Unit 63X (Lemhi Range)

Idaho Hunting Guide — Elk

Unit 63 covers the southern Lemhi Range and Birch Creek valley in east-central Idaho, on the western flank of the Continental Divide. The 63X extra-mandatory elk tag is issued on top of general season and targets late-season bulls migrating off the Lemhi crest. Salmon-Challis and Caribou-Targhee National Forest ground, combined with broad BLM sage country in the Birch Creek valley, create productive herd movement from summer high basins to winter ranges.

View Draw Odds Idaho Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit 63X

Where to Find Elk in Unit 63X

Terrain

The southern Lemhi Range rises sharply from the Birch Creek valley floor at 6,000 feet to peaks over 11,000 feet. Elk summer in alpine basins at the head of Big Eightmile, Canyon, and Lemhi Creek, then drop to south-facing sage benches along Birch Creek when weather pushes them. Key access: Forest Road 093 from Howe and Forest Road 094 up Lemhi Creek.

Elevation

Early-season high basins sit 8,500-10,500 ft. 63X late-season hunts target migration and wintering elk on benches 6,500-8,000 ft along Birch Creek.

Water

Birch Creek, Big Eightmile, and Lemhi-side drainages are reliable. The Birch Creek valley floor is drier sage, with seeps and stock tanks scattered through BLM ground.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 63X

63X late-season hunts hinge on weather. Watch NWS forecasts for the first serious storm (6+ inches of snow above 8,500 ft) and plan to be in the Birch Creek valley within 48 hours. Glass south-facing sage benches between Gilmore and Leadore at dawn — migrating herds push onto these exposed slopes to find feed. For pre-storm hunts, drive into Forest Road 094 and glass the alpine basins at the head of Lemhi Creek. Bulls are often still with groups of cows into late October in this unit.

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Elk Success Rates

Unit 63X extra-tag elk hunts have posted success rates in the 25-35% range, depending heavily on whether the hunt dates coincide with a migration-triggering storm. Late-season rifle hunters who can be mobile and reposition to new drainages when elk move post significantly higher numbers than hunters locked into a single camp.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Controlled	198	678	29.2%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Idaho controlled hunts use a pure random draw — no preference or bonus points for elk. Unit 63X with 1,149 three-year applicants against 200 tags puts resident odds around 15-20% and nonresidents in the mid single digits. The randomness means persistence across multiple years is the only strategy.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Trailer Access

Highway 28 from Mud Lake to Salmon handles any rig. Forest Road 093 and 094 are gravel and trailer-capable in dry conditions — unhitch before climbing toward alpine access.

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Water

Reliable in named drainages; limited on Birch Creek valley sage benches outside of seeps and tanks.

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Road Conditions

Paved Highway 28. Forest Roads 093 and 094 are maintained gravel; spur roads climbing into alpine basins require high-clearance and close with snow typically by mid-October.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous in the alpine basins (3,000+ ft vertical from FR 094 trailheads) and moderate in the Birch Creek valley.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. Remote valley with minimal development — pressure concentrates near forest boundary road ends.

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Weather

October 40-60 F highs dropping to 25-40 F with overnight teens late month. Heavy snow events above 8,000 ft trigger elk migration.

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Cell Service

Spotty along Highway 28 near Leadore and Howe. No signal in the Lemhi Range interior. Satellite communicator essential.

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Nearest Town

Salmon (full services) 45+ miles north; Leadore (basic fuel and lodging); Mud Lake (fuel, basic store) to the south.

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Permit Notes

Mandatory IDFG harvest report within 10 days. Extra-tag hunters may harvest an animal in addition to their general season tag within 63X boundaries and dates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is Unit 63X elk season?

63X is typically a late-season extra-mandatory hunt running from mid-October into November, timed to catch elk migrating off the Lemhi high country. Verify current dates in the IDFG Big Game Seasons & Rules.

Can I take a bull on a 63X tag?

Tag type varies — some 63X hunts are either-sex, others antlerless-only. Read the specific hunt number rules carefully before applying.

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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 63 zone structure, 63X extra tag framework · accessed 2026-04-17
IDFG Hunt Planner — Draw Odds — Idaho Department of Fish and Game · supports: Unit 63X applicant and tag totals · accessed 2026-04-17
Salmon-Challis National Forest — Leadore Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Lemhi Range access, Road and motorized travel plan · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Idaho Falls District — Salmon Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Birch Creek valley public land · accessed 2026-04-17