Utah Antelope

Unit San Rafael, Desert (San Rafael, Desert)

Utah Hunting Guide — Antelope

The San Rafael, Desert pronghorn unit covers the open desert south of I-70 and east of the San Rafael Swell in Emery and Grand counties. UDWR draw statistics show about 504 applicants chasing ~24 permits over three years — roughly 5% raw annual odds. The 2025 Utah Big Game Guidebook lists this as a limited-entry buck pronghorn hunt on a broad BLM landscape with scattered SITLA parcels.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Antelope Hunting in Unit San Rafael, Desert

Where to Find Pronghorn in San Rafael, Desert

The San Rafael Desert is pancake-flat sage and saltbush country with scattered washes — textbook pronghorn habitat.

Open Flats Between Green River and Hanksville

The broad flats along UT-24 between Green River and Hanksville hold the core herd.

Stock Tanks and Guzzlers

A handful of BLM water developments pull pronghorn on predictable schedules during hot openers.

Fence-Line Concentrations

Pronghorn crawl fences at specific gaps. Mapping gaps on OnX during scouting pays off.

Wash Bottoms for Midday Shade

In extreme heat, pronghorn will stage in shallow wash bottoms. Glass wash edges at midday.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in San Rafael, Desert

Flat country and small tag count mean patient glassing and well-planned stalks win.

First-Light Glassing from Elevated Points

Few high points exist here. Truck beds, road cuts, and small rises are what we've got — we use them.

Long Crawls Using Washes

Washes are the only cover. A 400-yard belly crawl down a wash is a typical stalk.

Water Ambush for Heat

Sitting a working guzzler on a hot September day is the most reliable tactic of all.

Watch Land Status

SITLA and private parcels punch holes in the BLM matrix. OnX every stalk.

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Antelope Success Rates

UDWR harvest data shows San Rafael, Desert limited-entry buck pronghorn running 80-90% success. Buck quality is average for Utah — expect mature bucks in the 13-14 inch range with occasional larger animals. Low cover means hunters who find a buck usually close the stalk with patience.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	4	98	4.1%	14
Archery— Limited Entry	1	11	9.1%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

504 applicants for ~24 permits over three years works out to roughly 5% raw annual odds. Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery splits permits 50/50 between top point holders and a point-weighted random pool. Non-residents face the standard 10% allocation cap.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Green River has full-service RV parks; hard-pack flats accept trailers throughout.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping throughout. Goblin Valley State Park offers developed sites nearby.

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Water

Guzzlers only — pack all drinking water.

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Road Conditions

I-70 and UT-24 are paved mains; interior routes are BLM gravel and two-track. High-clearance recommended.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy walking; brutal heat and sun exposure.

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Hunting Pressure

Low to moderate. Small permit count keeps the unit quiet.

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Weather

September highs 90-100°F; nights in the 50s. Afternoon thunderstorms turn clay roads slick.

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Cell Service

Good along I-70; marginal on the interior flats.

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Nearest Town

Green River (east side) and Hanksville (south). Both offer fuel and basic groceries; lodging limited.

Note: Heat is the biggest hazard. Plan hunts for cool parts of the day and carry more water than seems reasonable.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for San Rafael, Desert pronghorn?

No fixed cutoff. Roughly 5% annual raw odds means mid-point applicants should plan for a 6-10 year window; max-point applicants generally draw within a few cycles via the top-point 50% pool.

Is the hunt public-land accessible?

Yes. Most of the unit is BLM with scattered SITLA parcels. Private parcels exist — verify boundaries on OnX before every stalk.

How hot does it get during the hunt?

Early-season hunts routinely see 95-100°F highs. Bring at least 3 gallons of water per person per day and plan for shade and truck recovery gear.

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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 — San Rafael, Desert pronghorn unit — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Authoritative unit boundary for San Rafael, Desert pronghorn · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook and Field Regulations — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: San Rafael, Desert listed as a limited-entry buck pronghorn hunt · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Big Game Harvest Data — pronghorn success by unit — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual pronghorn success and average horn length for San Rafael, Desert · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Price Field Office — San Rafael Desert surface management — Bureau of Land Management — Price Field Office · supports: Majority of public surface in the San Rafael Desert is BLM-administered · accessed 2026-04-17