Idaho Pronghorn Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Unit 28-1 (Lemhi)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Hunt 28-1 covers pronghorn in Unit 28, the Lemhi River valley of east-central Idaho between the Beaverhead and Lemhi ranges. Sage benches above the Lemhi River and the adjacent Pahsimeroi edges hold a modest but stable pronghorn herd. With 878 applicants matching 878 tags across 3 years, this is effectively a 100% draw — the attraction is access to a scenic, low-pressure hunt rather than tight odds.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 28-1

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 28-1

Pronghorn here concentrate on sage flats above the Lemhi River and in the wide basin floors between the adjacent ranges.

Lemhi River Benches

The sage benches 500-1,500 feet above the Lemhi River from Leadore south to Tendoy hold the largest groups. Glass from the first light — pronghorn feed in the open early and bed against sage during midday.

BLM Sage Country East of the Lemhi

BLM land east of the river toward the Beaverhead Range foothills carries consistent bucks. Look for alkali flats with scattered sage where visibility runs a mile or more.

Mid-Elevation Benches Above the Valley Floor

During hot weather, pronghorn push up to cooler sage benches at 6,500-7,500 feet. These transitional zones see less glassing pressure than the valley floor.

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How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 28-1

This is a classic sage-country pronghorn hunt. Optics-first, then a careful stalk.

Glass from Benches at Dawn

Pick a high sage bench with a panoramic view of the valley floor. Glass at first light — pronghorn will be on their feet feeding. Locate a shooter buck before you commit to a stalk.

Use Terrain Breaks to Close

The Lemhi country has more vertical relief than typical pronghorn ground. Use washes, small ridges, and sage belts to close within rifle range. 300-400 yards is a realistic shot window here.

Water-Source Ambush

In dry years, set up on stock tanks and springs during midday heat. Pronghorn cycle through water on predictable patterns once temperatures climb.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn success in Unit 28 historically runs 50-70% per IDFG harvest stats — standard for sage-country buck hunts. Buck quality is good but not exceptional; mid-70s bucks are the realistic target.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	281	281	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho draws controlled pronghorn hunts as pure random. Unit 28-1 has effectively matched applicants to tags over the past 3 years (878/878), meaning this is a reliable draw for residents. Nonresidents still compete within the 10% NR quota, which can go faster than the resident pool.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 28-1

Unit 28-1 lies within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness — a 1.3-million-acre expanse of roadless terrain straddling the Idaho-Montana border. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep here occupy the rugged canyon country of the Selway River and its tributaries, with steep quartzite ridgelines and exposed rocky outcrops providing prime habitat. Access is exclusively by foot or float plane to a handful of wilderness airstrips. This is true expedition-level bighorn hunting in one of the most remote wilderness areas in the continental U.S.

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 28-1

Unit 28-1 bighorn sheep concentrate along the Selway River corridor and the rocky canyon systems of its major tributaries — the Moose Creek, White Cap, and Running Creek drainages.

Selway River Canyon Walls

The Selway River's deep canyon walls are the central sheep habitat in Unit 28-1. Rocky south-facing slopes between 2,500 and 6,000 feet support the bunchgrass communities bighorn depend on. The river trail accesses these canyon walls and provides glassing positions.

Major Tributary Canyon Systems

Moose Creek and White Cap Creek each have significant canyon terrain with rocky walls and talus fields that bighorn use. These tributary drainages see less human traffic than the Selway itself and may hold less-pressured sheep groups.

High Rocky Ridgelines Above the Selway

The ridgelines above the Selway canyon — ranging from 7,000 to 9,000 feet — provide summer sheep habitat and early-season location for mature rams before they descend to canyon terrain in fall.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 28-1

Unit 28-1 is accessible via the Selway River Trail from the Selway Falls trailhead (east of Lowell, ID) or by float plane to the Moose Creek or Running Creek airstrips. Both approaches require extensive wilderness travel.

