Hunters on the Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek unit in Utah highlight a high archery harvest success rate for antelope, primarily due to effective tactics like sitting in ground blinds near water sources or guzzlers, particularly during the rut when buck activity is up. However, draw odds can be unpredictable even with seemingly certain predictions, as factors like nonresident applicants trying to use points before price hikes have impacted chances unexpectedly. Recent reports indicate a minor increase in tag allocations for nonresidents, but this doesn't fully alleviate the demand, especially when high-point applicants enter the pool. For a successful hunt, consider these insights on hunting tactics and stay informed about draw changes and their effects on odds, while also seeking local camping and lodging advice for a complete hunting plan.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope | 65"-75" | 75"+ |
High
Low
Located 20 miles south of Vernal, the eastern boundary is the Utah/Colorado state line. This unit has great access and good overall antelope numbers which make this a very good unit.
This unit has a lot of public land and the antelope are spread out throughout the unit. Antelope will be found in the mesas and flats on the north end of the unit. There is a very limited amount of tags issued on this unit every year. This unit gives hunters an easy physical hunt and good access but requires pre-season scouting.
The majority of the antelope terrain will be low elevation flats with sagebrush-covered rolling hills. This part of Utah can be challenging and has many mesas and plateaus with some hills. There are some pinyon/juniper patches that will checker the flats and small hills. There are also some springs and stock ponds that the antelope will use for a water source. Hunters will be able to glass and cover large tracts of country in this unit.
Most of the land in this unit is public, but there are tribal lands within the unit. Hunters can hike or find ATV trails around almost all private tracts, which are mostly a square mile or less. ATVs are not allowed on the tribal land so they must be trailered across the access roads. Most hunters will take State Route 45 to access the unit. Once hunters cross the White River there are a number of good roads that reach into canyons or follow ridges between canyons and draws. There are ATV trails and four-wheel-drive trails on the high ridges and plateaus. Some parts of the eastern Book Cliffs can be reached from roads that start in Colorado.
The high land is timbered with pines, firs, and aspens with grass, sagebrush, oak brush, and serviceberries on ridges and slopes. Middle elevations are primarily canyons with pockets of aspens, meadows, sagebrush and scrub oak along with some pinyon/juniper. The lower elevation terrain is primarily covered with sagebrush or pinyon/juniper woodlands along with expanses of oak brush.
Vernal has lodging, gas, groceries and other supplies. Camping is permitted on most public land in the unit.
Roughly 2,200 square miles
59% public land
Elevations from about 4,200-8,800 feet
ATVs are recommended
Snow and rain can impede travel on dirt roads
Four-wheel-drive is necessary to travel most roads in bad weather
Great vehicle and ATV access
Lots of country to hunt