Quick Tips
- Glass a lot of country, moving to see into pockets
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument makes up much of the unit
- Grand Staircase is one of the few national monuments open to hunting
- Sheep can be seen from roads and high points close to roads
- A lot of remote areas to hunt in the north
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Bighorn Sheep | 150"-160" | 165"+ |
On The Ground
East of Kanab and south of Escalante, this unit borders Arizona and is considered one of the better places to hunt desert bighorn sheep in Utah. Hunters have had high success in finding rams in this unit.
Ram quality has dipped in recent years, but biologists are optimistic that quality is on the upswing. When compared with many other sheep areas, this unit has some sheep terrain that is easy to reach. With lots of areas to glass, sheep can be found throughout the entire unit.
Terrain
This unit has steep sandstone cliffs and canyons with some buttes and mesas. Streams and springs can be found in various canyons along with a few water guzzlers.
Roughly 1,612 square miles
97% public land
Elevations from about 4,200-8,212 feet
Vegetation
Dense ponderosa pines and pinyon/juniper woods grow at high elevations. Middle elevation terrain has pinyons and junipers, manzanita, bitterbrush, grasses, and sagebrush. The lower terrain also has pinyon/juniper woods, some cottonwoods, sagebrush and other browse.
Access
Some parts of this unit are close to roads and other areas are more remote. Dirt roads and ATV trails cover the unit, branching from roads such as Johnson Canyon, Skutumpah, and Cottonwood Road, which gives access to the Paria River area. Cottonwood Road connects US Highway 89 in the south and State Route 12 in the north. Nipple Creek Road also gives hunters access to sheep country. Smokey Mountain Road provides access to the east end of the unit. Many roads in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument have been closed to motorized vehicles. Check with local authorities to verify which roads are open.
Some good truck and ATV access
Camping and Lodging
Hunters can get lodging, gas, groceries and other supplies in Kanab and Escalante. Camping is allowed on most public land. Most hunters camp close to areas that hold sheep.
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