Idaho Elk Mule Deer Pronghorn Mountain Goat

Unit 39 (Boise River)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Mountain Goat

Unit 39 covers the Boise River drainage north and east of Boise — making it the most accessible elk unit for Idaho's largest city. The Boise National Forest provides extensive public land access, and the terrain ranges from moderate river canyon country to steep timbered ridges. Elk numbers are solid, and the unit benefits from a mix of controlled and general season hunts that manage pressure. Proximity to Boise means higher competition near roads, but hunters willing to push into the backcountry find quality elk hunting.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 39

Where to Find Elk in Unit 39

Elk distribution in Unit 39 follows timber cover, water, and distance from roads. The closer to Boise, the more pressured the elk — push deeper for better results.

Middle Fork Boise River Drainage

The Middle Fork Boise River and its tributaries hold the core elk population. Focus on the timbered benches between 5,500 and 7,500 feet. Elk use the Douglas fir and lodgepole stands for cover and move to meadows and burn regrowth to feed. The further upstream you go, the better the elk numbers.

North-Facing Timbered Slopes

In the drier southern portions of the unit, elk concentrate on north-facing slopes where timber is thicker and water more reliable. These shaded slopes hold moisture and provide security cover. During warm early season, elk may not leave these north-facing slopes until just before dark.

Burn Recovery Areas

Recent wildfires near the Boise area have created excellent elk habitat in Unit 39. The regenerating browse in burned areas is highly nutritious and attracts elk. Focus on 5-15 year old burns that have good ground cover but still some standing timber for cover.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 39

Elk hunting in Unit 39 is a game of getting away from the Boise-area hunting pressure. The elk are there — you just need to outwork the competition.

Mid-Week Backcountry Pushes

Unit 39 sees heavy weekend warrior pressure from Boise. Plan your serious hunting for Tuesday through Thursday when the woods clear out. Elk that have been pressured on weekends settle back into their patterns by mid-week. Combine a mid-week schedule with a 3+ mile hike from roads for dramatically better odds.

Calling in the Tributary Drainages

The tributary drainages off the Middle Fork Boise River create natural amphitheaters for calling. During the September rut, set up at the mouth of a side drainage at dawn and use location bugles. Bulls in these side drainages are less pressured than those near the main river. When a bull responds, use the drainage walls to close distance while staying out of sight.

Post-Fire Meadow Sits

Burned areas that have regenerated into lush meadows are elk magnets. Find a burn meadow with fresh sign and set up on the downwind timber edge before dawn. Elk feed in these openings aggressively in the first and last 30 minutes of light. Patience wins over miles walked in these productive feeding areas.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle13%

Archery4%

Elk success in Unit 39 averages 12-18% for general season rifle hunters. Archery success runs 6-9%. The proximity to Boise creates higher hunter density near roads, which can suppress overall success rates. Hunters who access the deeper backcountry drainages report success rates closer to 20-25%. Controlled hunt success in premium zones reaches 22-28%.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	368	1,207	30.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

General season elk tags are OTC for residents in some zones. Controlled hunts within Unit 39 range from easy draws (0-2 points) to moderate (3-5 points) depending on the specific zone and season. Non-resident controlled hunt odds are tighter due to the unit's proximity to Boise and the convenience factor. Apply for less popular weapon types or zones for better odds.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 39

Mule deer in Unit 39 occupy the sage-covered ridges, south-facing slopes, and higher terrain above the Boise River drainage. The unit produces consistent mule deer harvests with accessible terrain and good road networks. Trophy potential is limited by the hunting pressure from the Boise metro area, but persistent hunters who push past the easy-access zones find respectable bucks on the higher ridgelines and in the burn recovery areas.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 39

Mule deer in Unit 39 favor the drier, more open terrain above the timbered elk habitat. Target south-facing slopes and sage-covered ridges.

Sage and Bitterbrush Ridges (5,500–7,500 ft)

The sage-covered ridges above the Boise River canyon hold the best mule deer concentrations. Bitterbrush and mountain mahogany mixed with big sage provide both food and bedding cover. Glass these ridges from opposing slopes or high points along forest roads.