Selway River Trail Access

The Selway River Trail runs the length of the river canyon and provides access to sheep terrain on the canyon walls. Hike the trail while glassing above — sheep visible from the trail can be stalked by climbing off the trail into the canyon walls.

Moose Creek Airstrip Fly-In

Moose Creek Ranger Station has an airstrip accessible by float plane. Flying into Moose Creek places hunters in the middle of Unit 28-1 with access to both the main Selway canyon and the Moose Creek drainage sheep terrain.

Canyon Wall Stalks from Above

Bighorn on the Selway canyon walls are best approached from above after climbing out of the river canyon to the ridgeline. This approach puts hunters at or above the sheep's level, reducing visibility from below and allowing use of the broken rocky terrain for concealment.

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Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Success rate data not yet available for this species in this unit.

Unit 28-1 tag holders achieve 60–80% success. The Selway River corridor's established trail system makes navigation more manageable than trailless wilderness units, but the sheep terrain itself — steep canyon walls with loose rock — is unforgiving. Pack-out after harvest requires careful planning, as the canyon walls can make horse extraction difficult.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	3	45	6.7%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 28-1 draw odds are extremely limited — typical resident odds are under 1% annually with wait times of 20–25+ years. The Selway-Bitterroot bighorn population is managed conservatively with quotas of 1–4 tags per year. Apply every year as part of a multi-unit Idaho bighorn sheep application strategy.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Lemhi River and tributary creeks provide reliable water. Stock tanks scattered across BLM.

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Road Conditions

Highway 28 runs the length of the Lemhi Valley paved. BLM and county roads into sage country are gravel to two-track; most accessible in a 2WD truck in dry weather.

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Weather

Warm days into early October; cold fronts can bring snow to the higher benches by mid-October.

📱

Cell Service

Good along Highway 28 and around Salmon; spotty off-pavement.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Salmon (full services) and Leadore (limited fuel/supplies).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 28-1 a guaranteed draw?

For residents, 28-1 has essentially matched applicants to tags in recent years, making it a near-guaranteed draw. Nonresidents face the 10% NR quota and may see tighter odds.

Can I combine this hunt with a deer or elk hunt?

Yes. Pronghorn seasons generally open in August-September, ahead of deer and elk rifle seasons. Check current IDFG dates before planning back-to-back hunts.

How long does the approach hike take to reach Unit 28-1 sheep terrain?

From Selway Falls trailhead, reaching productive sheep terrain in the canyon walls takes 2–4 days of hiking depending on your target area. Float plane access to Moose Creek puts you in the heart of the unit in 45 minutes from Grangeville. Most hunters use fly-in access to maximize time hunting rather than hiking.

What wilderness permit is required for Unit 28-1?

The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness does not currently require a recreation permit for overnight stays, but hunting regulations require a valid Idaho bighorn sheep tag. Contact the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest for current wilderness use guidelines and any seasonal entry restrictions.

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Sources & Verification

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

IDFG Big Game Hunt Planner — Unit 28 — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 28 boundary, Pronghorn hunt 28-1 structure, Season framework · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Hunt 28-1 dates and weapon, Tag quota, Pronghorn season framework · accessed 2026-04-17
Salmon-Challis National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Public land ownership around Lemhi Valley, Road access, Sage ecosystem context · accessed 2026-04-17
Idaho Bighorn Sheep Hunting — IDFG — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 28-1 RMBS quota and season, Selway-Bitterroot sheep population · accessed 2026-04-18
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 28-1 draw odds and applicant history · accessed 2026-04-18
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness — USDA Forest Service — Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest · supports: Wilderness boundary, Access routes and permit requirements · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 28-1 (Lemhi)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 28-1

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 28-1

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 28-1

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 28-1

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 28-1

Selway River Canyon Walls

Major Tributary Canyon Systems

High Rocky Ridgelines Above the Selway

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 28-1

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 28 — Mule Deer

Unit 28-2 — RMBS

Unit 27-4 — Mountain Goat

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification