The feedback on Mt Dutton, Utah's hunting unit profile indicates that while elk are relatively plentiful, especially in the draws and drainages, the challenging terrain necessitates hunters to be in good physical condition. Discussions highlight that scouting for cows during summer can be crucial since bulls tend to gravitate towards them during the rut, indicating late-season hunts might provide more action. There's concern over the decline in bull quality compared to previous years, attributed to increased ATV traffic from nearby areas, impacting the number of larger bulls seen. Hunters are encouraged to reach out to local guides or those with recent experience in the area for additional insights into optimal hunting strategies and locations.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | 330"-350" | 360"+ |
High
Low
Located south of Otter Creek Reservoir and northeast of Panguitch Utah. Highway 89 is the western boundary with State Road 22 acting as the eastern boundary. This unit has a lot of public land and can produce trophy bulls every year.
This is a popular unit among hunters that like to backpack hunt or use horses. This can be a strenuous hunt, with most elk found 1-2 miles away from the nearest road in remote areas. This is also a good unit for glassing.
This is a rocky steep unit with a lot of roadless area to hunt. Most of the deep canyons run east and west and have small creeks that run the length of them. Part of the east end of the unit was burned leaving limited vegetation. Hunters can find glassing spots near roads that allow them to view parts of the roadless areas. There is very little private property in this unit, and most of it is located in lower elevations.
There are a lot of roadless areas in this unit that can limit access. There are a few roads and ATV trails on the south end of the unit near Clarence Creek and East Hunt Creek. There is limited access to the east end of the unit with most hunters using the hiking trail systems that run through the canyons. Forest Service Road 125 starts on the north end of the unit in Antimony and runs the length of the unit from north to south. With this road, hunters can gain elevation to access glassing points. This is the only road that will give you access to the heart of the unit. Hunters can also use the roads near Sanford Creek and Smith Canyon on the east end of the unit and the roads near Table Top Mountain on the north end of the unit. Most of the roads on this unit are not maintained and can be hazardous when traveling in cold weather.
High elevations contain dense Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pines, and some ponderosa pines. Middle elevations have Douglas fir, aspens, grass meadows and sagebrush. Low elevations have pinyon/juniper, sagebrush, oak brush, grasses and other browse. Water can be found in springs, small lakes and perennial streams.
Panguitch and Antimony have lodging, gas, groceries, and other supplies. Camping is permitted on most public land.
Roughly 659 square miles
88% public land
Elevations from about 5,600-11,041 feet
ATVs are recommended, but not necessary
Snow and rain can delay travel
A lot of remote areas to hunt