Craig Mountain WMA

Before You Go

Craig Mountain's primary purpose is to enhance wildlife and wildlife habitat, but it offers many outdoor opportunities for the public.  Recreational use of the WMA includes hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, wildlife viewing, sightseeing, mushroom and berry picking, OHV riding, and winter sports activities. The entire WMA is open to non-motorized travel year-round. Motorized vehicles are limited to existing roads and seasonal restrictions.

Visiting Hours:

Open year-round, seven days a week.

Contact:

Clearwater Regional Office

3316 16th Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
United States
Phone: 
(208) 799-5010

WMA facts

Primary Purpose: Protect and enhance wildlife populations and habitat; public use

Habitat: Grassland, meadow, shrubland, riparian, conifer forest, agricultural

  • 124,224 acres
  • Nez Perce and Lewis counties
  • Established in 1971

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Overview

Rising from the Salmon and Snake rivers, Craig Mountain WMA reaches 5,395 feet into the surrounding mountains. Its primary purpose is to enhance wildlife and wildlife habitat, but it offers many outdoor opportunities for the public.

The sheer size of Craig Mountain WMA makes it home to many of Idaho’s resident and migratory wildlife species, including Idaho’s iconic bighorn sheep. Its proximity to Lewiston creates a rich public resource for area residents.

Craig Mountain WMA was born when Bonneville Power Administration built Dworshak Dam. BPA was required to mitigate for the loss of wildlife habitat and tribal lands, which now lie under Dworshak Reservoir.

The first land purchased by BPA “as a reserve for the conservation of wildlife” was the 60,000-acre Peter T. Johnson Wildlife Mitigation Unit. This property, combined with land previous owned by Idaho Fish and Game, became Craig Mountain WMA.

Today, WMA lands are intermingled with property owned by multiple public and tribal entities. A management agreement among the different groups allows for different parcels to be managed as a single unit for the benefit of wildlife and public use.

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Activities

Hunting opportunities include general seasons for white-tailed deer, black bear and mountain lion. There are also controlled-hunt seasons for mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. Upland game bird hunting is popular, with great opportunities for chukar, forest grouse, and wild turkey.

Fishing is available in several locations. Smallmouth bass, crappie and rainbow trout can be found in nearby Waha Lake and Soldiers Meadow Reservoir.

Dedicated bird watchers can enjoy sighting many bird species including yellow warbler, blacked-capped chickadee and pileated woodpecker, pigmy nuthatch, flammulated owl, and white-headed woodpecker.  Visit the Idaho Birding Trail for more information.