Quick Tips
- Four-wheel-drive with chains is recommended
- There are numerous bears, so purchase a tag
- There are numerous coyotes, so carry a call
- Waterfowl found in the 2,192-acre Dan Noble State Wildlife Area
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 180"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 300"+ |
On The Ground
This unit borders Utah and runs about 75 miles southeast, rising from less than 5,000 to more than 14,000 feet above sea level. Mule deer and elk thrive in this unit.
With an unlimited number of elk tags sold over-the-counter for the second and third rifle seasons, hunting pressure is heavy. There are thriving deer and elk herds, yet a scarce number of trophy size animals. Expect high hunting pressure. Some access roads are impassable when wet.
Terrain
Flat farmlands in the valleys and broken country in the transition areas range from about 6,000-8,500 feet. There are some steep mountains that measure over 8,500 feet and some imposing peaks above timberline that measure from about 12,500 to more than 14,000 feet.
Roughly 1,509 square miles
69.7% public land
Elevations from 4,900-14,246 feet
Vegetation
Low elevations consist of sagebrush, some croplands and pastures, willows and cottonwoods. Middle elevations consist of pinyon/juniper forests with sage openings and a great deal of oakbrush, which can be dense and covering entire hillsides. Middle elevations also feature cliffrose, bitterbrush and other browse plants favored by deer, along with firs and quaking aspen patches. High elevations consist of grassy parks surrounded by trees, usually firs and spruce and quaking aspen. Some aspen forests are several miles wide where the plateau stretches from west to east.
Access
Best access to national forest lands are found in elevations higher than 8,500 feet. In the lower terrain along the Utah border there is a great deal of BLM land with good road and ATV access.There are two State Wildlife Areas in the unit that allow hunting, the 12,789-acre Dry Basin and the 5,033-acre Lone Cone.
Highway 141 provides access in the South
Highway 90 provides access in the North
Camping and Lodging
Motels are located in Naturita and Norwood. Most hunters camp alongside dirt roads on either BLM or Forest Service land. The High Country RVA Park is located in Naturita.
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