Utah Black Bear

Unit Manti North (Manti, North)

Utah Hunting Guide — Black Bear

Black bear tags on Manti, North are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw, with about 53 permits across a 3-year applicant pool of ~578. The Manti-La Sal National Forest's north end rises above Sanpete and Utah valleys with aspen, mixed conifer, and mountain-brush habitat that supports a healthy bear population. Road access is better than on the Book Cliffs, which makes scouting easier but also raises pressure near trailheads.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Black Bear Hunting in Unit Manti North

Where to Find Black Bear on Manti, North

Manti bears move with food through the year. We target the same three zones we use on every Utah bear hunt.

Spring Green-Up

South and west-facing aspen slopes between 7,500 and 9,000 ft green up first. Emerging bears key on new forbs and grasses through May and early June.

Serviceberry and Chokecherry Draws

Mid-summer into fall, bears shift to brushy draws loaded with serviceberry and chokecherry. We glass these draws hard morning and evening.

Aspen Pockets and Oak Edges

Late season, aspen leaves and scattered oak mast concentrate bears on upper benches. We hunt aspen-to-conifer transitions on ridgelines.

How to Hunt Manti, North Black Bear

We run a glass-and-stalk program on Manti, using the extensive forest road network to move between glassing points without burning daylight.

Run Skyline Drive at Dawn

Skyline Drive and the main canyon roads put us on elevated glassing points quickly. We move every 45-60 minutes until we find a bear on a reachable slope.

Check Bait Rules

Utah permits baiting under specific regulations, certification, and registration requirements. We verify current rules in the 2025 UT Big Game Guidebook before setting any station.

Respect Bow Season Overlaps

Bear seasons on Manti overlap with elk archery in many years. We wear blaze orange and coordinate with other hunters when glassing the same country.

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Black Bear Success Rates

UDWR's Big Game Harvest Data page publishes annual bear harvest by unit, including sex ratios and ages. Manti, North bear success correlates tightly with summer moisture — wet years produce strong berry crops and higher success; dry years scatter bears and drop harvest numbers.

Black Bear Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	10	182	5.5%	18

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

About 578 applicants against ~53 tags over three years puts aggregate odds in the high single digits. UDWR's weighted bonus-point lottery allocates 50% of tags to the max-point pool and 50% to a random-weighted draw with each bonus point as a chance. Mid-point applicants have realistic access on this unit.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Adequate. Streams and springs are common through the forest.

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Road Conditions

Paved state highway to forest boundaries; Skyline Drive and spur roads are improved gravel suitable for most vehicles in dry conditions. Early snow closes higher routes.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate mountain terrain — steep timbered drainages separated by reasonably walkable ridges.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate — road access raises pressure at trailhead glassing points, but back-country draws remain lightly hunted.

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Weather

Snow can arrive on Skyline Drive in September; pack for sub-freezing nights.

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Cell Service

Good along Skyline Drive and the valley edges; spotty in the timbered interior.

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Nearest Town

Ephraim, Fairview, Nephi, and Mount Pleasant provide full services within 15-45 minutes of trailheads.

Note: Elk archery and bear bait stations share the same country in late summer. We work with local bait hunters to avoid bumping each other's sets.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Utah allow baiting for black bear on Manti, North?

Utah permits baiting under specific regulations and registration requirements. Verify current rules in the 2025 UT Big Game Guidebook PDF before setting any bait station.

Can I hunt bear over bait during archery elk season?

Bear and elk archery seasons often overlap on Manti, but tag restrictions apply to each species. Check the 2025 UT Big Game Guidebook for concurrent-season rules and wear blaze orange where required.

Where are the official unit boundaries?

The UDWR Hunt Boundary Map is the authoritative polygon source for Manti, North.

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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 — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for the Manti, North black bear unit · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook (Black Bear section) — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Manti, North listed as a black bear hunt in the 2025 UT Big Game Guidebook PDF · accessed 2026-04-17
Manti-La Sal National Forest — Sanpete Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: North Manti bear habitat sits on the Sanpete Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, Forest road access from Skyline Drive and Ephraim / Fairview canyons · accessed 2026-04-17