South-Facing Burn Areas

Wildfire recovery zones on south-facing slopes attract mule deer to the regenerating browse. These areas are more open than the surrounding timber, making glassing and stalking practical. Recent burns in the Boise foothills have created some of the best mule deer habitat in the unit.

Transition Zones Below Timberline

The zone where timber gives way to sage and open slopes is prime mule deer transition habitat. Deer bed in the timber edge and feed in the open sage. This transition zone is where most bucks are spotted — set up to glass the timber-sage boundary at dawn and dusk.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 39

Mule deer hunting in Unit 39 is accessible and productive with the right approach to beat the Boise-area pressure.

Ridgetop Road Glassing

The forest road network in Unit 39 provides access to ridgetop vantage points for glassing. Drive to a high point before dawn, set up with binoculars and a spotting scope, and glass south-facing sage slopes and burn areas. Cover multiple drainages from a single position before committing to a stalk.

Spot-and-Stalk on Open Slopes

The sage-covered terrain provides good glassing conditions. Locate a buck feeding or bedded, plan an approach using terrain features for cover, and execute a stalk. The open terrain requires patience and careful use of draws, ridges, and sage brush for concealment.

Pressure-Escape Hunting

On opening weekend, other hunters push deer off the ridges and into heavy cover. Position yourself on escape routes between popular hunting areas and heavy timber security cover. Let other hunters move deer toward you. This tactic produces some of the best opening-weekend opportunities in Unit 39.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule deer success in Unit 39 averages 22-30% for rifle hunters. Archery success runs 8-12%. The accessible terrain and good glassing conditions contribute to reasonable success rates despite the hunter pressure. Most bucks taken are 2x3 to 3x4 class. Hunters who push past the road-accessible ridges find better quality. Opening weekend produces the most harvest due to deer movement driven by hunting pressure.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	179	915	19.6%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

General season deer tags are OTC for residents. Non-resident tags are available. Controlled hunt options within the unit draw easily with 0-2 points. Unit 39 is not a competitive mule deer draw — the proximity to Boise and moderate trophy potential keep demand manageable.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 39

Pronghorn in Idaho Unit 39 are managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Tag numbers, season dates, and weapon structure are set each year in the IDFG big game rules. Applicants should verify current hunt numbers and quotas in the IDFG Hunt Planner before applying.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 39

Pronghorn distribution in Unit 39 follows the open sage-steppe, grassland, and agricultural edges typical of the hunt area. Glassing from elevated vantage points at first and last light is the most efficient way to locate groups. Cross-reference the IDFG Hunt Planner boundary viewer with public-land layers before committing to an access plan.

How to Hunt Unit 39 Pronghorn

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Harvest totals, hunter days, and success percentages for Unit 39 pronghorn hunts are published in the IDFG Hunt Planner statistics tool. Results vary by weapon type, season, and year — review the most recent stats before the draw.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	69	1,780	3.9%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 39 pronghorn tags are allocated through the IDFG controlled hunt draw. Resident and nonresident odds can be reviewed by year and hunt number in the IDFG Hunt Planner. Check multiple weapon seasons before applying — odds can vary significantly between rifle, muzzleloader, and archery hunts.

Mountain Goat Hunting in Unit 39

Unit 39 is a central Idaho mountain goat unit in the Lemhi Range and adjacent White Cloud country — sharply defined ridges and cliff systems between the Lemhi Valley and the Salmon River drainage that harbor a small resident goat herd. The unit's quartzite ridgelines reach above 11,000 feet, providing classic cliff-band goat habitat in a remote, lightly visited landscape. Tags are controlled and draw odds are minimal; this is one of Idaho's premier once-in-a-lifetime big game opportunities.

Where to Find Mountain Goats in Unit 39

Unit 39's goats are found on the upper cliff systems of the Lemhi Range, in terrain that limits access to fit, experienced backcountry hunters.

Lemhi Range Upper Ridges (9,000–11,000 ft)

The primary goat habitat in Unit 39 is the upper Lemhi Range between Patterson and Salmon. The quartzite peaks above 9,000 feet feature sheer cliff faces and boulder-strewn ridges where goats live year-round. Glass these ridges from the Lemhi Valley road system or from horseback along the range's western approach trails.

