Utah Turkey

Unit Southeastern Area (Southeastern Area)

Utah Hunting Guide — Turkey

The Southeastern Area turkey unit covers the canyon-and-mesa country of southeastern Utah — spanning San Juan, Grand, and parts of Emery counties. The unit includes the La Sal Mountains, Abajo Mountains, Manti-La Sal National Forest ground, BLM Moab and Monticello field-office ground, and extensive SITLA parcels. Merriam's turkey populations have been established throughout the unit's pinyon-juniper and oak-brush zones, particularly on the flanks of the La Sal and Abajo ranges. It is one of Utah's more accessible turkey hunts with solid draw odds and respectable bird quality.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Turkey Hunting in Unit Southeastern Area

Where to Find Southeastern Area Turkeys

Merriam's turkeys in the Southeastern Area key on oak-brush, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa-pine stringers — especially near water and with open meadow edges.

La Sal Mountain Flanks

The oak-ponderosa zone between 6,500 and 8,500 feet on the La Sal flanks holds strong turkey populations. FS roads off UT-46 and the Moonlight Meadows area provide good access.

Abajo Mountain Drainages

The side canyons and drainages falling off the Abajo Mountains (Blue Mountains) near Monticello are productive, especially the Dry Wash, Cottonwood Creek, and Butler Wash drainages.

Lower-Elevation PJ Canyons

Oak-brush canyons dropping toward the Colorado and Dolores rivers hold early-spring birds before green-up pushes them higher. Good access via BLM roads around Big Flat and Mesa Top.

How to Hunt Southeastern Area Turkeys

Merriam's in southeastern Utah respond well to classic spring calling tactics. Scout and listen before you ever call.

Pre-Dawn Roost Locations

Turkeys roost in large ponderosa or cottonwood near water. Be in position before legal shooting light, typically within 150 yards of a roost. Listen for gobbles at first light.

Call with Restraint

Merriam's toms respond to subtle, spaced calling. Start soft with tree yelps before fly-down, then transition to feeder purrs and cuts. Don't over-call — pressured birds go silent.

Mid-Morning Strut Zones

After fly-down, toms move to open strut zones — often oak clearings or meadow edges. Set up near these zones and call every 20–30 minutes.

Afternoon Patterns

In warm afternoons, toms often separate from hens and become vulnerable to aggressive calling. This is a productive window in late spring when hens go to nest.

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Turkey Success Rates

Rifle30%

Utah Merriam's turkey success varies by year, ranging 25–45% statewide on limited-entry spring hunts. Southeastern Area falls near the upper end due to strong bird populations and abundant public access. Bird quality is excellent — mature 2+ year-old toms with 9–11 inch beards and 1-inch-plus spurs are common.

Turkey Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	160	876	18.3%	8

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Southeastern Area turkey tags are drawn under UDWR's weighted bonus-point system (half random, half weighted bonus — each point adds one chance, not squared). Turkey is included in the Utah draw system alongside big game. With roughly 937 applicants over three years for 170 tags (raw odds ~18.1%), residents with 0–2 bonus points regularly draw. Nonresident allocation is capped at 10%. It's one of the better-odds turkey draws in Utah.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Full-service RV in Moab, Monticello, and Blanding. FS campgrounds accommodate smaller trailers.

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Camp Sites

Multiple developed FS campgrounds (Warner Lake, Oowah, Dalton Springs). Dispersed camping on Manti-La Sal NF and BLM.

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Water

Good. Numerous creeks, springs, and stock tanks in turkey habitat. Treat all surface water.

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Road Conditions

Paved access via UT-46, UT-191, and UT-95. FS roads maintained gravel; some require 4WD in spring mud season.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Oak-brush canyons and mountain benches between 5,500 and 8,500 ft.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Spring turkey pressure increases along major access corridors but drops quickly on FS side roads and in the Abajo backcountry.

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Weather

April-May: days 50–75°F, nights 30–50°F. Spring snowstorms possible above 7,500 ft. Afternoon winds common.

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Cell Service

Strong along US-191 corridor; drops in side canyons. Good near Moab and Monticello.

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Nearest Town

Moab (La Sal access), Monticello or Blanding (Abajo access). Both provide full services within 30 minutes.

Note: Respect tribal land boundaries — portions of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe land lie within the general southeastern region but are NOT part of the state turkey hunt. Verify boundaries on UDWR Hunt Planner. Spring bear activity is high in the same habitat; carry bear spray.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What subspecies of turkey are in the Southeastern Area?

The Southeastern Area supports Merriam's turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriami), identifiable by their pale tail tips and strong association with ponderosa pine and oak habitats.

Can I hunt Southeastern Area turkey on a general-season tag?

Some portions of the Southeastern Area are limited-entry only, while others fall under general-season turkey regulations. Check the current UDWR turkey guidebook for the exact hunt structure and your specific permit type before the season.

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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 Wild Turkey Management Plan — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Merriam's turkey populations established in southeastern Utah's oak and PJ habitat, Spring limited-entry and general-season tags available depending on subunit · accessed 2026-04-17
Manti-La Sal NF — Moab and Monticello Ranger Districts — USDA Forest Service — Manti-La Sal National Forest · supports: Manti-La Sal NF administers the La Sal and Abajo Mountain habitats, Turkey habitat centered on oak-PJ transition zones between 6,500 and 8,500 ft · accessed 2026-04-17
Monticello Field Office — Public Lands and Travel — Bureau of Land Management — Monticello Field Office · supports: BLM Monticello administers lower-elevation turkey habitat in southeastern Utah · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Wild Turkey Hunting — Seasons and Application Info — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Southeastern Area is a limited-entry turkey subunit with spring hunts · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for Southeastern Area turkey · accessed 2026-04-17