Unit 36B

Red Butte, Van Horn Peak, and Woods Peak anchor the high country and serve as major glassing reference points. Buffalo Ridge and Table Mountain provide secondary vantage points for scanning the terrain. The upper drainages including Spruce Gulch, Hogan Gulch, and John Gulch form natural travel corridors through the unit.

Spring Basin, Willow Patch, and Eddy Basin are recognized basin complexes that concentrate wildlife and serve as navigation waypoints. Twin Peaks and Ramshorn Mountain on the ridgelines help orient movement through increasingly steep country at higher elevations.

The unit spans nearly 5,800 feet vertically, creating dramatic habitat transitions. Lower basins and valleys around 4,600 feet support sagebrush and scattered timber, rising through mixed forest zones in the 6,000-8,000 foot band where ponderosa, fir, and spruce provide moderate canopy cover. Upper elevations above 9,500 feet transition to alpine terrain with wind-scoured ridges, sparse vegetation, and exposed rock.

This elevation spread means distinct seasonal movement corridors—early season hunters work lower basins while rut and late-season activity may push animals higher as conditions allow.

The Connected access badge reflects substantial road mileage (856 miles total), suggesting multiple entry corridors throughout the unit. However, road density doesn't equate to easy hiking terrain—once you leave the roads, the steep topography creates natural pressure relief. Early-season hunters likely concentrate near road-accessible basins like Spring Basin and Jeffs Flats, leaving the steeper sidehills and ridgelines less pressured.

The difficulty of terrain above mid-elevations means many hunters won't venture into the roughest country, creating opportunity if you're willing to climb and navigate complex drainages.

Unit 36B encompasses the Custer County portion of the Salmon River Mountains, a steep alpine landscape rising from lower valleys to high ridges exceeding 10,000 feet. The unit's vast size and Connected access badge indicate a substantial territory with multiple road corridors providing entry points, though exact boundaries require local reference materials. Nearby towns like Challis and Clayton serve as staging areas.

The terrain transitions from accessible lower elevations through mid-country basins to challenging alpine ridges, creating distinct hunting zones within the unit.

Water is limited throughout, making springs and reliable creeks critical to your plan. Stovepipe Spring, Fourth Spring, and Daugherty Spring are named sources, though availability varies seasonally. Several lakes dot the high country—Twin Creek Lakes, Eddy Lake, Bayhorse Lake, and West Fork Lakes—but these are elevation-dependent resources.

Major drainages include Marshall Creek, Basin Creek, and Rough Creek, which run through key valleys and can provide reliable water when flowing. Plan your hunting days around known water sources; the limited designation means dry stretches are common and will dictate where you can effectively hunt.

The Salmon River Mountains support traditional big game species in habitats suited to the elevation and terrain. Lower basins and sagebrush country near Spring Basin and Willow Patch hold game using open transitional zones. Mid-elevation timbered ridges and valley slopes provide excellent rut habitat and bedding cover.

Upper basins like Eddy Basin and west-facing drainages concentrate animals seeking high-country forage and security. Early season favors glassing upper ridges and basins from summits like Red Butte and Van Horn Peak, then working downslope into timber. Water dependency means hunting concentrated around identified springs and creeks.

Late season strategy shifts toward lower valleys as snow drives animals downhill. The terrain complexity and steep grades demand excellent physical conditioning and off-trail navigation skills—this isn't a unit for casual wandering.