Utah Bear Elk

Unit Boulder/kaiparowits (Boulder/Kaiparowits)

Utah Hunting Guide — Bear, Elk

The Boulder/Kaiparowits bear unit covers the Aquarius Plateau, Boulder Mountain, and the remote Kaiparowits Plateau in Garfield and Kane counties. It is one of Utah's larger bear units, split between Dixie National Forest high country and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument canyon country. UDWR logged 381 applicants for 72 tags across three years. We consider this the best bear hunt in southern Utah — high bear densities in the oak-berry country, low pressure, and season structures covering spring pursuit-only, archery, and fall any-weapon.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Bear Hunting in Unit Boulder/kaiparowits

Where to Find Black Bear on Boulder/Kaiparowits

Bears here shift between the high aspen-spruce country and the canyon systems below. Oak brush and chokecherry-manzanita patches are the food anchors.

Boulder Mountain Aspens

Summering bears work the aspen-sedge edges on Boulder Mountain. Dawn glassing of avalanche chutes and aspen clearings turns up bears regularly.

Oak Brush Benches

By fall, acorns pull bears off the high country and into the oak-brush benches between 6,500 and 8,000 feet. Look for fresh sign where oak meets pinyon-juniper.

Kaiparowits Canyon Heads

The Kaiparowits side holds lower-density but larger resident bears. Check chokecherry and service-berry draws at canyon heads.

How to Hunt Black Bear on Boulder/Kaiparowits

Utah prohibits baiting — so the hunt is either hound-assisted pursuit or spot-and-stalk. Both work on this unit.

Spring Hound Pursuit

Spring pursuit-only is a scouting season. Cut tracks on forest roads after a rain, run dogs, and photograph the treed bear. It is how serious bear hunters pattern the unit before a fall any-weapon tag.

Fall Glassing — Oak and Berry Patches

In September, we glass open oak benches from mid-morning to mid-afternoon when bears feed hard. A color-shifted bear against yellow oak is easy to spot at 600 yards.

Sign-Reading and Trail Cameras

Cameras on mast-crop trails, wallows, and spring seeps let you pattern bears across weeks. Do the work early and save the hunt for when you have a target bear.

Mature Bear Judging

On this unit, bears regularly exceed 300 pounds. Judge small ears relative to head size and look for bellies that touch the ground — hallmarks of an old boar.

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Bear Success Rates

Boulder/Kaiparowits success rates vary sharply by weapon — hound-assisted hunts run 70 to 85%, fall any-weapon without dogs lands at 25 to 40%, and archery hunters see 10 to 20% based on recent UDWR summaries. The unit produces several Pope & Young and occasional Boone & Crockett class bears each season.

Bear Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	9	79	11.4%	17

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Utah runs bear tags through the weighted bonus-point lottery with the usual 50% max-points and 50% random-weighted structure. With 381 applicants for 72 tags over three years, headline odds are near 19%. Bear is a lower-demand species than elk or deer in Utah, so a 3 to 5-bonus-point resident has a realistic random-pool chance each year.

Elk Hunting in Unit Boulder/kaiparowits

The Boulder/Kaiparowits elk unit occupies one of Utah's most spectacular and demanding landscapes: the Grand Staircase-Escalante region of southern Garfield County. DWR Grand Staircase Unit 25C encompasses the forested Boulder Mountain plateau and the stark Kaiparowits Plateau to the south. Elk here inhabit some of the most remote BLM and USFS terrain in the state, and the tags are among the most coveted due to exceptional bull quality and stunning scenery.

Where to Find Elk in Boulder/Kaiparowits

Elk distribution across the Boulder/Kaiparowits area is split between two distinct ecosystems — the cool forests of Boulder Mountain and the harsh canyon country of the Kaiparowits Plateau.

Boulder Mountain Plateau (9,000-11,000 ft)

Boulder Mountain is a forested volcanic plateau managed by Dixie National Forest. Elk use the aspen and fir forests extensively from late August through October. Meadow complexes on top of the plateau are excellent glassing areas at first and last light. Water is abundant here relative to lower elevations.

Kaiparowits Benches and Canyon Rims

Below Boulder Mountain, elk transition to the sage and juniper benchlands above the Kaiparowits Plateau canyons. These transitional zones concentrate elk during the rut and early rifle season. Slot canyons and rimrock require careful navigation but funnel elk movement predictably.

Barney Top

Barney Top is a forested sub-plateau between Boulder Mountain proper and the Kaiparowits Plateau. This area holds elk year-round and is significantly less accessed than the main Boulder Mountain roads, making it valuable for avoiding other hunters.

How to Hunt Elk in Boulder/Kaiparowits

Hunting this unit requires backcountry competence — distances are vast, cell service is nonexistent, and help is far away. Plan thoroughly and hunt conservatively.

Backcountry Archery on Boulder Mountain

September archery hunters should pack into the interior of Boulder Mountain away from the main road corridors. The plateau holds herds that rarely see pressure in the back basins. Cow calling and light bugling during the rut (mid-September) is effective in the aspen drainages.

