Utah Elk Mountain Goat Mule Deer

Unit La Sal, La Sal Mtns (La Sal, La Sal Mtns)

Utah Hunting Guide — Elk, Mountain Goat, Mule Deer

The La Sal Mountains subunit sits in southeastern Utah near Moab and is managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). The unit offers both limited-entry and general-archery elk opportunities on a mix of USFS Manti-La Sal National Forest ground and lower-elevation BLM. Elk permits are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw system.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit La Sal, La Sal Mtns

Where to Find Elk in La Sal Mtns

The La Sal Mountains rise sharply from red-rock desert to 12,000+ foot peaks, creating distinct elevation bands for elk.

Aspen and Spruce-Fir (8,500-11,000 ft)

Core elk habitat — bulls bed in dark timber and feed in aspen pockets and high parks morning and evening.

Sagebrush-Oak Transition (7,000-8,500 ft)

Late-season elk drop into the oakbrush and sagebrush benches on the flanks of the range as high country fills with snow.

Basins Near Water

Small lakes, springs, and drainages concentrate rut activity. Find a wallow and you'll often find a bull nearby.

How to Hunt Elk in La Sal Mtns

The La Sals are a mountain elk hunt in the classic sense — timber, parks, and high basins.

Archery in the Rut

General archery elk on the La Sals offers calling opportunities. Work edges of parks at first light and listen for bugles.

Glass High Parks at Dawn

Rifle and muzzleloader hunters should glass open parks at first light. Bulls feed briefly before pushing back into timber.

Storm-Driven Movement

Fall storms push elk down in elevation fast. Be positioned on transition benches when weather turns.

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Elk Success Rates

Archery18%

Rifle28%

Muzzleloader22%

La Sal elk success rates vary by weapon and season. Limited-entry rifle tags typically produce the highest success; general archery is lower but offers a longer rut window. Check UDWR's annual harvest summaries for current figures.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— Limited Entry	4	0	0.0%	0
Rifle— Limited Entry	41	316	13.0%	18
Muzzleloader— Limited Entry	22	150	14.7%	10

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Utah elk permits are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw. Each bonus point adds one chance in the random drawing — more points mean better odds, but there is no guaranteed threshold. Limited-entry bull tags are harder to draw than any-bull general archery.

Mountain Goat Hunting in Unit La Sal, La Sal Mtns

The La Sal Mountains mountain goat hunt is one of Utah's unique goat opportunities, managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) on the isolated La Sal Range near Moab. Permits are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw. The high peaks rise to over 12,700 feet and hold an established goat herd on USFS Manti-La Sal National Forest alpine terrain.

Where to Find Mountain Goats in La Sal Mtns

Goats on the La Sals occupy a compact block of alpine terrain above timberline.

Highest Peaks and Ridges

Mount Peale, Mount Mellenthin, and Mount Tukuhnikivatz form the core goat range. Focus glassing on summit ridges and adjacent cliff bands.

Talus Slides and Scree

Goats bed on talus and scree within a few bounds of cliff escape terrain.

Alpine Meadows

Sheltered alpine meadows at 11,000-12,000 ft provide feeding areas accessed morning and evening.

How to Hunt Mountain Goats in La Sal Mtns

A La Sal goat hunt is a short-range, high-altitude affair in a small but vertical piece of country.

Glass the Peaks from Below

Set up at timberline and glass the alpine bowls above. White goats stand out against dark rock.

Climb Carefully

Sustained 12,000-foot elevations demand acclimatization. Day hikes involve 3,000+ feet of gain.

Recoverable Shots Only

Only take shots on goats standing on terrain you can safely reach after the shot.

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Mountain Goat Success Rates

Rifle65%

Utah mountain goat hunts typically run 85%+ success. The La Sals' compact range and visible terrain make locating billies straightforward for motivated hunters.

Mountain Goat Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	10	341	2.9%	12

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Utah mountain goat permits are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw. Each bonus point adds one chance in the random drawing. Mountain goat is a once-in-a-lifetime species in Utah.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit La Sal, La Sal Mtns

The La Sal Mountains mule deer subunit covers the timbered peaks rising above Moab in southeastern Utah. We cover this unit because the La Sals produce quality mule deer with aspen, spruce-fir, and oak brush habitat across Manti-La Sal National Forest (UDWR, accessed 2026-04-17). 194 applicants chasing 20 tags over 3 years indicates moderate drawability.

Where to Find Mule Deer in the La Sals

La Sal deer use elevation bands — aspen benches in early season, oak brush in mid-season, desert edges by late rut.

Aspen Benches (8,500–10,500 ft)

Early-season bucks hold in aspen pockets with clover-rich understory.

Oak Brush Benches

As fall progresses, bucks drop into oak brush for cover and acorns.

Desert Edges

Late-season migration pushes deer toward the desert fringes below the range.

How to Hunt La Sal Mule Deer

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Muzzleloader20%

La Sal limited-entry mule deer success typically runs 50-70% per UDWR harvest summaries. Buck quality is excellent — 180+ class bucks are taken every year.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Muzzleloader— Limited Entry	6	40	15.0%	2

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery — 50% max-points, 50% weighted random. 194 applicants with 20 tags over 3 years puts max-pool clearance in the mid-to-upper single digits of bonus points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Developed USFS campgrounds plus dispersed camping on forest ground.

💧

Water

Good — streams, springs, and lakes at elevation.

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Road Conditions

USFS roads are generally good gravel at lower elevations; 4WD recommended for high-country spurs.

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Terrain Difficulty

Steep mountain terrain at 8,000-12,000 ft with significant elevation gain.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate during general archery; low on limited-entry hunts.

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Weather

Early season can be warm; October hunts see snow and freezing temps at elevation.

📱

Cell Service

Spotty in town, limited to none in the high country.

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Nearest Town

Moab is the primary basecamp for hunters on the La Sal Mountains.

Note: Elevation adjustment is critical — Moab is at 4,000 ft but elk country is 8,000-12,000 ft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hunt elk in La Sal without drawing a limited-entry tag?

Yes — the La Sals offer a general-archery elk season that can be purchased over the counter (subject to annual UDWR rules), though it limits you to archery tackle.

How does Utah's weighted-random draw work for elk?

Each bonus point grants one additional chance in the random drawing. More points mean higher odds but nothing is guaranteed — every applicant has a non-zero chance each year.

How hard is the La Sal goat hunt physically?

Very hard — hunt terrain is at 11,000-12,700 ft with sustained elevation gain. Months of conditioning at elevation is the norm.

Is Utah mountain goat a once-in-a-lifetime tag?

Yes — drawing a Utah mountain goat permit removes you from future Utah goat draws.

How many deer tags are issued for the La Sal Mountains?

Tag counts vary annually; over the last 3 years approximately 20 public tags have been drawn through the limited-entry process.

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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 Big Game Application Guidebook — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: La Sal La Sal Mtns listed in UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook for elk · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Hunt Boundary Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Authoritative GIS boundary polygon for the La Sal Mtns subunit · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Big Game Harvest Data — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual elk harvest and population survey data for the La Sals · accessed 2026-04-17
Manti-La Sal National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: La Sals are primarily Manti-La Sal NF ground, Motor Vehicle Use Map governs road access · accessed 2026-04-17