Utah Antelope

Unit Diamond Mtn/bonanza (Diamond Mountain/Bonanza)

Utah Hunting Guide — Antelope

The Diamond Mountain/Bonanza pronghorn unit covers the oil-and-gas country east of Vernal in Uintah County, stretching from the Bonanza power plant south toward Ouray. UDWR draw statistics show about 542 applicants for ~94 permits over three years — some of the best pronghorn odds in Utah. The 2025 Big Game Guidebook lists this as a limited-entry buck hunt on a mix of BLM surface, SITLA, and Ute Indian Reservation checkerboard.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Antelope Hunting in Unit Diamond Mtn/bonanza

Where to Find Pronghorn in Diamond Mountain/Bonanza

The unit is a working oil field — pads, access roads, and reclaimed disturbance create a network pronghorn use year-round.

Reclaimed Pad Flats

Reseeded pad reclamations and pipeline rights-of-way hold green feed well into September. Pronghorn bands key on these.

Bench Country Between Canyons

The flat benches between White River and Green River drainages are prime antelope range.

Guzzlers and Produced Water

Several BLM guzzlers and livestock tanks scattered through the unit; pronghorn circulate between them on a predictable schedule.

Edges of the Reservation Checkerboard

Do not hunt Ute Tribal ground without a tribal permit. Public hunters stay on BLM and SITLA — the checkerboard is strict and well signed.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Diamond Mountain/Bonanza

Big permit numbers mean other hunters will be around. We plan to be set up before first light every day.

Drive the Grid, Then Walk

The oilfield road network is dense. We use it to cover country efficiently, but every stalk ends on foot.

Use Roads as Glassing Platforms

Standing on a truck bed gives us 4-5 extra feet of glass height, which matters on pancake-flat country.

Water Sit When It's Hot

A ground blind on a working guzzler will produce in September heat. We watch the blind for 6-8 hours per sit.

Check Land Status Constantly

Reservation, SITLA, BLM, and private are interlocked. OnX open on every stalk — we do not step across a blue tribal line.

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Antelope Success Rates

UDWR harvest data shows Diamond Mountain/Bonanza buck pronghorn success consistently in the 80-90% range. Buck quality is average-to-good for Utah — mature bucks in the 13-14 inch range with occasional 15+ bucks on the reclaimed-pad ground. The generous permit count (~31 a year) means the unit sees real effort, but road-network access keeps success high.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— Limited Entry	17	49	34.7%	13
Rifle— Limited Entry	50	245	20.4%	29
Muzzleloader— Limited Entry	17	46	37.0%	11

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

542 applicants and ~94 permits over three years gives roughly 17% raw odds per year — one of the best limited-entry pronghorn draws in Utah. Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery splits permits 50/50 between top-point holders and a point-weighted random pool, so low- and mid-point applicants have meaningful annual odds here. Non-residents face the standard 10% allocation cap.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

RV parks in Vernal; hard-pack flats support trailers throughout the unit.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping on reclaimed flats and along side roads. Developed sites near Vernal.

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Water

Guzzlers and tanks; treat as non-potable. Bring all drinking water.

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Road Conditions

Dense oilfield road network — mostly gravel, some paved mains, and interior two-track. Heavy truck traffic on weekdays.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy. Flat to gently rolling.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. High permit count and road access produce more hunter encounters than remote units.

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Weather

September highs in the 80s, nights in the 40s-50s. Afternoon thunderstorms can shut down clay two-tracks.

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Cell Service

Good along UT-45 and near Bonanza; marginal deep in the interior.

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Nearest Town

Vernal is the hub — 30-45 minutes to most access points. Full services.

Note: This is active oil-and-gas country. Be aware of truck traffic, active well sites, and tribal boundaries at all times.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hunt the Ute Tribal portion of this unit with my Utah tag?

No. The Ute Indian Tribe manages its own hunting program on reservation ground, and a Utah limited-entry permit does not grant access. Stay on BLM and SITLA unless you hold a tribal permit.

How many points to draw Diamond Mountain/Bonanza pronghorn?

With ~17% raw annual odds and Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery, this is one of the most draw-able Utah pronghorn units. Mid-point applicants should plan for a 4-6 year window; max-point applicants typically draw within a cycle or two.

Is this a trophy unit?

Not by Utah standards. Expect solid mature bucks with occasional high-end animals. If trophy quality is the priority, units with fewer permits produce bigger average horns.

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Sources & Verification

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

UDWR Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Diamond Mountain/Bonanza pronghorn unit — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Authoritative unit boundary for Diamond Mountain/Bonanza pronghorn · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook and Field Regulations — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Diamond Mountain/Bonanza listed as a limited-entry buck pronghorn hunt · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Big Game Harvest Data — annual limited-entry pronghorn success — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual Diamond Mountain/Bonanza pronghorn hunter success summaries · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Vernal Field Office — surface management for Bonanza and Diamond Mountain — Bureau of Land Management — Vernal Field Office · supports: BLM manages the majority of public surface in the Diamond Mountain/Bonanza unit · accessed 2026-04-17