Back in 2016, both the units on the east and west side of I-15 were combined into one unit. This unit was once labeled as one of Utah’s legendary units with a struggling deer herd and limited public land making locating mature bucks a challenge. Since then there have been wildfires that have created new vegetation for deer on the west side of the unit. The mountain range on the east side is well known for excellent mule deer hunting as well, but now it is more known for trophy elk.

This is a Limited Entry hunt on a general deer unit. With the late-season dates, this could be a great hunt during the early stages of the rut. This unit has never recovered from devastating losses in the 1980s when disease, predation, and other factors caused a dramatic decline in deer numbers.

On the west side of I-15 deer live throughout the area but are mostly found in the north on the private land that borders the limited-entry unit. Islands of pinyon/juniper and rolling hills to the south hold a fair number of deer. On the east side of I-15 a spine of mountains runs about 90 miles from the southwest to the northeast, this unit is almost entirely deer habitat. Thousands of acres of juniper and pine-covered mountains and foothills drop off into rolling hills and flats on the east and west sides.

Low elevations have sage and grassy flats with hay meadows, some private alfalfa fields, and willow-lined creeks. Middle elevations consist mainly of sage and grassy ridges with pinyon pines, junipers, bitterbrush, serviceberry, and aspens. High elevations have big quaking aspen forests, slopes covered with pines, firs, and spruce, as well as oak brush and chokecherry.

Most of the unit is open, and public access is good. A couple of the primary access points include Willow Creek on the east side and Kanosh Canyon Road on the west side. Most hunters stay on Forest Service ground. Some of the foothills and most of the flatlands below the range are private. Many ATV trails are limited to vehicles less than 50” wide.

Hunters may camp on public land. Many hunters camp along dirt roads. There are campgrounds at Maple Grove, Maple Hollow, Corn Creek, and Meadow Creek. Full services and motels are available in Delta, Fillmore, Richfield and Scipio.