Craig Mountain area jewel of Idaho state land
Of the 35 wildlife management areas in Idaho, Craig Mountain south of Lewiston is a standout, from top to bottom.
The 78,000-acre jewel is the wedge at the confluence of Idaho’s two mightiest rivers, the Snake and the Salmon. It has roaded areas, boat access from both rivers and vast areas of non-motorized terrain that range in elevation from 800 feet at the rivers up to 5,200 feet.
The mountain is home to everything from rattlesnakes to elk and bighorn sheep.
In addition to the wildlife area managed by the Idaho Fish and Game Department, adjacent lands owned or managed by the Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Nez Perce Tribe and The Nature Conservancy bring the total acreage available for public recreation to more than 140,000 acres.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is currently considering a deal to purchase another key addition, 2,860-acres of Redbird Canyon. “It has a very good population of white-tailed deer, mule deer and Rocky Mountain sheep,” said George Hatley, the Moscow rancher offering the land for sale.
The land is particularly attractive to Fish and Game because it has enough riverside beachfront to build 22 cabins. State officials say they’d clearly prefer to take advantage of their option and prevent sale of the land to a developer.
Three roads in the wildlife area totaling 10.8 miles are gated but open to handicapped hunters who visit the Idaho Fish and Game office in Lewiston and check out a key.
“To have this quality of area in Lewiston’s back yard is a tremendous opportunity,” said Jay Crenshaw, Fish and Game regional wildlife manager. “Getting a Craig Mountain controlled hunt permit for elk or mule deer is a real plum. Hunters have been taking nice bulls and bucks.”
The area has produced state-record bighorns and wild turkeys have taken hold.
“You can be hunting quail and chukars up the brush stringers in the canyons, and then get into forest grouse on the top,’ Crenshaw said. “A lot of sportsmen who access by boat combine their hunting trip with steelhead fishing.”
Vehicle access sites include
Captain John Creek: From Lewiston, go south to Tammany Creek Road, go east to County Road P-2 (Waha Road) and south 8 miles to the 21 Ranch. Go west on Redbird Road 1.7 miles and take the first left 2.5 miles to the parking area.
Madden Corral: From the 21 Ranch, go 16.5 miles south on Waha Road to the BLM access road. Go about 4 miles down the BLM road to the parking area.
Redbird Creek: Go west on Redbird Road 5 miles to the parking lot.