Quick Tips
- Most game animals are near water
- Much of the ground is sandy and holds tracks for a long time
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 150"-170" | 170"+ |
| Elk | 280"-320" | 330"+ |
| Antelope | 65"-75" | 75"+ |
On The Ground
West of Cuba and south east of Farmington, this big unit is mostly winter range for elk, but has a few resident herds of elk, small numbers of deer and some antelope.
This is not a good area for hunters who want to see high numbers of animals while searching for a trophy. Most elk and deer are located in the northern part of the unit and can be found near ponderosa forests and pinyon-juniper woodlands with oak brush understory. Bucks get as big as anywhere in the state, but deer are scarce. Much of the land in this area is dry.
Terrain
The north part has some ridges that are several hundred feet above the valleys below. Some rimrocks and cliffs give beauty and good glassing sites. The southern part of the unit is dry, arid, barren desert with wide arroyos, low ridges and some low mesas. Water is scarce, mostly restricted to stock tanks and a few seeps.
Roughly 3,426 square miles
39.5% public land
Elevations range from 5,500 - 7,750 feet
Vegetation
The northern edge of the unit has trees and brush that are valuable to wildlife along with grassy places. Ponderosa pines, pinyon pines, junipers and oak brush are on ridges, mesas and in big canyons. Healthy sagebrush meadows stretch below the ridges and are on some mesas and along dry gulches. The southern part of the unit is covered in grasses and low brush that has little value for wildlife in lowlands. Scattered and dispersed junipers and pinyon pines are found on low ridges and mesas.
Access
A few roads are blocked by private land, but hunters can get almost anywhere on a network of dirt and sandy roads that reach almost all parts of the unit.
Camping and Lodging
Cuba and Farmington have motels and restaurants. Many hunters camp in the unit on BLM or Forest Service land during early seasons.
Historical Temperatures
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