Hunters interested in the Beaver, West, Utah area are faced with limited information on antlerless or cow hunts, as the focus tends to be on bulls, and there are no specific antlerless hunts available to study success rates. Non-residents can purchase an over-the-counter General Any Bull tag, expanding opportunities to all enthusiasts regardless of residency. There are mixed reports on elk presence, suggesting variability in sightings, with some hunters not observing elk despite multiple days of scouting. However, reports indicate optimism around Youth Hunts this year, with hopes for a rewarding experience, particularly for those lucky enough to draw a tag. Hunting in this area may require persistence and possibly exploring various spots within the region to increase the chances of success.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | Raghorn-250" | 280"+ |
High
Low
Made up of desert lowlands, arid hills, and low mountains west of Beaver and Parowan, this unit has low numbers of elk. It was part of the Beaver limited entry elk unit until 2013, when state officials decided to open the area to hunters with over-the-counter any-elk tags.
Elk numbers are low in this unit, but a few good bulls have been taken. Occasionally a big bull migrates across Interstate 15 from the bordering Beaver limited entry unit. Elk live mostly near alfalfa fields along the eastern boundary of the unit. Hunters should consider themselves lucky to see a branched-antler bull.
This unit varies from desert lowlands to rolling foothills with a couple of mountain ranges that lie between 6,500 and 8,000 feet above sea level. A few flat farm fields are on the western and eastern boundaries. Some parts of the mountains ranges are steep and rocky.
Hunters can access almost all of this unit by driving on gravel or dirt roads on BLM land. Black Rock Road on the north forks into several good interior gravel and dirt roads that branch into a network of public roads. Roads also climb around Minersville Reservoir in the south. Private land where hunters need permission to hunt include alfalfa fields near Beaver along the Indian Creek drainage, fields near Manderfield, Minersville Reservoir and Sulphurdale. Some landowners have been known to grant permission to hunt, especially during archery season.
Low sagebrush and desert grasses cover most of the desert, while sagebrush, junipers, and pinyon pines cover some foothills and flats. The mountains have some patches of aspens and conifers, but most of the mountains have junipers, sagebrush, and pinyons. There’s a lot of bitterbrush, serviceberries, and chokecherries in various places throughout the unit. Farm fields are typically planted with alfalfa hay.
Roughly 988 square miles
74% public land
Elevations from 5,000-9,582 feet
Most roads are open to ATV use
Most roads have good rock bases and can be driven in bad weather
Some hunters camp along dirt roads. West of the Sulpherdale exit is another common place for camping. Beaver County also operates a campground at Minersville Reservoir. Motel lodging and other supplies are available in Beaver and Minersville.