Utah Moose

Unit South Slope, Diamond Mtn/vernal (South Slope, Diamond Mountain / Vernal)

Utah Hunting Guide — Moose

The South Slope Diamond Mountain / Vernal moose subunit covers the eastern Uintas above Vernal, extending across Diamond Mountain plateau and the high willow-choked drainages of the south slope. Shiras moose inhabit the riparian willow bottoms, aspen stringers, and conifer-edge meadows from roughly 7,000 to 10,500 feet across primarily Ashley National Forest ground.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit South Slope, Diamond Mtn/vernal

Where to Find Moose in South Slope Diamond Mtn / Vernal

Shiras bulls in the south slope use willow riparian, aspen stringers, and conifer-meadow edges in a fairly predictable pattern.

Willow-Choked Drainages of the South Slope

Ashley Creek, Dry Fork, Brownie Canyon, and Whiterocks Canyon all have willow-dominated bottomlands where bulls feed heavily morning and evening.

Diamond Mountain Aspen Pockets

The Diamond Mountain plateau holds aspen stringers with adjacent wet meadows that pull bulls out of the willow bottoms during midday.

High-Elevation Lake and Pond Complexes

Above 10,000 ft, isolated willow-lined ponds on the Uinta south slope hold solitary bulls — these are classic spot-and-stalk setups.

How to Hunt South Slope Moose

Moose hunting rewards slow, methodical work — a bull's body language gives him away if you're patient enough.

Glass Willow Bottoms at First Light

Set up on elevated vantage points overlooking willow-choked drainages before sunrise. Antler tips and ear flickers give bulls away in deep willow.

Still-Hunt Aspen/Meadow Edges

Mid-morning and late afternoon, work slowly along aspen-meadow transitions. Moose are less wary than elk but still use wind and sight lines — move one step at a time and glass often.

Rut Calling in Late September

A cow-moose call and raking antlers in brush can bring bulls in during the September rut. Bulls commit slowly but decisively once they respond.

Pro Members Only

Unlock South Slope moose tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Moose Success Rates

Rifle70%

South Slope Diamond Mtn / Vernal moose success typically runs 90–100% — once-in-a-lifetime tag holders invest heavily in scouting and UDWR biologists often share pre-season bull locations. Average bull age is 4.5–5.5 years, with occasional 40-inch-plus paddle bulls taken each year.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	2	396	0.5%	13

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Utah moose is once-in-a-lifetime, drawn through UDWR's weighted bonus point system (not squared-points). With roughly 4 bull moose tags per year against 841 applicants over a rolling 3-year window, this is a brutal draw even at max points. Most successful residents hold 15–25+ bonus points. Non-residents face longer odds under the 10% cap.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🚐

RV Sites

Many Ashley NF campgrounds accommodate trailers under 30 ft. Vernal has full-service RV parks.

⛺

Camp Sites

Dry Fork, Iron Mine, East Park, and Lodgepole developed campgrounds on Ashley NF. Dispersed forest-service camping widely available.

💧

Water

Abundant. Numerous creeks and high-elevation lakes. Filter all water.

🛣️

Road Conditions

Red Cloud Loop and Dry Fork Road are paved/graded gravel, 2WD passable. Interior spur roads require high-clearance 4WD. Many forest roads close seasonally for elk winter range.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Hunting willow bottoms is flat but wet — expect to walk in waders. Aspen-plateau country involves moderate climbs.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Minimal — very few moose tag holders plus general-season elk hunters at lower elevations. Most moose country sees little foot pressure.

🌦️

Weather

September days 55–75°F, nights below freezing. Early October can bring 6+ inches of snow at 10,000 ft. Layer aggressively and plan for wet willow bottom work.

📱

Cell Service

None in most of the unit. Spotty on the Red Cloud Loop ridgelines. Carry a satellite communicator.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Vernal (30 minutes to Red Cloud Loop trailheads), Manila (1 hour to northern unit boundaries), Roosevelt (45 minutes to western drainages).

Note: Call the Vernal UDWR regional office after drawing — biologists frequently share known bull locations with tag holders. Pack frames, boning equipment, and game bags for 100+ pounds of meat recovery. A bull moose quarter weighs more than most elk quarters.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full logistics for South Slope moose

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points for a Diamond Mtn / Vernal moose tag?

Plan for 15–25+ bonus points under Utah's weighted bonus point draw. Even max-point applicants face long odds — this is a point-building hunt for most.

Is moose once-in-a-lifetime in Utah?

Yes. Harvest a bull moose in Utah and you cannot draw another Utah moose tag for the rest of your life.

What's the best season for Utah moose?

Archery in late August and early September puts you on bulls before they get pressured. Any-weapon in late September catches the peak rut. Both produce mature bulls.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

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

Once-in-a-Lifetime Hunts — Moose — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Utah moose is a once-in-a-lifetime species, South Slope Diamond Mtn/Vernal is a managed bull moose unit · accessed 2026-04-17
Ashley National Forest (Vernal/Flaming Gorge Ranger Districts) — USDA Forest Service — Ashley National Forest · supports: South slope of the Uinta Mountains administered by Ashley NF, Diamond Mountain, Red Cloud Loop, and Dry Fork provide access · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for South Slope Diamond Mtn/Vernal moose subunit · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Harvest & Survey Data Index — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual Utah moose harvest and age summaries by subunit · accessed 2026-04-17