At a Glance
Quick Tips
- Be aware of open-range cattle when camping
- Cell phone coverage is poor to moderate
- Bear activity a problem in past, bear-proof all containers
Terrain
Access
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
High
Low
Located in the northeastern part of Utah, and having healthy herds of mule deer, along with good access points to public land this can be a great hunt.
There are different types of terrain between the three different areas of the unit. South from Rim Road is steep on the initial drop. The terrain on the southern end is easy-to-moderate with small ridges and washes heading toward the bottom. The central area of the unit is flat with some rolling hills. Elevations are not extreme, but the northern section has long ridges running north/south off the Green River that are relatively steep.
Diamond Mountain Highway off of Sunshine Bench Road out of Vernal is the easiest access point. Limestone Road from Highway 191 out of Vernal is another option. With a GPS and quality maps, a hunter can navigate their way around much of the private land, accessing public land.
The south end of the unit is mostly pinyon and junipers between the Rim Road and Dinosaur National Monument. The central region of this area is covered in prairie grass and crops on private land, and the northern end is a mixture of Douglas fir and lodgepole pine on the ridges and north-facing slopes. The sides and south-facing slopes mainly consist of Wyoming big sage, black sage and some aspen. More water can be found on the northern end from manmade water tanks and natural water supplies.
The nearest town for lodging is Vernal but would be a long drive each day. There are plenty of options for camping within the unit, best to find one that is centrally located so travel distance is minimized to hunting areas.
Roughly 415 square miles
68% public land
Elevations from 5,500-8,800 feet
Four-wheel-drive is beneficial, especially in later seasons
ATVs not a huge advantage, limited roads for use
Be aware of the Colorado/Utah state line when hunting the eastern side of the unit
No official campgrounds within the unit
Common camping area’s for hunters near Crouse and Zelph Calder reservoir