Utah Black Bear

Unit Fishlake/thousand Lakes (Fishlake/Thousand Lakes)

Utah Hunting Guide — Black Bear

The Fishlake/Thousand Lakes bear unit covers the Fishlake Plateau and Thousand Lake Mountain in south-central Utah — aspen, mixed conifer, and oakbrush country that supports one of Utah's healthier resident black bear populations. UDWR publishes season structure and permit caps in the annual bear guidebook and the statewide bear management plan.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Black Bear Hunting in Unit Fishlake/thousand Lakes

Where to Find Black Bears on Fishlake/Thousand Lakes

Bears follow food — focus on mast, berries, and meadow edges as seasons shift.

Aspen-Oakbrush Edges

Lower slopes on Thousand Lake Mountain and the Fishlake corridor hold bears working oakbrush acorn crops.

Service-Berry and Chokecherry Draws

Mid-summer berry crops pull bears into draws and canyon bottoms.

Meadow Edges at Dusk

High-elevation meadows around Fish Lake and Thousand Lake draw bears for green feed at the edges in early morning and late evening.

How to Hunt Fishlake/Thousand Lakes Bears

Utah allows pursuit (hounds) and spot-and-stalk in season — pick the tactic that fits your tag.

Glass Berry Patches

Mid-day glassing sessions on known berry draws produce bears in warm weather.

Bait-Free Calling

Utah does not permit baiting. Predator calling (fawn distress, jackrabbit) can pull bears out of cover.

Hound Hunting

If you're hunting behind dogs, work the plateau rim at first light for cool-tracking conditions.

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Black Bear Success Rates

Utah limited-entry bear success varies widely by tactic. Hound hunters on Fishlake/Thousand Lakes often run 50-70% success, while archery spot-and-stalk without bait typically runs 10-20%. Bear density on the plateau is solid.

Black Bear Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	2	69	2.9%	17

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Utah bear tags are allocated through the same weighted bonus-point lottery as other limited-entry species — 50% to max-point hunters and 50% random-weighted by points. With about 265 applicants over three years for 19 tags, Fishlake/Thousand Lakes is moderately accessible for resident point builders.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Fishlake National Forest developed campgrounds plus abundant dispersed camping.

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Water

Abundant — Fish Lake, creeks, and springs throughout.

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Road Conditions

Paved UT-72 and UT-25 access the plateau; interior is USFS gravel and high-clearance two-track.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — plateau country with steep canyon drops and elevation to 11,300 ft on Thousand Lake Mountain.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate — bear unit overlaps with general-season deer and elk hunters.

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Weather

Mountain fall weather — cold mornings and possible snow above 9,500 ft by late season.

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Cell Service

Good near Fish Lake; deteriorates fast into side canyons.

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Nearest Town

Loa, Bicknell, and Richfield serve the unit; Torrey is closest to Thousand Lake Mountain.

Note: Baiting is prohibited in Utah. Plan spot-and-stalk or run dogs where legal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bait bears in Utah?

No. Utah prohibits baiting for black bears. Legal tactics include spot-and-stalk, calling, and hound pursuit on units and in seasons where pursuit is allowed.

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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 Black Bear Hunting — Seasons, Units, and Applications — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Fishlake/Thousand Lakes listed as a limited-entry bear unit with spring and fall seasons · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Statewide Black Bear Management Plan — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Statewide bear population estimates and per-unit harvest objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for Fishlake/Thousand Lakes bear unit · accessed 2026-04-17