searching the IDFG Hunt Planner draw odds tool. Most controlled hunts in Unit 24 draw with 0–2 points for residents.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Cascade and New Meadows both have RV facilities. Cascade Reservoir area campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. McCall (30 miles from Cascade) has full RV services.

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Camp Sites

Payette NF campgrounds throughout Unit 24 — Warm Lake Road, East Fork Weiser area, and Lick Creek Summit provide access to developed sites. Dispersed camping available on all national forest land.

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Trailer Access

Highway 95 through New Meadows and Long Valley is excellent for trailers. Highway 55 is paved and accessible. Forest roads off the main highways are gravel — most manageable with standard trailers. Scout trailhead roads before hauling horses.

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Water

Excellent throughout the unit — Payette River forks, Weiser River tributaries, and numerous forest streams. Filter all backcountry water. Valley sources near agricultural areas may have irrigation runoff — filter carefully.

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Road Conditions

Excellent paved highways through the unit. Forest roads are maintained gravel to moderate two-track. High clearance recommended for forest spurs. Snow can close upper forest roads by late October.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Unit 24 is more accessible than the central Idaho wilderness units. The Long Valley floor is easy terrain. Forest ridges above 7,000 feet require reasonable fitness but no technical mountaineering.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate to high on public land near trailheads. The valley agricultural interface is privately held and sees limited pressure. General season hunters concentrate on accessible forest roads — penetrating further back significantly reduces competition.

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Weather

Long Valley and Adams County have a continental mountain climate — warm September days, cold nights. October brings frost and early snow above 6,000 feet. The valley floor stays milder. November can be full winter conditions. Pack for cold and be prepared for snow at any time after mid-October.

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Cell Service

Good in Cascade, McCall, and New Meadows areas. Limited on forest roads and in drainages. No service in remote Payette NF terrain. Satellite communicator recommended for backcountry hunting.

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Nearest Town

Cascade (services, fuel, medical). New Meadows (services, fuel). McCall (full services — grocery, lodging, hospital 30 miles from Cascade).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hunt elk over the counter in Unit 24?

Idaho residents may be able to purchase OTC general season elk tags valid in Unit 24 for certain weapon types — check the current IDFG Big Game Seasons & Rules for OTC tag availability by zone. Some seasons within Unit 24 are controlled hunts requiring a draw application. Non-residents must apply for controlled hunt tags in all cases where the unit is part of a controlled hunt zone.

Is Long Valley agricultural ground accessible for public hunting?

The Long Valley floor is primarily private agricultural land. Public access to the BLM and Payette NF terrain above the valley is excellent, but hunting the valley edge ambush locations requires landowner permission. Use the IDFG Access Yes! program listings and Idaho Department of Lands' recreational access maps to identify any licensed public access on private ground in the Long Valley area.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

Idaho Elk Hunting — IDFG — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 24 elk hunt structure confirmed, Adams County season dates and tag types · accessed 2026-04-18
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 24 draw odds for controlled hunt numbers, Historical applicant and quota data · accessed 2026-04-18
2025 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 24 hunt numbers, OTC vs. controlled structure, season dates · accessed 2026-04-18
IDFG Hunt Planner — Hunt Statistics — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 24 harvest totals, hunter effort, success rates · accessed 2026-04-18