Utah Moose Mule Deer Elk

Unit Bear Springs (Bear Springs)

Utah Hunting Guide — Moose, Mule Deer, Elk

Bear Springs is one of Utah's micro-allocation once-in-a-lifetime moose units, tucked into the northern Wasatch drainages. We profile it because 172 hunters applied for only 2 tags across the last three seasons (ProHunt draw database). The hunt is dense timber, willow bottoms, and beaver-pond complexes where a single good bull often holds an entire drainage. Tag holders should assume this is the only moose tag they will ever draw in Utah.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit Bear Springs

Where to Find Moose at Bear Springs

Moose here are tied to water and willows — find either and you will eventually see a bull.

Willow Bottoms

Creek bottoms lined with tall willow are the prime morning and evening feeding areas.

Beaver Pond Complexes

Beaver ponds hold aquatic forage all summer. Bulls cruise pond edges at first light.

Dark Timber Benches

Mid-day, bulls bed in shaded spruce-fir just above the willows — a short walk from their feeding areas.

How We Hunt Bear Springs Moose

With one bull on a tag, we run a slow, methodical pattern.

Glass Open Willow Stringers

We sit above willow bottoms at dawn and dusk with a spotter. Moose are large and black — they reveal themselves quickly.

Walk Pond Edges

Mid-morning we still-hunt pond perimeters checking tracks, wallows, and rubs.

Cow Calls in the Rut

Late-September cow calls from a timbered edge will pull a willing bull out of the dark. We call sparingly.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle70%

Utah once-in-a-lifetime moose hunts post 85-100% success statewide. Bear Springs tracks with that average because tag holders scout hard and guided support is common.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	91	1.1%	10

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Bear Springs is drawn through Utah's 50% max-points / 50% weighted-random lottery. Half of tags reward the highest point holders, the other half roll a weighted-random draw where more points mean more tickets but never a guarantee. At 2 tags against 172 applicants per year, we plan for 15-25 years of point building and still treat every application as a long shot.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit Bear Springs

Bear Springs is a northeastern Utah Limited Entry mule deer unit in Duchesne and Uintah counties on the south slope of the Uinta Mountains, named for the reliable spring complexes that concentrate wildlife throughout the terrain. At 7,000 to 9,500 feet the unit blends mountain brush, aspen, and spruce-fir that sustains a quality limited-entry buck herd. The reliable spring water that gives the unit its name is also the key to finding deer throughout the season.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Bear Springs

Bear Springs deer concentrate predictably around the unit's reliable water sources and the cover adjacent to them.

Spring Complexes and Seeps

The multiple spring complexes throughout the unit are the highest-value deer locations year-round. Scout these springs via trail camera in August — the bucks using the unit will reveal themselves on camera within a week of setup.

Aspen and Mountain Brush Edge

The transition between aspen groves and mountain brush stands is the primary rut staging area. Bucks work these edges actively in late October as does concentrate in the thick mountain mahogany.

North-Facing Spruce-Fir Drainages

The deep, shaded spruce-fir drainages provide midday bedding security for mature bucks. Glass these drainages from across-canyon vantages at first light before bucks settle in for the day.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in Bear Springs

Bear Springs rewards hunters who invest in early scouting at the spring complexes that give the unit its name.

Spring Ambush (Archery)

The spring complexes are the foundation of the archery strategy. Set up a natural-cover ambush downwind of active springs and be in position before first light. Deer visit springs on a rotating schedule and mature bucks are most active at the springs in low-light conditions.

Aspen-Edge Glassing

Set up on ridge-top vantage points overlooking the aspen-mountain brush transition at dawn. Glass methodically across the aspen openings and brush edges — mature bucks feed in these areas in the first hour of daylight before retreating to spruce-fir bedding cover.

Rut Interception

In late October, identify the travel corridors between major doe groups — saddles, ridge crossings, and canyon-head benches. Post up in these interception points before first light during the rut peak and be prepared for close encounters with cruising bucks.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle25%

Bear Springs achieves 50 to 65 percent rifle success for limited-entry buck tags. The reliable spring water concentrates deer in predictable locations, giving hunters a consistent targeting framework. Most harvested bucks score 165 to 185 inches, with the reliable water source contributing to good antler development.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	12	8.3%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Bear Springs is a moderately competitive Limited Entry draw in northeastern Utah. Residents typically need 8 to 12 bonus points for the general rifle tag. The unit's reliable water and quality deer attract consistent applicant interest but it is not among the most oversubscribed LE units in the state.

Elk Hunting in Unit Bear Springs

The Bear Springs elk unit in Duchesne and Uintah counties sits on the south slope of the Uinta Mountains, named for the reliable spring complexes that sustain wildlife throughout the terrain. At 7,500 to 10,500 feet the unit blends aspen, spruce-fir, and mountain brush with the open meadows and willow-lined drainages that define the best Uinta elk habitat. The unit's spring-fed water sources concentrate elk in predictable locations, making it an efficient and productive Limited Entry hunt.

Where to Find Elk in Bear Springs

Bear Springs elk follow the spring-fed drainages and aspen terrain in predictable seasonal patterns.