Cliff Face Lichen Zones

Goats concentrate on lichen-covered south and southwest-facing cliff faces in spring and early summer. By fall, they shift to north-facing and shaded faces as lichen quality changes. Map the cliff face aspect ratios on your unit map to predict where billies will be during your specific hunt window.

Water Seeps at Cliff Bases

Mineral licks and water seeps at the base of major cliff systems attract goats predictably. Identify these features using topo maps and pre-season glassing. A seep near a major cliff band is a reliable daily attraction point during the hunting season.

How to Hunt Mountain Goats in Unit 39

Unit 39 is remote Lemhi Range country — plan for a multi-day backcountry hunt with minimal infrastructure and no trail access to the upper goat terrain.

Approach From the Lemhi Valley

Multiple access roads from the Lemhi Valley provide trailhead access to the range's west side. From these roads, the upper goat terrain requires a 4–6 hour approach to reach the cliff bands at 9,500+ feet. A spike camp at timberline dramatically reduces daily approach time.

Patient Glassing Strategy

Invest glass time heavily before moving. Goats in the Lemhi Range are not numerous — you may glass an entire cliff system before finding a single animal. Move methodically from the valley floor looking up, then from the first ridge looking across to adjacent cliff faces, and finally from the upper ridge looking at the faces you could not see from below.

Patience on Approach

Mountain goats are slow to move and rarely run. Once a billy is located, take your time on the approach rather than rushing and spooking him off an inaccessible cliff face. A careful, downhill approach that keeps the goat in view is always preferable to a fast approach that pushes him into terrain you cannot follow.

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Mountain Goat Success Rates

Mountain goat hunts in Idaho run 80–95% statewide. Unit 39's success profile is consistent with this average, though the remote, trailless terrain means hunters who are not prepared for the physical demands of the Lemhi Range do not always connect. Tag holders who pre-scout aggressively and establish high spike camps succeed at high rates.

Mountain Goat Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	1	19	5.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 39 mountain goat tags are limited to 1–4 per year. Resident draw odds are typically 1–4% without preference points. Consistent annual applications building preference points over 10–15 years are the reliable path to drawing this tag. The Lemhi Range's remote access keeps application pressure somewhat lower than units closer to population centers.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Developed campgrounds along Highway 21 and forest roads. Several with RV-friendly sites. Private RV parks near Idaho City.

⛺

Camp Sites

Extensive dispersed camping on Boise National Forest roads. Multiple developed Forest Service campgrounds. Idaho City has private campground options.

🛻

Trailer Access

Highway 21 handles all trailer sizes. Main forest roads are generally good. Backcountry forest roads require scouting.

💧

Water

Good. Boise River and tributaries provide reliable water. Springs and creeks throughout the timbered drainages.

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Road Conditions

Highway 21 is paved to Idaho City and beyond. Forest roads are well-maintained gravel on main routes. Secondary roads can be rough. 4WD recommended off main routes.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. The terrain ranges from moderate river canyon slopes to steep timbered ridges. Most hunting areas require moderate fitness. Backcountry hunting in the upper drainages is more demanding.

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Hunting Pressure

High near roads and trailheads, especially on weekends. Moderate to low 2+ miles from access points. The Boise metro population drives significant pressure in this unit.

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Weather

September is warm (55-75°F). October cools to 35-55°F with increasing rain and snow at elevation. November brings winter conditions. The lower elevations near Boise are warmer and drier.

📱

Cell Service

Good along Highway 21 and near Idaho City. Spotty to none in the backcountry drainages.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Idaho City (45 minutes from Boise) has basic services. Boise (1-1.5 hours) has full urban services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 39 too crowded for good elk hunting?

Near roads and on weekends, yes. But Unit 39 is large and the deeper drainages see significantly less pressure. Hunt mid-week, hike 3+ miles from roads, and you will find quality elk hunting. The convenience of Boise nearby is an advantage for logistics.

How far is Unit 39 from Boise?

The unit boundary is approximately 30-45 minutes from Boise via Highway 21. Idaho City, in the heart of the unit, is about 45 minutes. This proximity makes Unit 39 a popular option for day hunts and weekend trips from the Boise metro area.

Are there wolves in Unit 39?

Yes. Wolf packs are present in the Boise River drainage and central Idaho mountains. Their presence can affect elk behavior, making elk more skittish and concentrated in tighter security cover. Some hunters report that wolf presence pushes elk into thicker timber earlier in the season.

