Quick Tips
- Two-wheel-drive vehicles can access some roads
- 4x4s with chains needed in mud or snow
- Be prepared to hike to reach the best areas
- Glass with high-quality optics on tripods
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 170"-180" | 190"+ |
On The Ground
Only a little over a couple of hours from Salt Lake City, this limited-entry deer unit has only about 180 square miles of Forest Service land, making it one of the smallest management units in the state.
The Clay Springs fire of 2012 burned over 100,000 acres, and most of it overtook the Fillmore, Oak Creek Unit. The burn opened up most of the unit, as well as some rocky drainages that hunters couldn't glass from in the past. With the new burn, hunters have a better chance of finding and tracking the more mature bucks. This is a rugged, rocky unit with some sheer cliffs. There is good browse high in the ledges and tucked on cliffs and peaks. This unit is dry enough and open enough for long-distance glassing. Hunters should be physically fit for the rugged terrain in this unit.
Terrain
The Canyon Mountain range about 25 miles long and 3 to 12 miles wide is located in the center of this unit. Some peaks drop off into sheer cliffs. Much of the high terrain is extremely steep with a precipitous, rocky ridge that runs the length of the unit, plummeting into rolling hills. Much of the ridge is between 8,500 and 9,000 feet above sea level.
71% public land
Only U.S. Forest land is included in the unit
Elevations from about 5,000-9,717 feet at Fool Creek Peak
Vegetation
At low elevations are sage and grassy flats with hay meadows, some private alfalfa fields, and willow-lined creeks. Middle elevations consist mostly of sagebrush and grassy ridges with pinyon pines, junipers, bitterbrush, serviceberry and aspens. High elevations feature quaking aspen forests, slopes covered with pines, firs, and spruce as well as much oak brush and chokecherry.
Access
Public access roads branch from Highway 132 west of Leamington, the Leamington Pass Road south of Leamington, Food Creek and Bridge Canyon roads north of Oak City, and Eight Mile Road in the southeast, reached by a frontage road off I-15. The only private land in this unit is on the lower elevations below the Canyon Mountain range.
Four-wheel-drive recommended
ATVs are nice to have but not necessary
Hiking or horseback riding needed to reach the better big-buck haunts
Camping and Lodging
Most hunters camp along dirt roads. The only Forest Service campsite is Oak Creek Campground east of Oak City, but it closes on Sept. 15.
Motel lodging in Delta and Nephi
Backpack to be in prime spots at first light
Water is extremely limited on higher mountains
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