In the southwestern corner of Utah, this is one of the largest deer units in the state and includes the Pine Valley Mountains and several other ranges. It is not managed to produce trophy-class bucks, but has produced some great deer, including the former state record typical. Big rugged mountain peaks are great places to get elevation make this a glassing dream, but to make play on some of the good deer you do find can be a nightmare. Scouting will be your best bet to locate, pattern, and harvest these deer. Low country can hold good deer also, but vast pinyon juniper forest can make it extremely difficult to see the deer longer than watching them bound away.

In the past three years, the state has issued more buck tags for bow, muzzleloader and rifle seasons. This unit has very good public access with some ATV trails and roads offering access to peaks. However, a lot of areas are closed to motorized traffic, making the access a little more difficult for those not so inclined to back pack. Backpack hunters will enjoy wilderness areas that allow no roadways in or out. Ability to get miles in the backcountry can provide a getaway from hunters and less pressure on deer.

This unit has is composed of a lot of rocky, rugged mountains separated by deserts and valleys. Several deer summer from 8,500-10,000 feet above sea level and winter on foothills and in desert valleys from about 4,500-6,000 feet in elevation. Some deer migrate into the Utah Hill area. Deer can hide in several canyons, small and large. Ranges include Pine Valley, Beaver Dam, Bull Valley and Harmony mountains. Cougar Canyon Wilderness Study Area borders the Tunnel Springs Wilderness in Nevada, while the 50,232-acre Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness covers the high points of the Pine Valley Mountains.

High country is timbered mostly with ponderosa pines and some aspens, while middle elevations are primarily canyon lands with grass meadows, sagebrush, bitterbrush and scrub oak. Low-elevation land is covered with pinyon pines, junipers, sagebrush and oak brush. Pockets of water are found throughout the unit with a few streams and creeks.

Road access is good in most of the unit. Highway 18 runs north and south through the center of the unit. Several maintained dirt roads have few travel restrictions and a number of approved ATV trails reach good hunting areas, particularly in the south. Most roads are passable even when wet. Little prime deer habitat is private land, so hunters usually have no problems finding good areas to hunt on public land, such as the popular Bumble Bee Mountains and Ox Valley in the Dixie National Forest. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the wilderness and wilderness study areas. The Shivwits Indian Reservation, which is about 10 miles northwest of St. George, is not open to public hunting. Some private land is on valley floors, but this rarely prevents hunters from reaching public hunting grounds.

St. George, Cedar City and Enterprise have lodging, gas, groceries and other supplies. Camping is permitted on almost all public land.