Can I hunt Unit 39 mule deer as a day trip from Boise?

Yes. Many Boise-area hunters make day trips to Unit 39 for mule deer. The drive to productive hunting areas is 45-90 minutes from Boise. This is both an advantage (convenience) and a disadvantage (more hunter competition). Early arrivals and mid-week hunts help beat the crowd.

What is the trophy potential for mule deer in Unit 39?

Moderate. The heavy hunting pressure from the Boise metro limits the number of mature bucks near roads. Expect mostly 2x3 and 3x3 bucks in easy-access areas. Hunters who push deeper find occasional 4-point bucks. For true trophy potential, consider the more remote units like 27 or 36.

How do I get a pronghorn tag for Idaho Unit 39?

Unit 39 pronghorn tags are issued through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game controlled hunt draw. Applications are submitted during the IDFG big game draw window each year.

Where can I verify current season dates and quotas for Unit 39?

Season dates, hunt numbers, and tag quotas are published annually by IDFG and can be looked up in the IDFG Hunt Planner and the current big game rules booklet.

How remote is Unit 39 for mountain goat hunting?

Very remote. The upper goat terrain in the Lemhi Range is trailless and requires 4–6 hours of hiking from valley-floor trailheads to reach the cliff bands. Pack stock is recommended for camp logistics.

Do goats in Unit 39 stay at high elevation all year?

Mountain goats are year-round cliff-band residents. They do not make large seasonal migrations but shift elevation slightly as snow conditions change. In Idaho's Lemhi Range they are typically found above 8,500 feet from late spring through early winter.

What are my chances of drawing Unit 39 mountain goat?

With no preference points, resident odds are typically under 4%. Apply every year — each unsuccessful application builds a preference point that improves future odds. Most drawn hunters have 10–15 accumulated points.

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Sources & Verification

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

2025 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit-level season dates by weapon, Controlled hunt tag quotas, General hunt structure (OTC + zones), Mandatory reporting rules · accessed 2026-04-16
IDFG Hunt Planner (Interactive) — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Per-unit season selector, Weapon, zone, hunt area filters, Public-land access overview · accessed 2026-04-16
IDFG Hunt Planner — Controlled Hunt Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Historical resident + nonresident draw odds, Odds by hunt number (year range selector), Applicant and quota counts · accessed 2026-04-16
IDFG Hunt Planner — Hunt Statistics — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Per-unit harvest totals (antlered + antlerless), Hunter days and effort, Success rates by hunt type · accessed 2026-04-16
IDFG State of Deer and Elk (Annual Report) — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Herd-level population estimates, Fawn:doe + calf:cow ratios, Winter weather impact · accessed 2026-04-16
Idaho Elk Unit 39 Profile — GOHunt · supports: Hunter-community unit profile, Draw odds / OTC availability, Public-access summary · accessed 2026-04-16
Idaho Mule Deer Unit 39 Profile — GOHunt · supports: Hunter-community unit profile, Draw odds / OTC availability, Public-access summary · accessed 2026-04-16
IDFG Big Game Hunting — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Species overview, General season structure, Regulations entry point · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Controlled Hunts — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Controlled hunt draw rules, Application deadlines, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Per-unit hunt numbers, Historical draw odds, Harvest statistics · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 39 (Boise River)

Elk Hunting in Unit 39

Where to Find Elk in Unit 39

Middle Fork Boise River Drainage

North-Facing Timbered Slopes

Burn Recovery Areas

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 39

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 39

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 39

Sage and Bitterbrush Ridges (5,500–7,500 ft)

South-Facing Burn Areas

Transition Zones Below Timberline

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 39

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 39

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 39

How to Hunt Unit 39 Pronghorn

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Mountain Goat Hunting in Unit 39

Where to Find Mountain Goats in Unit 39

Lemhi Range Upper Ridges (9,000–11,000 ft)

Cliff Face Lichen Zones

Water Seeps at Cliff Bases

How to Hunt Mountain Goats in Unit 39

Mountain Goat Success Rates

Mountain Goat Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 36 — Sawtooth Elk

Unit 44 — South Boise Elk

Unit 39 — Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification