Utah Moose Elk

Unit Jacob's Creek (Jacob's Creek)

Utah Hunting Guide — Moose, Elk

Jacob's Creek is a Utah Shiras moose unit in the northern Wasatch Range, covering willow-lined creek bottoms and aspen-conifer drainages that feed the Weber River drainage. UDWR issues an extremely small number of moose tags here — typically 2-4 per year — against an applicant pool of roughly 300-500 hunters. Moose is a once-in-a-lifetime species in Utah, making this draw a genuine bucket-list achievement. The terrain is classic Shiras habitat with willow stringers, beaver ponds, and spruce-fir pockets.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit Jacob's Creek

Where to Find Moose on Jacob's Creek

Shiras moose on Jacob's Creek concentrate where willow, water, and mature conifer converge.

Willow Creek Stringers

Dense willow corridors along Jacob's Creek and its tributaries are the primary foraging habitat. Bulls feed willows at dawn and dusk and bed in adjacent spruce-fir during midday.

Aspen-Conifer Transition (7,000–9,000 ft)

Aspen groves adjacent to conifer provide shade, browse, and rut staging areas. During the September rut, bulls move through aspen parks aggressively chasing cows.

Beaver Ponds and Wet Meadows

Any beaver impoundment or wet meadow in the drainage is worth checking. Moose seek aquatic vegetation and use standing water to thermoregulate in warm early-season conditions.

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How to Hunt Jacob's Creek Moose

Drawing a once-in-a-lifetime Utah moose tag demands a thoughtful, unhurried approach.

Pre-Season Scouting

Glass creek corridors from high points well before the opener. Identify individual bulls, locate their bedding timber, and pattern their movement routes.

Rut Calling

September rut-period bulls respond to cow calls and antler raking on brush. Set up 100-200 yards downwind of active sign and call aggressively.

Plan Pack-Out First

A bull moose in a willow bottom means 400-600 pounds of meat to move. Arrange pack stock or a large crew before the hunt — logistics before the shot, not after.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle70%

With only 2-4 tags issued annually on Jacob's Creek, individual hunts move the success percentage dramatically. UDWR harvest data shows consistent moose harvest at the Wasatch drainage scale. Most successful hunters report mature bulls in the 40-50 inch antler spread range typical of Utah Shiras populations.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	51	2.0%	3

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Jacob's Creek moose operates under Utah's 50% max-points / 50% weighted-random draw. With roughly 300-500 applicants and only 2-4 tags, aggregate odds are below 1%. Max-point holders draw with certainty once they reach the top of the pool. The weighted-random half is a true lottery at these ratios.

Elk Hunting in Unit Jacob's Creek

Jacob's Creek is a limited-entry bull elk CWMU in northern Utah's Wasatch Range, covering willow-lined creek bottoms and aspen-conifer drainages near the I-84 corridor. Operated by R&K Hunting Company, the unit produces quality bulls in oak-brush, aspen, and ponderosa pine terrain on the northern Wasatch foothills. With approximately 2 tags against 20 applicants, draw odds run around 10% for residents — delivering a true private-land CWMU experience with an 87% historical success rate.

Where to Find Elk on Jacob's Creek

Jacob's Creek elk hunting takes place in the northern Wasatch foothills where willow creek bottoms, oak brush, aspen, and ponderosa pine create a diverse and productive elk habitat on private land.

Agricultural Fields and Ranch Meadows

As with most northern Utah CWMUs, the private-land fields and irrigated ranch meadows are primary elk feeding areas. Bulls enter fields from adjacent timber at dawn and dusk. Position yourself downwind of established elk trails at the field edge before first light.

Oak Brush and Aspen Cover

Mature bulls bed in the dense oak brush and aspen at lower and mid-elevations during midday. During the September rut, bulls move through these areas actively bugling for cows. Set up calling sequences in the aspen groves during morning and evening rut activity.

Ponderosa and Pine Ridges

The upper-elevation ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer ridges hold bulls seeking thermal cover. Glass these ridge systems in the first hours of daylight before elk retreat deeper into timber. The steep terrain at higher elevations on the unit rewards hunters willing to climb.

How to Hunt Elk on Jacob's Creek

Jacob's Creek is a CWMU with guided access through R&K Hunting Company. The terrain transitions from agricultural fields at lower elevation to steep oak-brush, aspen, and ponderosa country above — requiring flexible tactics matched to where elk are holding.

