Quick Tips
- Snow and rain can make roads hard to travel
- ATVs are recommended
- Some remote areas
On The Ground
Terrain
Vegetation
Access
Camping and Lodging
Historical Temperatures
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This unit is along the Colorado border about 20 miles north of the southeast corner of Utah. One of the smallest limited-tag elk units in the state, this area is open to elk hunters during a late-season in December and January, when many elk migrate from Colorado.
Most elk that winter here have spent spring, summer, and fall in Colorado's Unit 40. Most elk are found in terrain that is between 5,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level. The state only issues a few tags in this area that has low numbers of elk. Hunters should be prepared for this physically challenging unit.
Most animals are found in low canyons between 5,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation as well as on large and small mesas. There are small canyons run east to west, draining into the Colorado River, which is the units northern and western borders. The Dolores River is the southern border. Elk get water from a few different creeks and small ponds. Snow is often on the ground during the season, making elk easier to see and track.
Pinyon pines and junipers grow on the mesas and high slopes along with a few aspens. Below are meadows, some sagebrush and oak brush. Along streams grow riparian plants, such as willows and tamarisk.
Hunters can drive from Colorado on several good four-wheel-drive roads. Some roads are along the tops of mesas, skirting the sides of canyons. Hunters with ATVs can travel more quickly than those with conventional trucks and SUVs. A few hunters use flat-bottom boats to reach access points along the Colorado and Dolores rivers, allowing them to reach a small part of the unit. Some private property is along the Colorado River and the Colorado border. Hunters with good maps and GPS units should have no problem gaining access to public land.
There are no designated campgrounds in this unit. Most hunters camp on public land along dirt roads but can find lodging, gas, groceries, and other supplies in Fruita.
Roughly 183 square miles
95% public land
Elevations from about 4,318-7,682 feet