Spring Complexes and Willow Drainages

The spring complexes and willow-lined drainages are the core elk habitat in the unit. Elk use these water-rich corridors throughout the season — locate the active springs and you will find elk within 500 yards in almost all conditions.

Aspen Parks and High Meadows (9,000 to 10,500 ft)

Early season bulls stage in the high aspen parks and subalpine meadows. These areas are most productive for locating velvet bulls in late August and hard-antler bulls through early September before pressure pushes them lower.

Spruce-Fir Rut Cover

Rutting bulls bed in dense spruce-fir stands adjacent to aspen parks and willow drainages. The forest-edge calls carry well through the September timber, and bulls respond aggressively in the rut period.

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How to Hunt Elk in Bear Springs

Bear Springs rewards aggressive rut callers and hunters who invest in pre-season spring scouting.

Spring-Complex Glassing

Set up high above the major spring complexes at first light and glass the willow drainages and adjacent aspen parks. Elk are visible in the open terrain around springs in the first and last hours of daylight. Identify the dominant bulls and plan a morning approach route for the following day.

Rut Calling in Aspen

September bulls respond to aggressive bugling in the aspen parks. Set up between a responding bull and his cows using terrain to direct his approach. The willow and aspen provide close-range cover for shot presentation at 30 to 80 yards.

Timber Still-Hunt

During rifle season, move slowly through the spruce-fir stands between drainages at 100 yards per 10 minutes. Stop frequently to glass openings ahead. Fresh tracks and wallows in the timber reveal active bull areas quickly.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle28%

Bear Springs elk hunters achieve 45 to 60 percent success on limited-entry rifle tags. The reliable spring water concentrates elk in predictable areas and the Uinta terrain provides good glassing and approach routes. Most harvested bulls score 280 to 340 inches under the limited-entry management structure.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	20	5.0%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Bear Springs elk is moderately competitive for a Uinta unit. Residents typically need 10 to 14 bonus points for the general limited-entry bull tag. The unit's productive spring-fed habitat attracts consistent demand but does not generate the extreme competition of the Book Cliffs or premium Wasatch Plateau units.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

⛺

Camp Sites

Dispersed camping on Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF plus a few developed campgrounds.

💧

Water

Abundant — springs, creeks, and ponds throughout.

🛣️

Road Conditions

Mostly maintained Forest Service roads; interior routes are rutted and need 4WD.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — wet drainage bottoms and blowdown slow everything down.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Nearly nonexistent on moose days; archery elk hunters share the drainage in late September.

🌦️

Weather

Cool mornings, afternoon thunderstorms in September, early snow by mid-October.

📱

Cell Service

Limited to ridgelines.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Heber City and Kamas for fuel and lodging.

Note: Because tags are so rare, we recommend 10+ days of boots-on-ground scouting split across July and August.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points do we need for Bear Springs moose?

Most draws pull from the upper point bands — 15-25 bonus points. The weighted-random half of the draw can hit earlier, but we plan for a long build.

Is Bear Springs guided only?

No. It is a DIY unit, but we strongly recommend hiring a scout or outfitter given the once-in-a-lifetime nature of the tag.

How important are the springs to hunting strategy in Bear Springs?

Extremely important — they are the foundation of the entire archery strategy and a key element of the rifle strategy as well. The springs concentrate deer in a unit that would otherwise scatter across a large landscape. Identifying the most active springs via trail camera before the season is the single highest-value pre-season activity.

Is Bear Springs primarily an archery unit or a rifle unit?

Both weapons produce good results, but the reliable spring water makes Bear Springs particularly well-suited to archery hunting. Rifle hunters who approach it as a spot-and-stalk unit from high vantages overlooking the spring complexes and aspen edges also achieve strong success rates.

What buck quality is realistic for a Bear Springs tag holder?

Realistic expectations are a mature 4x4 or 5x5 buck in the 165 to 185 inch range. The limited-entry management protects bucks to maturity and the reliable water source supports strong antler development. Exceptional bucks scoring 185 to 200-plus inches are taken periodically from the most remote sections of the unit.

How does Bear Springs elk compare to other Uinta south-slope units?

Bear Springs is comparable in quality to other Uinta south-slope LE units with the added benefit of the reliable spring complexes that create predictable elk concentration points. The springs simplify scouting and give hunters a defined targeting framework that open-terrain Uinta units lack.

What is the best calling technique for Bear Springs elk during the rut?

Aggressive challenge bugles followed by cow calls in the aspen-willow terrain produce the best results. The spring-complex terrain channels bulls toward water and the aspen parks are natural rut arenas. Start with a locate bugle from high ground, then move to the aspen edge to call more aggressively once a bull responds.

Is it worth hiring a guide for Bear Springs elk?

Not required, but a local guide who has scouted the specific spring complexes in the current season provides significant advantage in a unit where knowing which springs are most active determines daily success. Self-guided hunters should invest 2 to 3 days in trail camera setup on springs before the season.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

Utah Big Game Application Guidebook — Moose Hunts — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Bear Springs is a once-in-a-lifetime moose unit, Nonresident allocation capped per UDWR rule R657-62 · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Bear Springs moose boundary — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: GIS polygon for Bear Springs moose unit · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Statewide Moose Management Plan — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Population objectives and harvest strategy for Utah moose units · accessed 2026-04-17