About 90% of the goat habitat in this unit is in the High Uintas Wilderness north of Tabiona. Motor vehicles and even man-powered vehicles such as bicycles or deer carts are not allowed in the wilderness. Goat numbers have increased in the past 10 years.

This is a physically demanding hunt so hunters should be prepared.

The canyons on this unit run north to south, and most canyons have small creeks that run down them. Canyon walls rise steeply to high ridges that run to the drainage divide that separates the north and south slopes of the High Uintas. Maintained trails that are open to hikers and horseback riders run up the bottoms of most canyons to high passes, some of them more than 11,000 feet in elevation. Most are above timberline. Some of the mountain peaks are more than 12,000 feet above sea level. Goats are well distributed near cliffs. Most major drainages have goats in the high country. The unit borders the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in the south.

Mountain goats are almost always found above timberline and in steep terrain with few trees. The animals occasionally drop into timber to flee hunters or predators if escape routes are blocked among cliffs. Timberline is at about 11,000 feet. Spruces, pines and firs grow densely below alpine tundra and rugged, rocky ridges and peaks. Middle elevations have firs, aspens, grass meadows and sagebrush. Low elevations have pinyon/juniper woods, serviceberries, sagebrush, oak brush and grasses. Springs, ponds, lakes and streams are abundant.

Hunters should be prepared to hike or ride horses. Use trails to gain elevation, stopping occasionally to glass high ridges and peaks. The China Meadows and Henry’s Fork trailheads on the north slope and the Lake Fork and Yellowstone/Swift Creek trailheads on the south slope provide access to the high country. Trailheads include Red Rock, Lake Fork, and Christmas Meadows. One of the only roads that provides access to this unit is the Mirror Lake Highway.

Tabiona and Kamas have lodging, gas, groceries, and other supplies. Camping is permitted on most public land. There are also restictions on camping within the Wilderness Area.