Hunting & Fishing

Idaho’s finest hunting and fishing outfitter

A Premier Destination for Outdoor Sportsmen

Idaho’s finest hunting and fishing experiences await at the Salmon River. You can hunt Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Wolf, and upland fowl with open tags. The river is also renowned for world-class steelhead fishing. Furthermore, anglers can indulge in catching abundant cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, smallmouth bass, and sturgeon.

Hunting Opportunities

Elk

The Most Majestic North American Big Game Icon

Idaho’s rugged wilderness offers incredible elk hunting from the September rut through late fall. Our expert guides, jet boats, stock animals, and remote camps keep you close to the action and ready for the shot.

Mule Deer

The Treasured Western Ghost

Intense glassing hunts for the true western hunting connoisseur. Join our sharp-eyed guides in pursuit of the ultimate western trophy—wild, elusive, and hard-earned Mountain Mule Deer.

Bear & Wolf

Trophy Predator Management

Our spring bear hunts offer incredible spot-and-stalk opportunities with high success rates and a wide range of color-phase bears, including rare blondes. Set in the stunning Salmon River Canyon, these hunts are as rewarding as they are scenic. We also pursue wolves as part of responsible predator management, with expert guides who elevate the experience and your hunting skills.

Bighorn Sheep

Mountain Monarch

North Americas most rare and precious hunt. Rocky mountain Bighorn sheep are the absolute pinnacle in big game hunting (arguably worldwide). For those lucky enough to draw a once in a lifetime tag we have an amazing piece of the wilderness to pursue these curly horned kings. With the record book potential in our area we would love nothing more than to help you both apply for this hunt and then guide you to the opportunity of a lifetime chasing the wildernesses most sacred citizen.

Drop Camps

We offer Idaho’s best backcountry drop camps.
The gear we use and places we put it are second to none. We have numerous options from more DIY to slightly more supported as far as preparation and amenities. So whether you want us to ride in your gear or set you up with carefully curated products and food items we can take good care of you.

Game Birds

Our challenging canyon setting is ideal for upland bird hunting. Chukar, considered the ultimate test for hunters and dogs, are plentiful. We also have strong populations of Blue and Ruffed Grouse. Whether you’re an experienced bird hunter or a novice, we can guide you from clay shooting to bird hunting in a single day. See our “cast and blast” page for upland/fishing trip combinations.

Fishing

We are blessed to have world class fisheries for numerous high value species at Shepp Ranch. Our waters are home to Steelhead, native westslope Cutthroat and voracious Smallmouth bass. We target all of these species with fly fishing equipment as well as conventional tackle.

Steelhead

The Prince of Sport Fish
(Native ocean run rainbow trout)

We have amazing runs of these acrobatic and hard fighting fish. We love to target them with spey rods (two handed fly rods) as well as normal fly fishing equipment. This amazing canyon is one of the last places in America where we have miles of runs to ourselves and you are unlikely to encounter another fly fisherman anywhere in the massive expanse we guide on Idahos famed river of no return wilderness. (Conventional tackle trips available as well.)

Native westslope Cutthroat Trout

Idaho’s Crown Jewel

We have such untouched Cutthroat fisheries that many of the fish within a very short distance from the lodge have likely never even seen a fly in their lives. We can access miles of pristine creeks and rivers with numerous adventurous means to include horses and mules, exciting whitewater jet boats as well as simple and peaceful hiking/walk and wade options. Our Trout fishing is a window into the past to a time when uncrowded creeks and rivers offered up eager, genetically perfect, fish unaltered and unspoiled by the hand of man.

Smallmouth Bass

Invasive Brawler

The main salmon river is home to thriving populations of the invasive but mighty Smallmouth Bass. These fish will take a well presented streamer or soft plastic with the kind of ferocious violence that we may have to recommend a good ptsd therapist to help you calm down after a day of battling them. On a serious note, this (simply put) is just a world class fishery for these awesome fish and they are super cooperative as a rule which means they are a great opportunity for everyone kids, novice anglers and experts alike to all have fun on what usually amounts to an action packed experience.

Guides

Levi Dole

For Levi Dole hunting and guiding is a multi generational pursuit. His grandfather was a highly skilled outfitter and guide in this very canyon going back to the 60’s. That being said It goes without saying that Levi grew up hunting and fishing (like crazy) in north Idaho, he loves all outdoor activities but discovered his real passion when he got a bulge tube. Levi Dole is an expert elk caller and he loves calling and chasing elk, the back and forth match between hunter and bull are what he lives for. He loves to share that passion with other people. We assure you that you will come away from any hunt with him both a better hunter and a better person.

Levi loves the Lord, loves his growing family and loves helping people. We are beyond lucky to have him on our team.

Kate Small

Kate Small is an extremely accomplished Idaho-based big game hunter. The majority of her time is spent in the backcountry of Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness hunting and trapping. She has expertise in both long range rifle and bow hunting. While archery elk hunting holds a special place in her heart, she focuses heavily on predator management (wolves and bears) and has blazed trails with her promotion of conservation. Kate travels the state as a speaker at hunting clinics and events to educate on wolf hunting and trapping. Kate is outsourced by several ranches to help keep the coyote and wolf populations at bay during calving season. She is the co-founder of the Western Wolf Academy, a 3-day retreat created to educate on wolf hunting and trapping.

Aside from her career in hunting, Kate is also a Registered Nurse with a background in Neuroscience and Emergency Medicine.

Justin Small

Justin Small grew up in the mountains of Idaho, hunting big game from a young age. As he grew up his drive to hunt overtook most everything in his life. With his natural ability to track animals, an extreme talent for calling elk and wolves, combined with his skills as an Eagle Scout he quickly became an expert backcountry hunter and guide.

He is highly skilled in both long range rifle and bow hunting. From elk to bears, Justin targets all big game animals but is most known for being one of the most accomplished wolf hunters in Idaho. He is co-founder of the Western Wolf Academy, educating on wolf hunting and trapping.

In his spare time, Justin manages predators for ranchers and traps nuisance animals.

Shepp Ranch

Shepp Ranch is a unique destination that offers a wide range of outdoor activities and wilderness experiences. As a family guest ranch, it provides an ideal location for a vacation filled with adventure and relaxation. Additionally, Shepp Ranch is a world-class outfitter that specializes in hunting and steelhead fishing trips. Whether you want to hike, fish, hunt, horseback ride, jetboat, or simply unwind with a good book, Shepp Ranch has something for everyone. In order to reach the Ranch, you have three options: traveling up the river by jetboat, arriving by backcountry plane and landing on our private 2,300’ airstrip, or flying in by helicopter. Once you arrive, you’ll discover a stunning natural setting with abundant wildlife, clear starry skies, and the peaceful sound of the “River of No Return” right outside your door.