Utah Mountain Goat

Unit North Slope/south Slope, High Uintas West (North Slope/South Slope, High Uintas West)

Utah Hunting Guide — Mountain Goat

The High Uintas West mountain goat hunt covers Utah's highest alpine country in the western Uinta Mountains and is managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). Permits are drawn through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point system. The unit sits mostly on USFS Ashley and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest wilderness terrain above timberline.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Mountain Goat Hunting in Unit North Slope/south Slope, High Uintas West

Where to Find Mountain Goats in High Uintas West

Mountain goats in the western Uintas concentrate in alpine basins and cliff country above 11,000 feet.

Cliff Bands and Talus

Look for goats on cliff escape terrain and adjacent talus slides.

Alpine Basins

High alpine basins with scattered rock and green feed hold goats summer through early fall.

Lake Cirques

Cirques with small lakes and surrounding cliff rims are productive glassing country.

How to Hunt Mountain Goats in High Uintas West

A High Uintas goat hunt is a wilderness backpack hunt in extreme alpine terrain.

Backcountry Camp

Most hunters pack in 5-10 miles to camp above or near timberline, then hunt from that base.

Glass the Cirques

Set up at dawn on a high point and glass multiple basins and cliff bands systematically.

Mind the Wilderness Rules

The High Uintas Wilderness has motorized and mechanical restrictions — pack animals and foot travel only in designated wilderness.

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Mountain Goat Success Rates

Rifle65%

Utah mountain goat hunts typically run 85%+ success thanks to motivated tag holders. The High Uintas' alpine openness makes locating billies achievable for prepared hunters.

Mountain Goat Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	13	611	2.1%	29

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

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

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Backcountry wilderness camping under Leave No Trace rules.

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Water

Abundant from lakes and streams; filter.

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Road Conditions

Paved and gravel USFS access roads to trailheads; 4WD helpful on some spurs.

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Terrain Difficulty

Extreme alpine terrain above 11,000-13,000 ft requiring backpacking.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low — a handful of tag holders across vast wilderness.

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Weather

Afternoon thunderstorms common; first snow possible any time in September.

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Cell Service

None in the backcountry.

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Nearest Town

Evanston, Wyoming and Kamas, Utah are common staging points.

Note: This is a wilderness hunt — plan for multi-night backcountry trips and meat packing on foot or with pack animals.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an ATV for a High Uintas goat hunt?

Not inside the designated wilderness — foot travel or pack stock only. Motorized access is limited to non-wilderness road corridors.

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

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

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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: High Uintas West listed in UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook for mountain goat · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Hunt Boundary Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Authoritative GIS boundary polygon for High Uintas West goat · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Big Game Harvest Data — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual mountain goat harvest and survey data · accessed 2026-04-17