Utah Elk Moose Mule Deer

Unit Durst Mountain (Durst Mountain)

Utah Hunting Guide — Elk, Moose, Mule Deer

Durst Mountain is a CWMU northeast of Morgan, Utah, just east of the Wasatch Range. UDWR manages the tag allocation in partnership with the landowner operator, giving a small pool of hunters access to quality bull elk on ground that's effectively inaccessible to general-season hunters. Low pressure and disciplined harvest keep bull age-class high.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit Durst Mountain

Where to Find Elk on Durst Mountain

Durst Mountain's mix of aspen, fir, and open meadows holds resident elk year-round.

Aspen Bedding Pockets

Bulls bed in dense aspen on north and east faces during the day.

Meadow and Burn Edges

Old burns and irrigated pastures pull elk onto predictable feeding schedules at dawn and dusk.

Saddles Between Drainages

Elk move through defined saddles as they shift between feed and bedding — classic ambush terrain.

How to Hunt Durst Mountain Elk

Lean on the operator's scouting and apply disciplined fundamentals.

Glass Meadow Edges at First Light

Bulls stage as they transition off feed — a 20-minute glass often locates the bull you'll chase.

Stalk Bedded Bulls

Mid-day stalks on bedded bulls succeed when wind is steady and you move slow.

Calling in September

Rut-phase bugle and cow-call sequences work well on low-pressure ground.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle28%

CWMU bull elk tags in Utah typically see 80-95% success — Durst Mountain fits that pattern with consistent tag fills and mature bulls thanks to restricted access.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	3	92	3.3%	4

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Durst Mountain elk permits go through Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery: 50% of tags to max-point hunters and 50% to a random weighted-by-points draw. With roughly 274 applicants for 9 tags over three years, this is a point-building CWMU but more reachable than marquee trophy units.

Moose Hunting in Unit Durst Mountain

Durst Mountain is a Utah CWMU that also hosts a small number of bull moose tags. UDWR partners with the landowner on tag allocation and harvest management. Expect operator-guided access, private-land hunting, and a premium experience driven by willow-filled drainages and timbered ridges that hold resident moose.

Where to Find Moose on Durst Mountain

CWMU habitat plus operator knowledge equals high-confidence sightings.

Willow-Lined Creek Bottoms

Ranch creek bottoms hold resident bulls in classic willow-feeding pattern.

Aspen Edges Above Bottoms

Aspen just above willow bottoms provides daytime bedding.

Irrigated Meadows

Ranch meadows pull moose at dawn and dusk.

How to Hunt Durst Mountain Moose

Work with the operator's guides and apply moose fundamentals.

Glass and Stalk

Morning glassing from known setups locates bulls; guides plan the wind-right approach.

Shoot Preparation

Shots can be short in willow or open at meadow edges — practice both.

Recovery Plan

Bulls are huge. Confirm the operator's pack-out plan before the shot.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle70%

Utah CWMU moose hunts routinely post 90-100% success. Durst Mountain fits the pattern — restricted access, operator knowledge, and mature bulls.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	78	1.3%	2

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Durst Mountain moose tags draw through Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery — 50% of tags to max-point hunters and 50% random-weighted by points. With 240 applicants over three years for 3 tags, this is a challenging CWMU moose draw that still rewards point-building.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit Durst Mountain

Durst Mountain is a small CWMU-style limited-entry mule deer unit with 6 tags against 146 applicants across three years (ProHunt draw database). We cover it because the unit sits on a distinct mountain block in northern Utah with consistent buck quality and predictable habitat.

Where to Find Mule Deer on Durst Mountain

Oakbrush and aspen cover the mountain from 6,000 to 8,500 ft.

Aspen Benches

Mature bucks bed in aspen on north-facing benches.

Oakbrush Draws

Mid-slope oak pockets hold bucks into late October.

Sage Parks

Evening feeding in sage parks on top.

How We Hunt Durst Mountain Deer

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle25%

Rifle success averages 55-75%. Archery 25-35%. Small unit size allows tag holders to cover the full block in a week.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	2	35	5.7%	2

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Durst Mountain is drawn through Utah's 50% max-points / 50% weighted-random lottery. With 6 tags against 146 applicants over three years, we plan for 13-17 bonus points in the max-points half.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

⛺

Camp Sites

Operator typically provides lodging.

💧

Water

Good throughout — creeks and stock water.

🛣️

Road Conditions

Paved highway access; interior is ranch-maintained and operator-only.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — timbered slopes and meadow benches.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Very low — tag holders and staff only.

🌦️

Weather

Expect fall mountain weather — cold mornings and possible snow by late rifle.

📱

Cell Service

Decent near headquarters; spotty at elevation and in timber.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Morgan (about 20 minutes); Ogden and Evanston within an hour.

Note: Coordinate lodging, meals, and pack-out with the Durst Mountain operator when you draw.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Durst Mountain a public or private hunt?

It's a CWMU — private land co-managed with UDWR. Tag holders draw through the state lottery but access and guidance come through the landowner operator.

Is a Durst Mountain moose tag once-in-a-lifetime?

Yes — Utah classifies moose as once-in-a-lifetime. You can only harvest one Utah moose in your life, regardless of the unit.

How many points for Durst Mountain mule deer?

We plan for 13-17 bonus points in Utah's max-points half.

Is Durst Mountain mostly public?

A mix of public and private. Public access covers the heart of the unit.

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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 Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMU) Program — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: CWMU program overview and tag structure · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Application Guidebook and Field Regulations index — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Durst Mountain listed as CWMU with limited-entry bull elk tags · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for Durst Mountain CWMU · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Statewide Moose Management Plan — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Statewide moose population and harvest objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Harvest & Survey Data Index — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual harvest summaries for small northern Utah deer units · accessed 2026-04-17