Unit 7

The St. Joe Mountains and the Coeur d'Alene-St. Joe Divide form the unit's dominant ridge system—these are major navigation references and glassing terrain for hunters working high.

Summit features like Mount Chenoweth, Siwash Peak, and the Three Sisters provide orientation points on the high country. Saint Joe Lake and the cluster of smaller lakes (Twin, Frog, Bacon, Swimming Bear) offer both water sources and landmark references in the timber. Crooked Ridge, Nugget Ridge, and Pinnacle Ridge run north-south, dividing major drainages; Roland Summit marks a key pass.

These ridges double as travel corridors and vantage points for glassing the steep slopes below.

Elevation swings from around 2,500 feet in the lower river valleys to above 7,600 feet on the high ridges, with most terrain concentrated in the mid-elevation band. Dense forest dominates throughout—ponderosa and Douglas-fir in the lower-to-mid elevations transitioning to spruce-fir and subalpine parkland on the higher ridges. The steep topography creates sharp transitions between habitat types; south-facing slopes support more open forest and grassland patches while north-facing slopes hold heavy timber.

This vertical relief generates distinct microhabitats valuable for moose, particularly the spruce-fir zones near seeps and creeks in the mid to upper elevations.

Forest Service roads provide good connectivity relative to the terrain's steepness—Milwaukee Road, Moon Pass Road, Fishhook Creek Road, and Forest Highway 9 offer multiple entry points into the backcountry. Most access concentrates around Avery and Kingston, making the central and upper drainages more accessible than the remote state line ridges. The connected road system means pressure follows predictable routes; hunters avoiding main road corridors find opportunity in the steep, timbered sidehills away from primary drainages.

The 1,270+ miles of total road coverage suggests established hunter and pack stock routes, but steep terrain limits vehicle access once you're past the initial corridors.

Unit 7 encompasses the Idaho-Montana state line divide country in northern Shoshone County, anchored by the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene River watersheds. The northern boundary follows the state line ridge system; the western edge runs along the St.

Joe/North Fork Clearwater divide; the southern boundary tracks Highway 3 and Interstate 90 near Avery and Kingston; the eastern boundary follows the Coeur d'Alene/Pend Oreille divide. This arrangement creates a large, contiguous block of public land dominated by the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe National Forests.

The unit sits at the confluence of multiple major drainages, making water access a defining feature despite the overall limited water designation.

The North Fork St. Joe River, West Fork Fishhook Creek, Horsecamp Creek, and Telichpah Creek are the primary drainages, running from high-country springs down to the main river systems. The divide country sits between major water systems, creating true headwater terrain where spring-fed creeks often run small and seasonal; Bed Springs, Summit Springs, and Bear Spring are scattered throughout the high ridges.

The lower valleys hold more reliable water from the main river systems. Hunters will find water generally available in middle elevations along creek bottoms and near named springs, but upland benches can be dry. Water knowledge is essential for planning multi-day excursions in the high country.

Unit 7 is moose country, with habitat concentrated in the spruce-fir and subalpine meadow zones of the mid to upper elevations. Early season hunters should focus on south-facing slopes in the 5,000-6,500-foot band where bulls feed in opening patches; the transition zones between heavy timber and natural openings near springs hold rutting activity through September. Late season pushes moose down into lower-elevation spruce drainages and timber where thermal cover is critical.

The steep terrain demands a patient, vertical hunting approach—glass from the high ridges, then slip into dense timbered pockets where moose shelter. Pack stock is valuable for accessing the remote northern reaches and ridge systems. Success depends on water knowledge, willingness to hunt steep country, and understanding how dense timber creates microhabitats where moose concentrate.