Field-Edge Ambush at Dawn

The most reliable early-season method is positioning at the field edge downwind of established trails 45 minutes before shooting light. Bulls moving from bedding to feeding cover cross these transition edges in low light — maximizing your encounter opportunity while legal shooting light develops.

September Rut Calling

During mid-September, bugling and cow-calling in the aspen and oak-brush zones produces aggressive bull responses. The confined drainages carry sound effectively, drawing bulls within range. Work uphill so rising thermals carry your scent away from approaching elk — critical in the steep lower-unit terrain.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle28%

Jacob's Creek elk has historically produced approximately 87% hunter success — among the highest for any CWMU elk draw in Utah. The 2-tag structure and private-land access control mean drawn hunters operate in essentially undisturbed elk country. The northern Wasatch foothills terrain consistently produces 5x5 and larger mature bulls for CWMU hunters.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	2	20	10.0%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Jacob's Creek elk draws approximately 20 applicants for 2 tags — roughly 10% odds at zero bonus points for residents (2023 data). The modest applicant pool reflects the unit's remote location and guided-access requirement. Utah's weighted bonus-point system provides meaningful improvement; even 2–3 bonus points substantially increases your probability. Jacob's Creek also offers moose tags in a completely separate draw pool.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed USFS camping. Echo Reservoir area has developed camping within 30 min.

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Water

Abundant. Streams, beaver ponds, and springs throughout the drainage.

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Road Conditions

USFS roads in the Weber/Echo drainage. High-clearance 4WD recommended for creek-bottom access. Main roads are paved or improved gravel.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate in creek bottoms; strenuous on steep aspen and conifer side slopes.

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Hunting Pressure

Essentially none. 2-4 tags means almost no other hunters in the unit.

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Weather

September rut hunt — warm days possible, cold nights guaranteed. October and later require full winter preparation.

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Cell Service

Fair near highway corridors; poor in deep creek drainages.

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Nearest Town

Morgan and Coalville (25-40 min) offer basic services. Salt Lake City is within 60-90 min for full resupply.

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Permit Notes

UDWR once-in-a-lifetime moose tag. Once you draw and harvest, you are not eligible for future moose tags in Utah.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Utah moose truly once-in-a-lifetime?

Yes. Once a hunter draws and harvests a Utah moose tag, they are ineligible for future moose tags in the state. Drawing and not harvesting may preserve eligibility — confirm the current rule in the UDWR guidebook before applying.

How long does it realistically take to draw Jacob's Creek moose?

With 300-500 applicants and 2-4 tags, max-point holders have the best odds. Expect to accumulate maximum bonus points (typically 20+ years of applying without drawing) to reach the top tier, or hope to win the weighted-random half with lower points.

What is a trophy Shiras moose in Utah?

Utah Shiras moose are the smallest North American subspecies. A 45-50 inch spread bull is an exceptional trophy here. Most Jacob's Creek bulls will range 38-50 inches, with occasional larger animals. The experience and rarity of the tag matter as much as antler size.

Does Jacob's Creek elk require a guided hunt?

As a CWMU, Jacob's Creek requires coordination with the operator (R&K Hunting Company) for access. Whether guided services are mandatory depends on the CWMU's current terms — contact UDWR or R&K Hunting directly to confirm requirements for your season.

Can I apply for both elk and moose at Jacob's Creek?

Yes — Jacob's Creek has separate draw pools for elk and moose. The moose draw is extremely limited (1–2 tags) and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Utah. Both draws are entered through the standard UDWR big game application process.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

Utah Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Jacob's Creek elk — limited-entry rifle, northern Wasatch CWMU, 2 tags; ~20 applicants (2023 data); ~10% draw odds, CWMU located on the I-84 corridor side of the northern Wasatch Range, Operated by R&K Hunting Company — guided access required · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit Jacob's Creek (Jacob's Creek)

Moose Hunting in Unit Jacob's Creek

Where to Find Moose on Jacob's Creek

How to Hunt Jacob's Creek Moose

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit Jacob's Creek

Where to Find Elk on Jacob's Creek

Agricultural Fields and Ranch Meadows

Oak Brush and Aspen Cover

Ponderosa and Pine Ridges

How to Hunt Elk on Jacob's Creek

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Sources & Verification