Utah Pronghorn

Unit South Slope, Bonanza/diamond Mtn (South Slope, Bonanza / Diamond Mountain)

Utah Hunting Guide — Pronghorn

The Bonanza / Diamond Mountain pronghorn subunit covers the eastern Uinta Basin from the Bonanza oil-and-gas field across Diamond Mountain's south flanks toward the Colorado line — open sagebrush plateau with scattered pinyon-juniper and significant BLM and SITLA acreage in Uintah County. Herds here are mobile and tie their movement to water sources and agricultural inholdings.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit South Slope, Bonanza/diamond Mtn

Where to Find Pronghorn in Bonanza / Diamond Mountain

Pronghorn in this subunit tie their movements to a few key landscape features.

Bonanza Sagebrush Plateau

The open sage country between Bonanza and White River holds the densest pronghorn numbers. Herds work the sage flats between stock water and private ag edges.

Diamond Mountain South Flanks

The south-facing rolling sage benches off Diamond Mountain hold smaller herds but some of the larger bucks — less pressure and more security terrain.

White River Corridor

Pronghorn use sagebrush benches above the White River for bedding, dropping down to irrigated private alfalfa in mornings and evenings.

How to Hunt Bonanza / Diamond Mountain Pronghorn

This is classic glass-and-stalk pronghorn country — cover ground until you find a buck worth working.

Drive the Lease Road Grid

The oil-and-gas lease road network is extensive. Drive with binoculars up, stop at high points, and glass 360 degrees with a tripod-mounted spotter.

Stalk Using Drainages

Shallow drainages and washes are your only cover once a buck is located. Plan stalks that keep you in the bottom of every feature — pronghorn eyesight will punish any skyline silhouette.

Water Hole Sits for Archers

Archery hunters set blinds on stock tanks and natural catchments. Midday heat pushes bucks to water in September and October.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Bonanza / Diamond Mtn pronghorn success runs 75–90% for any-weapon tag holders, with archery closer to 35–55%. The open terrain and strong buck numbers mean most hunters locate multiple shooter bucks during a 5-day hunt. Horn length on mature bucks commonly runs 13–15 inches with occasional 16-inch+ bucks.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Archery— Limited Entry	15	35	42.9%	0
Rifle— Limited Entry	46	174	26.4%	14
Muzzleloader— Limited Entry	15	28	53.6%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

A solid mid-tier Utah pronghorn unit. Roughly 151 tags per year against 836 applicants in a rolling 3-year window puts most residents drawing at 3–6 bonus points for rifle, 1–2 for archery. UDWR applies weighted bonus points — point-weighted, not squared, and not a pure preference draw.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Vernal has full-hookup RV parks. Red Fleet SP accommodates trailers.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping throughout. No developed campgrounds in the unit. Red Fleet and Steinaker State Parks near Vernal for developed sites.

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Water

Limited. Stock tanks and White River corridor provide wildlife water. Pack all human drinking water.

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Road Conditions

Main access roads are paved or maintained gravel. Interior lease roads are two-track — 2WD passable when dry, impassable after rain.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy. Flat to gently rolling sage flats. Cactus and badlands clay are the primary obstacles.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Oil-and-gas workers, recreational shooters, and other hunters share the road grid. Midweek hunts see much lighter foot traffic.

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Weather

September 75–90°F highs, 45°F lows. October rifle season sees cooler temps and occasional rain. Bentonite roads become lethal when wet.

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Cell Service

Spotty. Oil-field infrastructure provides better-than-expected coverage along main lease roads.

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Nearest Town

Vernal (30 minutes to Bonanza), Rangely CO (45 minutes to southeast unit), Roosevelt (1 hour to western subunit).

Note: Stay out of active oil-and-gas well pads (typically posted). Stop-and-glass from graded lease roads rather than driving cross-country — BLM travel plans restrict off-road travel to designated routes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there more pronghorn in Bonanza or on Diamond Mountain?

Pronghorn density is higher on the Bonanza flats. Diamond Mountain south flanks hold fewer animals but sometimes larger bucks with less hunting pressure.

Can I drive off the lease roads to retrieve a downed buck?

No. BLM travel plans in the Vernal field office restrict motor-vehicle travel to designated roads and routes. Plan a foot retrieval, or a game cart if terrain allows.

What's a trophy pronghorn here?

14-inch bucks are common, 15s are quality, and 16-inch-plus bucks rank as trophies. The combination of good mass and long prongs matters more than raw length.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

Utah Big Game Application Guidebook and Field Regulations index — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: South Slope Bonanza/Diamond Mtn pronghorn listed as limited-entry buck hunt, Archery, muzzleloader, and any-weapon seasons offered · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Vernal Field Office — Bureau of Land Management — Vernal Field Office · supports: Bonanza area is heavily developed oil-and-gas lease country on BLM ground, Extensive lease road network provides hunter access · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for South Slope Bonanza/Diamond Mtn pronghorn subunit · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Harvest & Survey Data Index — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual Bonanza/Diamond Mtn pronghorn harvest and success · accessed 2026-04-17