Red River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, access and rules
Red River Wildlife Management Area is 314 acres in Idaho County, in Idaho Fish and Game's Clearwater Region, inside game management unit 15, established in 1993. A mountain meadow on the Red River near Elk City, the former Little Ponderosa Ranch, bought with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Bonneville Power funds.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDFG's page for Red River WMA, read October 18, 2026. Outline: PAD-US. Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics, 2025.
| Size | 314 acres (IDFG) |
|---|---|
| County | Idaho County |
| Established | 1993 |
| IDFG region | Clearwater |
| Game management unit | 15 |
| Elk zone | Elk City |
| Primary purpose (IDFG) | Protect and enhance elk calving habitat; provide spring and summer habitat for big game; restore and enhance spring Chinook salmon spawning habitat; provide wildlife-based recreation and education opportunities. |
| Habitat (IDFG) | Riparian and meadow landscape, conifer forest |
| Camping | IDFG lists no camping on the WMA |
What is Red River WMA?
A mountain meadow on the Red River near Elk City, the former Little Ponderosa Ranch, bought with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Bonneville Power funds. It is elk calving and whitetail fawning ground, and the river has been restored since 1997 for spring Chinook salmon. From late March to late May, 50 to 100 elk can be seen in the meadow.
What can you hunt on Red River WMA?
The WMA and the Nez Perce National Forest around it draw elk and white-tailed deer hunters.
IDFG lists these uses for the area: hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and trapping.
How do you get onto Red River WMA, and when is it closed?
No vehicles on the meadow. Two parking areas: the viewing platform at the northeast end and Cartwright Creek. The meadow is closed to people April 1 to June 15 for calving; the platform is open all year.
How many elk and deer are taken in the surrounding units?
IDFG counts harvest by unit, not by WMA. These are the whole units Red River WMA lies in, for 2025:
| Unit | Elk harvested | Elk success | Deer harvested | Deer success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 132 | 18% | 973 | 42% |
General seasons, all weapons. Source: IDFG harvest statistics.
IDFG's maps and rules for Red River WMA
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Red River WMA?
The WMA and the Nez Perce National Forest around it draw elk and white-tailed deer hunters. Seasons and tags follow the regulations for Unit 15.
Can you camp on Red River WMA?
IDFG's page lists no camping on Red River WMA.
How do you get onto Red River WMA?
No vehicles on the meadow. Two parking areas: the viewing platform at the northeast end and Cartwright Creek. The meadow is closed to people April 1 to June 15 for calving; the platform is open all year.
Which hunting unit is Red River WMA in?
Unit 15, in the Elk City elk zone.
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, rules, access, camping and uses: IDFG, Red River WMA, written up by FilledTag in its own words.
- Outline: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), land managed by Idaho Fish and Game. Units: IDFG's unit boundaries.
- Harvest: IDFG harvest statistics.
FilledTag is not part of Idaho Fish and Game. WMA rules change: check IDFG's page and its posted rules before you go.