Unit 89

Star Peaks and Deadman Mountain anchor the northern ridge system and serve as key glassing points for understanding terrain. Blind Bull Lake and Bailey Lake provide both water reference points and backcountry landmarks. The Elbow on the Greys River marks the main river corridor used for orientation.

Major drainages—Moose Creek, Murphy Creek, Deadman Creek—cut deeply into the unit and function as primary travel corridors. Telephone Pass and Pickle Pass offer ridge-top routes for navigation. These features help divide the unit into logical hunting zones but require map work and careful navigation to locate efficiently.

Elevations span 5,600 to nearly 11,000 feet, with the terrain split between lower forested canyons and high, timbered ridges. Dense forest dominates the unit—expect thick stands of lodgepole, whitebark pine, and subalpine fir covering most slopes, with sparser timbered parks at the highest elevations. Lower drainages (Bailey Creek, Moose Creek, Murphy Creek) support darker timber and more stable water.

The ridge systems between drainages are heavily wooded, making cross-country travel difficult. Open meadows like Roosevelt Meadows and Moose Flat provide relief from the timber but remain patches in otherwise dense forest.

Fair road access means several entry points but no single trunk route dominating the unit. Roads concentrate near river valleys (Snake, Greys) and provide trailheads into major drainages. The 297-mile road network, though moderate for the unit's size, suggests access is scattered rather than concentrated—good for spreading pressure.

Most hunters will use river-valley staging areas or drainage mouth camps. The steep terrain and dense timber limit casual foot traffic; serious elk hunters will push deep into the unit. Moderate complexity and real elevation gain discourage day-hikers, keeping pressure concentrated on accessible ridge and meadow zones.

Unit 89 occupies the country between the Snake River to the northwest and the Hoback and Greys river drainages to the south and east. The unit's western edge follows the Snake River near Alpine, then climbs east along Bailey Creek before expanding into the ridge systems separating Willow Creek, the Greys River, and Hoback drainage. The southern and eastern boundaries run along high divides that separate this unit from lower-elevation country.

The unit encompasses roughly 297 miles of road corridor, indicating scattered access points rather than a dense network. This is transition country where alpine ridges meet river-bottom complexity.

Water is limited on the upper benches but concentrated in major canyon systems. The Snake River bounds the unit to the west; Greys River runs through the center; Hoback drainage forms the eastern boundary. Secondary creeks—Bailey, Moose, Murphy, Deadman—flow consistently during most seasons and provide essential water for camping and travel.

High elevation meadows like Roosevelt Meadows and Indian Grave Flat hold water seasonally. Above timberline and on exposed ridges, water becomes scarce—a critical consideration for early and late-season hunting. Spring-fed streams near Blind Bull Lake and throughout the Moose Creek drainage are more reliable.

This is high-elevation elk country with terrain that rewards patience and preparation. Elk move with elevation throughout the season—lower canyons in early season, mid-elevation parks (Roosevelt Meadows, Moose Flat) during rut, and high timber during late-season pressure. The dense forest requires hunting water sources (Blind Bull Lake, Bailey Lake, creek parks) and high meadows where elk congregate.

Glassing from Star Peaks and Deadman Mountain helps locate movement corridors. The network of drainages (Moose, Murphy, Deadman) concentrates elk during migration. Plan for 1,500–3,000-foot daily elevation changes.

Route-finding in the timber is challenging; success hinges on scouting reliable water and understanding how elk use the ridge systems between drainages.