Unit 62-1 (Salmon)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk

Unit 62 lies east of Salmon along the Beaverhead Mountains that form Idaho's eastern border with Montana. The 62-1 controlled elk hunt targets a productive herd using the Lemhi River drainage and Continental Divide high country on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Roughly 420 tags are issued against 1,010 three-year applicants, making this an attractive draw for central-Idaho elk hunters looking for accessible alpine country.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 62-1

Where to Find Elk in Unit 62-1

Terrain

Unit 62 is Beaverhead Mountains country — alpine ridges, timbered sidehills, and broad glacial valleys draining west to the Lemhi River. Elk summer in high basins above 8,500 ft at the heads of Hayden Creek, Bohannon Creek, Texas Creek, and Lemhi Creek. Fall elk drop to timbered mid-elevation benches and the sagebrush breaks above the Lemhi valley floor.

Elevation

Hunt elevations range 5,500 to 10,000+ ft. Early rifle hunts target 7,500-9,500 ft; late hunts below 7,500 ft.

Water

Lemhi River is the valley backbone; Hayden, Bohannon, Texas, and Lemhi creeks all flow year-round. Alpine basins hold tarns and seeps through fall.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 62-1

The Beaverheads demand hiking. Drive Hayden Creek Road (FR 008) or Lemhi Creek Road to trailheads at 6,500 ft, then climb 2,000-3,000 ft to glassing points above treeline. Glass alpine basins morning and evening — bulls are visible at great distances against open tundra. September archery hunters benefit from vocal bulls in the upper basins; use aggressive bugling to locate, then soft cow talk on the stalk. Rifle hunters have the option of waiting for weather to drive elk down to the Lemhi-side timbered benches, then still-hunting cedar pockets at 7,000-8,000 ft.

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Elk Success Rates

Unit 62-1 rifle elk hunts average 30-40% success, strong by central Idaho standards. Bull quality is solid, with 6-point bulls routinely harvested from the upper Beaverhead basins. Archery runs 15-25%. Hunters who commit to alpine access consistently outperform road-bound hunters.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	179	337	53.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho controlled elk hunts use a pure random draw — no points. Unit 62-1 with 1,010 three-year applicants against 420 tags delivers attractive odds — roughly 35-45% for residents and mid teens for nonresidents. One of the more drawable quality elk hunts in Idaho.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Trailer Access

Highway 28 from Mud Lake to Salmon is paved and trailer-friendly. Forest Road 008 (Hayden Creek) and other main forest roads handle trailers on gravel — unhitch at the forest boundary for alpine spurs.

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Water

Excellent. Year-round flow in all named drainages; alpine basin seeps through September.

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Road Conditions

Paved Highway 28. FR 008 and FR 105 maintained gravel; alpine spur roads need high-clearance and close early with snow.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. 3,000+ ft vertical from road to glassing points in the high basins is routine.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Controlled caps limit numbers; Hayden Creek corridor sees most pressure in opening week.

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Weather

September 55-75 F highs; October 35-55 F with overnight freezes. Heavy snow above 8,000 ft by mid-October is common.

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Cell Service

Good in Salmon and along Highway 28. Drops near forest boundary. None in alpine basins.

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Nearest Town

Salmon (full services, fuel, hospital) 15-40 miles from hunt area. Leadore provides closer fuel at the south end.

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Permit Notes

Mandatory IDFG harvest report within 10 days. Nonresidents need a nonresident big game license plus the drawn tag.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the hike for Unit 62-1 elk?

The high basins require 2,000-3,000 ft vertical climbs from road-accessible trailheads. Horses or llamas substantially ease the effort, but strong hikers can do it on foot with 1-2 miles of trail travel.

Can I hunt from the road in Unit 62-1?

Some success is possible on late-season hunts when elk drop to lower benches. But early and mid-season hunters who stay near roads rarely see elk — the herd summers high and stays there until weather drives them down.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

2025 Idaho Big Game Seasons & Rules — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 62 elk zone structure, 62-1 controlled hunt dates · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 62-1 elk applicant and tag totals · accessed 2026-04-17
Salmon-Challis National Forest — Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Beaverhead Mountains access, Lemhi River corridor roads · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG State of Deer and Elk — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Salmon Zone elk herd trends · accessed 2026-04-17