Quick Tips
- Be aware of cattle when camping
- Bear activity has been a problem in the past, bear proof all containers
On The Ground
This hunt encompasses National Forest, BLM, Utah DWR, tribal lands, and private property. The majority of the bears harvested will be on National Forest lands in the Vernal unit or BLM and DWR property on Diamond Mountain. Hunting the National Forest land can be difficult due to road closures during a majority of the season. Most bears are harvested towards the end of the hunt.
In the spring, the bear’s diet generally consists of grass, and forbs, and they will be relatively close to water sources. Most bear movement will take place during the early morning and evening hours. Their movement will continue to increase as hunts progress. The black bears’ mating season will reach its peak around the month of June. Expect bears to be covering ground and looking for opportunistic meals. Their diet will transition from grasses to more substantial foods such as acorns, pine nuts, and berries.
Terrain
There are different types of terrain between the three different areas of the unit. South of Rim Road, terrain is steep on the initial drop. Terrain on the southern end is easy to moderate with many small ridges and washes going towards the bottom. The central area of this unit has flat to gently rolling hills. Elevations are not extreme, but the northern section has long ridges running north/south off of Green River that are relatively steep.
Vegetation
In the south end of the unit, between Rim Road and Dinosaur National Monument, vegetation consists mostly of pinyon and junipers. The central region however, is mainly prairie grass and crops on private land. The northern end is a mixture of Douglas fir and Lodgepole pine on ridges and north facing slopes, while the sides and south facing slopes consist mostly of Wyoming big sage and black sage with some Aspen mixed in. More water is available on the northern end in man made water tanks and natural water supplies.
Access
Diamond Mountain Highway, off of Sunshine Bench Road outside of Vernal, is the easiest access point. Limestone Road off of Highway 191 is another option. Highway 121 also runs through the middle of this unit. Different roads provide access throughout the unit, however, private land is a major issue to be considered and scouted out prior to start of the season. With a GPS and quality maps, a hunter can navigate their way around a good majority of the private land in order to access public land.
Four-wheel drive is beneficial
Roads are decent unless rain or snow falls; some roads can become impassable due to mud
ATVs will not provide a huge advantage, limited roads for use
Be aware of CO/UT state line when hunting the eastern side of the unit
Camping and Lodging
Nearest town for lodging is Vernal, but staying there would make for long drives each day. There are plenty of places to camp within the unit. It is best to find a camping spot that is centrally located so travel distance can be minimized.
No official campgrounds within the unit
Common camping areas for hunters near Crouse and Zelph Calder Reservoir
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