Unit 33

Scott Mountain, Red Mountain, and Rice Peak serve as high-elevation reference points for navigation across the complex terrain. Major drainage systems—Eddy Creek, Alder Creek, Whiskey Creek, and Russell Creek—function as travel corridors and navigation guides through otherwise confusing timber. Several hot springs (Bull Creek, Silver Creek Plunge, Boiling Springs) and named flats (Pine Flat, Stony Meadow) offer natural gathering points and potential water sources.

The river crossings and major saddles like Murray Saddle and Grimes Pass mark logical waypoints through the intricate canyon systems.

Elevation spans from 2,800 feet at river bottoms to over 8,600 feet on the upper slopes—a significant range that supports dense forest throughout. Lower elevations feature river-bottom riparian areas and steep canyon walls supporting Douglas-fir and ponderosa stands. Mid-elevations transition into lodgepole and spruce-fir forest, increasingly thick and complex with elevation gain.

Upper elevations remain heavily timbered, with subalpine forest dominating. This isn't open country anywhere; dense timber characterizes nearly every elevation band, creating a landscape where visibility is measured in tens of yards rather than miles.

Over 1,100 miles of roads network the unit, primarily following river corridors and major drainage bottoms. This connected access means the roadside flats and accessible canyon sections see significant use, particularly near populated areas like Crouch and Lowman. However, access density doesn't translate to easy hunting—roads follow rivers into canyons, and any hunting away from roads demands genuine backcountry navigation through steep, timbered terrain.

Most hunters concentrate near road ends and river access points; the brushy upland ridges between drainages remain less pressured due to their difficulty.

Unit 33 encompasses portions of the North Fork and Middle Fork Payette River drainages in Boise and Valley Counties, spanning from Camas Creek upstream through the Marsh Creek area on the North Fork, plus the extensive drainage systems between the Middle and South Forks. The unit is bounded by Smiths Ferry Bridge and Packer John Road on the west, extending east to Murray Saddle, with the Sulphur Creek drainage excluded. This is large, geographically complex terrain anchored by major river systems and their tributary networks rather than simple ridge-to-ridge boundaries.

The North Fork and Middle Fork Payette Rivers are the lifeline drainages, reliable year-round but often confined to narrow canyons with limited camping adjacent to water. Smaller creeks—Alder, Smith, Eddy, and Whiskey Creeks among others—provide reliable tributary water but disappear into steep sidehills. Several named springs (Lodgepole, Packer, Silver, Basque) exist but may not be dependable during late season.

Away from the main river corridors and major tributary drainages, water becomes scarce; hunters should plan routes centered on named drainages rather than expecting reliable water on upland ridges.

Unit 33 is fundamentally a timber-hunting proposition where success depends on understanding drainage-based movement patterns and willingness to work through dense forest. Deer and elk use these canyons seasonally, with lower elevations providing winter/early season range and upper drainages offering summer habitat. The river bottoms and accessible creek systems concentrate animals during early season before they disperse higher.

Rut activity may shift animals into different drainage systems, making creek valleys and saddle crossings worth checking repeatedly. The complexity here—steep terrain, dense cover, limited visibility—favors hunters who move slowly, stay near water and drainages, and accept that glassing won't work; instead, use your ears and expect encounters in close cover.