Oquirrh Elk Hunting, Utah

The Oquirrh unit is gentle and rolling country overall, with the area shares running heavily toward gentle ground and only a small slice of steep or rugged terrain. Elevations span from a low around 4,200 feet up to 10,600 feet, with most of the unit sitting closer to the 5,100-foot typical mark. That kind of ground makes for a lot of walkable country, but legal access is the real limiting factor here, not footing: only about 29% of the unit is generally open to public hunting, spread across BLM, State Trust Land and Wildlife Management Areas. Utah State Trust Land parcels are covered by a standing state access agreement that opens most of them to hunting, though individual parcels can still be leased or restricted, so it pays to check ground before counting on it. Private land makes up the majority of the unit at 57%, and a further chunk is either closed military land or unclassified ownership, so hunters should not expect to roam freely across the map.

Getting into the open ground takes some planning given how much of the unit sits in private hands, and the fact that public parcels are scattered rather than one continuous block. Cover at the higher elevations runs mostly sagebrush with some conifer, aspen and grass and meadow mixed in, while the mid elevations lean heavily sagebrush and grass and meadow — worth knowing when picking where to glass or set up on water.

Two recent fires are worth factoring into a fall hunt here. The Iron fire burned roughly 42,000 acres on the unit's south side and is in its first year after burning this fall, meaning elk displaced by it are likely on ground with water and feed rather than in the burn scar itself, though the burn can green up fast and animals may pass through it between patches of unburned cover. The Knolls fire on the east side and the Goose Point fire on the southeast side are both five to eight years out now, which means thick brush regrowth and increasing deadfall in those old burns — cover that can hide animals but also slow a hunter down. Anyone heading into these areas should check for current fire closures and restrictions before heading out.

Lower elevations

• Other cover78%
• Sagebrush8%
• Riparian8%
• Grass and meadow6%

Mid elevations

• Sagebrush62%
• Other cover22%
• Grass and meadow16%

Higher elevations

• Sagebrush55%
• Conifer27%
• Aspen8%
• Grass and meadow6%
• Other cover3%

• BLM22%
• State Trust Land7%
• Wildlife Management Areas<1%

• military land4%

• Unclassified ownership10%

• Private57%

Most Utah State Trust Land is open to hunting under a standing state access agreement. Individual parcels can be leased or restricted, so check the parcel before planning around it.

“Unclassified ownership” means the source records no owner. It is not known to be public or private.

Do I need points to hunt general-season elk on the Oquirrh unit?

No. General-season elk permits on the Oquirrh unit, including archery, any legal weapon and muzzleloader, are sold over the counter rather than drawn. There is no point system involved in buying a general-season bull elk permit; points in Utah apply only to limited-entry and antlerless draws, neither of which is being discussed here.

What can I take with the general archery permit on this unit?

The Oquirrh unit is an any-bull unit, so the general archery permit is hunter's choice, meaning an archer can legally take any bull or an antlerless elk. This is broader than on spike-only units, where the same archery permit only allows a spike bull or an antlerless elk.

Which general elk seasons fall during the September rut on this unit?

Only the general Archery season, running mid-August through mid-September, overlaps the September rut. The Early Any Legal Weapon, Late Any Legal Weapon, and Muzzleloader seasons all fall in October and November, after the peak rutting activity has passed.

How much of the Oquirrh unit can I actually count on hunting?

About 29% of the unit, roughly 457 square miles, is generally open to public hunting across BLM, State Trust Land and Wildlife Management Areas. Most of the rest is private land, so that 29% figure is the ground to plan around rather than assuming broader access.

Are there any recent fires that affect hunting on this unit?

Yes, the Iron fire burned around 42,000 acres on the south side and is in its first year after burning, so elk there are likely relocated to areas with water and feed rather than sitting in the burn scar. The Knolls and Goose Point fires on the east and southeast sides are five to eight years post-fire, meaning thick brush and increasing deadfall in those areas. Hunters should check for current fire closures and restrictions before heading into any of these areas.

What does the terrain look like on the Oquirrh unit?

The unit is gentle and rolling overall, with the large majority of its area classified as gentle terrain and only a small share that is steep or rugged. Elevations range from about 4,200 feet up to 10,600 feet, with most of the unit sitting around the 5,100-foot mark, so the physical hunting is generally manageable even though legal access to that ground is limited.