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Strategic hunting guide for Game Management Unit 33. Real-time fire updates, public land boundaries, and confirmed season dates.

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Unlock Field MapsIdaho Game Management Unit 33 (GMU 33) is a premier hunting destination located in the Sawtooth Elk Zone. Home to Black Bear, Deer, Elk, Gray Wolf, Mountain Lion, White-tailed Deer, this unit features high-elevation rugged terrain, requiring physical preparation and optics for cross-canyon spotting. Public-land breakdown for Unit 33 is not yet integrated into our database — verify acreage with Idaho Fish and Game's Hunt Planner before scouting.
Official Regulation Feed
There are 14 confirmed seasons in Unit 33.
View Full ScheduleSuccess in Unit 33 requires understanding the mountain/foothill terrain and public land boundaries. Roam Idaho Members get access to offline maps, allowing you to navigate confidently without cell service.
Those portions of BOISE and VALLEY COUNTIES within the North Fork of the Payette River drainage east of the river and south of Smiths Ferry Bridge-Packer John Road (Forest Service Road 689) up to Murray Saddle, and the drainage of the Middle and South Forks of the Payette River, (except the drainage of the Deadwood River upstream from and including Nine Mile Creek on the west side, and No Man Creek on the east side), and that portion of the South Fork of the Payette River drainage downstream from and including the Lick Creek drainage on the north side of the South Fork of the Payette River and downstream from, but excluding, the Huckleberry Creek drainage on the south side of the South Fork of the Payette River. ho Big Game 2026 Seasons & Rules idfg.idaho.gov PAYETTE, VALLEY, and WASHINGTON COUNTIES within the following boundary: beginning at Banks, then down State Highway 55 to Floating Feather Road, then west on Floating Feather Road to State Highway 16, then north on State Highway 16 to State Highway 52, then north on State Highway 52 to the Payette River, then downstream (excluding Payette River Islands) to the Snake River, then downstream to Weiser, then northeast on U.S. 95 to Emmett-Council Road in Indian Valley, then south on Emmett-Council Road to Sheep Creek Road, then east on Sheep Creek Road to 3rd Fork Road (NFD618), then south on 3rd Fork Road (NFD618) to Ola, then northeast on Ola-Smiths Ferry Road to High Valley, then south on High Valley-Dry Buck Road to the point of beginning. 89 Dam, then up the South Fork of the Boise River (center of Anderson Ranch Reservoir) to Fall Creek, then up Fall Creek to the bridge at Lake Creek Road (Forest Service Road 113), then northwest on Lake Creek Road, and then north on Fall Creek-Trinity Mountain Road (Forest Service Road 123) to Ice Springs, and then northwest on Fall Road (Forest Service Road 129), to and then south on Trinity Ridge-Rocky Bar Road (Forest Service Road 156), to and then north on James Creek Road (Forest Service Road 126) to James Creek Summit, then east along the Elmore County line, then north along the watershed divide between the Boise and Salmon Rivers to the watershed divide between the Boise and South Fork of the Payette River then west along the divide to Hawley Mountain, then northwest along the divide between the Payette River and the South Fork Payette River to Banks, then south on State Highway 55 to State Highway 44, then east on State Highway 44 and then east on West State Street, to and then east on East Warm Springs Avenue (by way of Avenue B and E. Parkcenter Boulevard) to State Highway 21 then south on State Highway 21 to the point of beginning.
The Sawtooth zone covers Idaho's most photographed mountain range and the Stanley Basin below it. Elk hunting is strong but the terrain is uncompromising — granite peaks, glacial valleys, and significant elevation gain on every approach.
Stanley and Ketchum are the gateways. Snow and weather windows close earlier here than in lower zones.
See all units in the Sawtooth ZoneAlways verify regulations with official government entities before heading into the backcountry.
Season dates and tag rules sourced from Idaho Fish and Game proclamations. Original IDFG entry for Unit 33: view source.