Unit Cache, North (Cache, North)

Utah Hunting Guide — Elk

The Cache, North elk unit covers the northern Bear River Range and the high country east of Logan — spanning Cache County from Logan Canyon north to the Idaho line. The unit is dominated by the Logan Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with a mix of SITLA parcels, private ranch ground in the valleys, and isolated BLM tracts. Elk here spend summers high in lodgepole, aspen, and mountain-brush basins, dropping onto the lower benches during October storms.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit Cache, North

Where to Find Elk in Cache, North

Cache, North elk follow classic Northern Utah patterns: high summer range, mid-elevation bedding during the rut, and rapid migrations onto private winter ground when snow pushes.

Tony Grove and Franklin Basin

The Tony Grove Lake area and the Franklin Basin drainage consistently hold summer bulls. Aspen stringers and spruce-fir pockets above 8,500 feet offer thermal cover and feed.

Bear River Range Spine

The high ridges between Naomi Peak, Mount Elmer, and Gog-Magog hold scattered bulls through the September rut. Glass the transitional basins between subalpine meadow and timber edge.

Temple Peak / Cub River Drainage

The Cub River and Temple Peak country along the Idaho line see strong rut-period elk activity. Access is moderate via FS-079 and FS-006 from the Preston, Idaho side as well as US-89.

How to Hunt Cache, North Elk

Hunt style depends on your tag — spike hunters find fast action in general season, while any-bull tag holders can slow down and target mature animals.

September Archery — Call and Move

During the September rut, work locator bugles from high points at first and last light. Cache bulls respond well to aggressive cow calls once you've pinpointed a herd bull. Set up fast and use the wind — Bear River Range thermals are strong and predictable.

Rifle Spike Season

Utah's general-season spike tag fills fast here. Focus on transition zones between summer range and lower benches once weather breaks. Morning glassing from the Tony Grove road and the Temple Peak overlooks produces consistent spike sightings.

Late-Season Limited-Entry Bulls

Hunt the lower-elevation oak-brush and mountain-mahogany benches in late October. Bulls get pushed out of high country by storms and concentrate on south-facing slopes.

Timber Still-Hunting

When elk go silent mid-rut, still-hunt through spruce-fir transitions at a pace of 100 yards per hour, stopping every few steps to glass ahead. Fresh tracks in damp soil are your best indicator.

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Elk Success Rates

Archery18%

Muzzleloader22%

Rifle28%

Cache, North spike elk success has run 25–35% in recent years, typical for a general-season Utah spike hunt. Limited-entry any-bull success exceeds 50% on rifle permits, with archery any-bull around 25–35%. Bull quality is solid but not trophy-tier by Utah standards — expect 280–320-class 6x6s with occasional 340+ bulls from the most remote drainages.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— Limited Entry	25	165	15.2%	14
Muzzleloader— Limited Entry	4	71	5.6%	10
Rifle— Limited Entry	25	126	19.8%	13

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Cache, North runs both general-season spike permits (over-the-counter for residents, draw-only for nonresidents) and limited-entry any-bull tags drawn under UDWR's weighted bonus-point system. With about 1,190 applicants over three years and 140 total tags (counting all season types), headline odds are around 12%. Any-bull archery tags typically take 4–7 resident points; any-bull rifle tags require 8–12 points. Nonresident allocation is capped at 10% of limited-entry tags.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Reservable RV campgrounds at Tony Grove, Guinavah-Malibu, and Preston Valley. Full hookups in Logan and Preston.

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Camp Sites

Multiple FS campgrounds along US-89 (Tony Grove, Red Banks, Spring Hollow). Dispersed camping widely available on UWCNF.

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Water

Excellent. Logan River, Blacksmith Fork, Cub River, and countless tributaries flow year-round. Treat all water.

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Road Conditions

US-89 paved through Logan Canyon; FS-006 (Franklin Basin) and FS-079 maintained gravel. Many two-tracks require high clearance. Snow closes upper routes by late October.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Elevations from 5,500 to 9,900 feet with steep sidehills but no technical terrain. Dense blowdown can slow travel.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate — spike hunts draw many Cache Valley locals on opening weekend. Getting more than 1 mile from a maintained road reduces pressure dramatically.

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Weather

September days 55–75°F, nights 25–40°F. October storms can bring 6–12 inches of snow to the high country overnight. Pack rain gear and layers.

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Cell Service

Strong in Logan and along US-89; drops off above Tony Grove and in Franklin Basin.

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Nearest Town

Logan (gateway for most access via US-89 through Logan Canyon). Preston, Idaho for the northern approach.

Note: Respect private ranch boundaries in the valleys — many winter elk migrations cross checkerboarded ranchland. Use OnX and ask permission early. Be aware of wolf presence along the Idaho line; report any confirmed sightings to UDWR.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate limited-entry tag, or can I hunt Cache, North on a general-season spike elk permit?

Both options exist. General-season spike elk tags (residents OTC, nonresidents draw) allow you to harvest a spike bull during the general rifle season. Limited-entry any-bull tags are drawn separately under UDWR's bonus point system and allow any bull during the assigned season.

Is Cache, North a good trophy elk unit?

It's a solid unit with respectable bulls, but not a top-tier trophy unit. Utah's premium bull units (Henry Mountains, Pahvant, San Juan, Book Cliffs) consistently produce larger bulls. Cache offers better-than-average draw odds with good 300-class potential.

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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 Statewide Elk Management Plan — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Cache unit is managed primarily as a general-season spike/antlerless unit with limited-entry any-bull tags layered on top, Objective bull-to-cow ratio maintained near 18–20 bulls per 100 cows post-hunt · accessed 2026-04-17
Logan Ranger District — Recreation and Travel Management — USDA Forest Service — Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest · supports: Logan Ranger District administers the majority of Cache, North elk range, Primary access via US-89 through Logan Canyon and state routes off Sardine Summit · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Application Guidebook — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Cache, North supports general-season spike elk and limited-entry any-bull permits · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for Cache, North elk · accessed 2026-04-17