Gem Air pilots have been taking hunters into the backcountry with Idaho hunting flights for decades, and we’d be happy to help you get to your hunt too.
We fly hunters in the Spring and Fall into multiple strips in the Frank Church and Selway Bitterroot Wilderness areas. We can fly from almost anywhere, but our planes are based in Salmon, Idaho, so that’s where you’ll get the best pricing.
Pricing: This is usually everyone’s first question. But it’s hard to figure out pricing until we know how many people are flying, what sort of gear you have, and which strips you want to get in and out of. Since there are plenty of variables, we suggest you give us a call, and we’ll give you an idea!
As reference, in 2025, our average price per person for hunts with more than one hunter was $936/person round trip, with a low of $516/person, and a high of $1648/person. Note: the higher price point tends to involve wall tents vs strictly backpack-style hunting gear.
Interested in other Frank Church backcountry adventures? Check out our backcountry page.
Which Airstrip?
Deciding where to fly for your Idaho hunt is one of the first steps – if you are still working on that, take a look at this page for both some Frequently Asked Questions, and a listing of airstrips with hunting unit, elevation, and GPS coordinates included.
If you already use a mapping app, consider downloading airstrip locations via Gem Air’s GPX file (good for use on apps like GAIA, onX, Caltopo) or Gem Air’s KML file (works well in Google Earth and Google maps). The airstrips we list on this map are the airstrips that are appropriate for our aircraft and available to public (we’ve excluded some strips that are private and/or that are not suited for our commercial aircraft).
Getting Started with Idaho Hunting Flights
We’ve put this information page together to help give you some starting information, but the best bet is to give us a call. That’s because all hunts tend to be different from one another. Once we talk to you, we’ll have a better idea of how to help with your particular hunt.
Volume Considerations
You can only fit so much weight and volume in a plane. We don’t recommend bringing big bulky things (like coolers) because it’s likely to require a larger plane than you would otherwise need.
Timing Considerations
We try to have all of our backcountry flying wrapped up in the morning if possible. The winds pick up in the afternoon, and that’s not good for flying in the canyons.
If you have timing constrictions that you are worried about, give us a call and we’ll work on a solution.
Weather Considerations
Weather is the boss. If weather is bad, we just wait for the next good window, and take you in or out then. Long delays aren’t common, but are possible.
It’s good to have a satellite phone or an inReach so we can communicate if weather becomes an issue after we drop you off.
Other Resources
Are you looking for online map resources? Check out the IDFG Hunt Planner Map.
Consider bringing an inReach or something similar, and make sure to text one of our office cell numbers before you head out. If you don’t have one of your own, you can probably find a rentable one near you!
Gem Air Aircraft
What our aircraft can carry depends on the strip and route to be flown, and can also depend on weather. To give you ballpark idea of what our planes can do, we’ve included some rules of thumb below – just keep in mind that the maximum loads for your flight may be different, depending on conditions and route. Want more info on our aircraft? Check out our aircraft page.
Cessna 172
Can carry up to 500lbs. Good for flying single hunters into the backcountry. We don’t use this plane to pull people out of the backcountry.
Cessna 206
The backcountry staple. Can fly up to 950 lbs into the backcountry. Great for moving 3-4 hunters, depending on weights and gear – you may need the Islander on the way out.
Britten Norman Islander
The backcountry pack mule. Can carry up to 1,600lbs into the backcountry. Great for larger groups, or those who are staying for a while and really bringing in a camp.
Idaho Hunting Flights - Wilderness Map
This map helps show some of the options available to people who want to fly in to the Frank Church Wilderness and Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. It’s a fun map and gives some good reference, but it obviously should not be used for navigation!
If you already use a mapping app, consider downloading airstrip locations via Gem Air’s GPX file (good for use on apps like GAIA, onX, Caltopo) or Gem Air’s KML file (works well in Google Earth and Google maps). The Idaho Fish and Game Hunt Planning map is also a good resource, but it no longer shows airstrip locations. The airstrips we list on this map are the airstrips that are appropriate for our aircraft and available to public (we’ve excluded some strips that are private and/or that are not suited for our commercial aircraft).
If you’d like some airstrip information in a listed form, take a look at this page, which has a listing of airstrips with hunting unit, elevation, and GPS coordinates included, as well as some frequently asked questions.
When to Book
We don’t have a deadline. For Spring flights, we prefer you give us at least two weeks notice, but if you call us up the day before and ask for a flight, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate you. For Fall flights, we prefer you book by the end of May, but again, if you call us up the day before, we will try to make it work!
Gem Air Aircraft
What our aircraft can carry depends on the strip and route to be flown, and can also depend on weather. To give you ballpark idea of what our planes can do, we’ve included some rules of thumb below – just keep in mind that the maximum loads for your flight may be different, depending on conditions and route. Want more info on our aircraft? Check out our aircraft page.
Cessna 172
Can carry up to 500lbs. Good for flying 1 or 2 passengers into the backcountry. We don’t use this plane to pull people out of the backcountry.
Cessna 206
The backcountry staple. Can fly up to 1000lbs into the backcountry. Great for moving 3-4 hunters, depending on weights and gear.
Britten Norman Islander
The backcountry pack mule. Can carry up to 1,700lbs into the backcountry. Larger groups, or those who are staying for a while and really bringing in a camp.