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Utah Pronghorn

Unit Box Elder, Puddle Valley (Box Elder — Puddle Valley)

Utah Hunting Guide — Pronghorn

The Box Elder, Puddle Valley pronghorn unit covers the Puddle Valley basin and adjacent sage flats in southern Box Elder and northern Tooele counties, bounded roughly by the Lakeside Mountains on the west, the Cedar Mountains on the south, and the Great Salt Lake basin to the east. The unit is primarily BLM Salt Lake Field Office and West Desert District ground with significant SITLA parcels. Pronghorn here inhabit one of northern Utah's classic open sage-steppe basins — big country, long glassing, and consistent buck production.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit Box Elder, Puddle Valley

The Box Elder, Puddle Valley pronghorn unit covers the Puddle Valley basin and adjacent sage flats in southern Box Elder and northern Tooele counties, bounded roughly by the Lakeside Mountains on the west, the Cedar Mountains on the south, and the Great Salt Lake basin to the east. The unit is primarily BLM Salt Lake Field Office and West Desert District ground with significant SITLA parcels. Pronghorn here inhabit one of northern Utah's classic open sage-steppe basins — big country, long glassing, and consistent buck production.

Where to Find Puddle Valley Pronghorn

Puddle Valley pronghorn key on the broad sage basin and the bench country along the foot of the bordering ranges, concentrating near stock tanks and transition zones.

Central Puddle Valley Basin

The open sage basin in the heart of Puddle Valley holds the largest pronghorn herds. Morning glassing from the benches along the east and west edges turns up groups feeding on the flats.

Lakeside Mountains Foot

The bench country along the east foot of the Lakeside Mountains holds scattered buck groups. Water at BLM-maintained stock tanks is a key concentrator, especially in September heat.

Cedar Mountains North Approaches

The northern approaches to the Cedar Mountains hold smaller pockets of pronghorn along the transition into foothill sage. Access via the Skull Valley Road / SR-196 corridor from the south.

How to Hunt Puddle Valley Pronghorn

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Box Elder, Puddle Valley pronghorn produces consistent buck harvest with above-average quality for northern Utah. UDWR Big Game Harvest Data page publishes weapon-specific success annually; archery lags any-legal-weapon meaningfully. The unit is a good choice for first-time pronghorn hunters given its accessibility and huntable terrain.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry141509.3% 14
Archery— Limited Entry31816.7% 0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine
Puddle Valley pronghorn tags are drawn under UDWR's weighted bonus-point system (half random, half weighted bonus — each point adds one chance, not squared). With roughly 714 applicants over three years for 75 tags (raw odds near 11%), residents with 1–3 bonus points draw regularly. Nonresident allocation is capped at 10%.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the Box Elder, West or Box Elder, Central pronghorn unit?
No. The Box Elder pronghorn complex is broken into multiple subunits (West, Central, Puddle Valley, Snowville, Pilot Mountain, etc.), each with its own boundary and draw. Confirm the Puddle Valley polygon on the UDWR Hunt Planner before committing to a scouting trip.
Can I hunt on Utah Test and Training Range ground?
No. UTTR is closed military land. The unit boundary is drawn to exclude military ground; confirm the exact polygon on the UDWR Hunt Planner and respect all posted boundaries.

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Sources & Verification

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

  1. Utah Pronghorn Statewide Management Plan — Box Elder Subunits — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Box Elder pronghorn herds managed for stable populations, Puddle Valley is primary sage-steppe habitat in the Box Elder complex · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. Utah Big Game Application Guidebook — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Box Elder, Puddle Valley pronghorn is a limited-entry buck hunt · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. Salt Lake Field Office — West Desert Travel Management — Bureau of Land Management — Salt Lake Field Office · supports: BLM Salt Lake administers most of the Puddle Valley pronghorn range, Primary vehicle access from I-80 exits and the Lakeside / Cedar Mountains road network · accessed 2026-04-17
  4. Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for Box Elder, Puddle Valley pronghorn · accessed 2026-04-17