Glass-and-Stalk on the Kaiparowits Benches

Rifle hunters should invest time glassing from canyon rims and high points. The broken terrain of the Kaiparowits area requires patience — find bulls at long range and plan methodical stalks. Wind direction is complex in canyon country; approach from above when possible.

Pack-In Strategy

Most successful hunters use horses or pack mules, especially for meat retrieval on the Kaiparowits side. Coordinate with a local outfitter for pack string logistics if hunting solo. Elk quarters in this heat can spoil quickly in early season — have your extraction plan ready before the shot.

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Elk Success Rates

Boulder/Kaiparowits is one of Utah's premium limited-entry elk units. Rifle success rates exceed 50% in good years and exceptional bulls in the 340-370 inch range are taken regularly. Archery success is lower (20-35%) due to the challenging terrain. Pack-out difficulty is the primary limiting factor for solo hunters.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— Limited Entry	9	42	21.4%	20
Rifle— Limited Entry	9	42	21.4%	3

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

This is one of Utah's most sought-after elk permits. The three draw-odds IDs ("Boulder/Kaiparowits", "Barney Top/Kaiparowits", and "Boulder") represent different season/weapon combinations within the same unit complex. Residents typically need 15-22+ bonus points for premier any-weapon seasons; archery draws are somewhat more accessible. Non-resident competition is intense. Plan for a multi-decade point-building strategy for the top tags here.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Boulder Mountain campgrounds accommodate trailers. No RV facilities on Kaiparowits.

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Camp Sites

Multiple Forest Service campgrounds on Boulder Mountain (Oak Creek, Pleasant Creek). Dispersed camping throughout. Kaiparowits is dispersed only.

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Water

Good on Boulder Mountain with lakes, streams, and springs. Very limited on Kaiparowits — plan accordingly.

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Road Conditions

Paved UT-12 runs through the core. Forest roads on Boulder Mountain are generally gravel and passable in 2WD when dry. Kaiparowits access is rough 4WD only.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate on Boulder Mountain, strenuous on Kaiparowits. Both sides require real fitness during any-weapon season.

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Hunting Pressure

Low to moderate. Bear pressure is less than deer or elk. Most hunters concentrate on Boulder Mountain.

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Weather

Boulder Mountain can see early September snow above 10,000 feet. Kaiparowits is hot and dry through early fall. Watch forecast carefully for spring pursuit — mud closes roads fast.

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Cell Service

Limited in Escalante and Boulder town; none in the interior or on Kaiparowits.

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Nearest Town

Escalante and Boulder for the north end; Kanab and Big Water for the Kaiparowits side. Limited services in all.

Note: If you are hunting Kaiparowits, carry recovery gear and extra fuel. There are no services in the interior.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bait bears on Boulder/Kaiparowits?

No. Utah prohibits bear baiting statewide. Legal methods are hound-assisted pursuit and spot-and-stalk only.

Is the spring pursuit hunt worth applying for?

Yes, if you run dogs or hunt with a houndsman. Spring pursuit is a photograph-and-release season that lets you scout bear density without using a fall harvest tag.

Is hunting allowed inside Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument?

Yes — hunting is permitted within GSENM boundaries on BLM-managed land in accordance with Utah state regulations. The monument does not prohibit hunting. Always confirm current monument regulations with the BLM Kanab Field Office before your trip.

How do I get meat out of the Kaiparowits Plateau?

Pack horses or mules are the most practical option for Kaiparowits elk. Some hunters use game carts on the more accessible benches. Solo foot hunters should be prepared for multiple heavy pack trips over rough terrain — proper planning and physical conditioning are essential.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

Utah Black Bear Hunting — unit overview and season structure — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Boulder/Kaiparowits is a limited-entry black bear unit, Hunts offered as spring pursuit, fall archery, and fall any-weapon · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Baiting is not legal for black bear in Utah, Hound use is legal for pursuit and harvest on designated hunts, Bear tags drawn through weighted bonus-point lottery · accessed 2026-04-17
Dixie National Forest — Aquarius and Boulder Mountain travel management — USDA Forest Service — Dixie National Forest · supports: Boulder Mountain and the Aquarius Plateau lie within Dixie National Forest, Forest road network provides workable access for bear hunting · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Application Guidebook 2025 — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Boulder/Kaiparowits, Barney Top/Kaiparowits, and Boulder listed as Limited Entry elk areas in Grand Staircase Unit 25C, Garfield County; Grand Staircase-Escalante area · accessed 2026-04-18
GSENM Land Status and Hunting Information — Bureau of Land Management — Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument · supports: Hunting permitted in GSENM BLM sections per applicable state regulations · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit Boulder/kaiparowits (Boulder/Kaiparowits)

Bear Hunting in Unit Boulder/kaiparowits

Where to Find Black Bear on Boulder/Kaiparowits

Boulder Mountain Aspens

Oak Brush Benches

Kaiparowits Canyon Heads

How to Hunt Black Bear on Boulder/Kaiparowits

Bear Success Rates

Bear Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit Boulder/kaiparowits

Where to Find Elk in Boulder/Kaiparowits

Boulder Mountain Plateau (9,000-11,000 ft)

Kaiparowits Benches and Canyon Rims

Barney Top

How to Hunt Elk in Boulder/Kaiparowits

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification