Utah Moose Elk Mule Deer

Unit Strawberry Ridge (Strawberry Ridge)

Utah Hunting Guide — Moose, Elk, Mule Deer

Strawberry Ridge sits on the high country around Strawberry Reservoir in Wasatch and Duchesne counties — willow bottoms along the Strawberry River drainage and aspen-spruce ridges that hold a resident moose population. UDWR tracks the unit in the statewide moose plan and publishes the boundary in the Utah Big Game Guidebook.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Moose Hunting in Unit Strawberry Ridge

Where to Find Moose on Strawberry Ridge

Willow and water — the two non-negotiable ingredients — plus shaded bedding timber.

Strawberry River and Tributary Willows

The drainages flowing into Strawberry Reservoir hold the densest willow complexes in the unit.

Aspen-Spruce Benches

Mid-slope benches above the willow provide shade and thermal cover during warm afternoons.

Beaver Ponds and Wet Meadows

Any beaver pond or wet meadow along the Strawberry corridor is a magnet for resident bulls.

How to Hunt Strawberry Ridge Moose

Systematic glassing and careful approach — moose are big but they hide well in willow.

Glass Willow Bottoms at First and Last Light

Set up on benches above the drainages and pick apart the willow. Bulls stand and feed for 30-60 minutes at dawn and dusk.

Work Wind-Carefully Into Cover

Once you locate a bull, plan an approach that keeps thermals in your face. Moose wind you easily.

Plan Pack-Out Before the Shot

A bull down in willow bottom is a serious recovery. Strawberry country has reasonable road access, but meat care can't wait in warm weather.

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Moose Success Rates

Rifle70%

Utah limited-entry moose hunts consistently run 80-100% success. Strawberry Ridge fits the pattern — low tag numbers, identifiable bulls, and decent access keep success near the top of the range.

Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	78	1.3%	2

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Strawberry Ridge moose permits draw through Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery — 50% to max-point hunters and 50% random-weighted by points. With about 261 applicants for only 3 tags across three years, this is one of Utah's harder moose draws and a true point-builder.

Elk Hunting in Unit Strawberry Ridge

Strawberry Ridge is a small premium limited-entry bull unit carved out of the north slope of the Strawberry drainage, with 6 tags against 164 applicants across three years (ProHunt draw database). We profile it because it consistently produces mature 340+ class bulls and the access is straightforward compared to Book Cliffs or Henry Mountains.

Where to Find Elk on Strawberry Ridge

Elk live across the ridge in aspen pockets and upper conifer basins above the reservoir.

Aspen Benches

Mature bulls hold in aspen benches at 8,500-9,500 ft, feeding into sage parks at first light.

Sage Parks

Open sage parks on top of the ridge are the morning feed zones.

Timbered North Slopes

Mid-day bedding happens in dark timber on north-facing slopes.

How We Hunt Strawberry Ridge

Glassing-driven hunt from rim points with deliberate stalks.

Morning Glass from the Rim

We set up on rim points before dawn and glass aspen-sage edges.

Stalk the Aspen Edges

Mid-morning stalks through aspen pockets catch bulls heading to bed.

Rut Bugling

During the any-weapon rut hunt, soft cow calls from aspen edges pull bulls consistently.

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle28%

Any-weapon and muzzleloader tags run 65-85% success on Strawberry Ridge. Archery success falls to 30-40%. Mature bull age is regularly 6+ years.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	2	51	3.9%	3

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Strawberry Ridge is drawn through Utah's 50% max-points / 50% weighted-random lottery. With 6 tags against 164 applicants over three years, we plan for 14-20 bonus points in the max-points half and treat the weighted-random half as upside.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit Strawberry Ridge

Strawberry Ridge is a central Utah Limited Entry mule deer unit in Wasatch and Duchesne counties, positioned along the ridge systems surrounding Strawberry Reservoir. At 7,500 to 10,000 feet the unit blends aspen, spruce-fir, mountain brush, and sagebrush that sustains a quality limited-entry buck herd. The reservoir proximity provides reliable water and concentrates deer in predictable patterns, making this one of the more productive and hunted LE units in the region.

Where to Find Mule Deer on Strawberry Ridge

Strawberry Ridge deer concentrate along the ridge systems and reservoir perimeter in predictable seasonal patterns.

Ridge-Top Aspen Parks and Meadows

Mature bucks stage in the aspen parks and high meadows along the ridgetops during early season. These areas are most productive at first and last light when bucks feed on lush forbs before retreating into dense aspen cover.

Mountain Brush and Sage Transition

The mid-elevation transition between mountain brush and sagebrush is the rut staging area. Bucks cruise these corridors in late October as does concentrate in the thick mountain mahogany.

Reservoir Perimeter Drainages

Drainages feeding into Strawberry Reservoir create brushy funnels that concentrate deer movement. These drainages are highly productive during the rut as bucks move between doe groups bedded in the adjacent timber.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer on Strawberry Ridge

Strawberry Ridge rewards hunters who combine glassing from prominent ridges with patient rut hunting in the mountain brush corridors.

Ridge-Top Glassing

Set up on the highest accessible ridges before first light and glass the aspen parks and brushy benches below systematically. This unit has some of the best glassing terrain in central Utah — a quality spotting scope reveals bucks at distances you would not believe without trying.

Rut Corridor Hunting

In late October, identify the saddles and brushy corridors connecting major drainages. Post up in these locations with cover behind you and a shooting lane open. Bucks cruising between doe groups routinely use these corridors during peak rut activity.

Morning Reservoir Perimeter Walk

Walking the brushy perimeter trails around the reservoir in the first hour of daylight reveals bucks heading to bedding cover after feeding. Move slowly and glass ahead — you can often spot bucks at 200 to 400 yards before they see you.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle25%

Strawberry Ridge typically produces 50 to 65 percent rifle success for limited-entry buck tags. The reliable water source at Strawberry Reservoir concentrates deer in a relatively constrained geography, helping hunters locate bucks efficiently. Most harvested bucks score 165 to 190 inches, with exceptional 200-plus inch bucks taken in most years.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	1	12	8.3%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Strawberry Ridge is moderately competitive to draw. The reservoir setting and central Utah location drive strong applicant interest. Residents typically need 10 to 14 bonus points for the general rifle tag. Non-residents receive 10 percent of tags with proportional applicant competition.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

USFS developed campgrounds around Strawberry Reservoir plus ample dispersed camping.

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Water

Abundant — Strawberry Reservoir, Strawberry River, and numerous tributaries.

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Road Conditions

US-40 provides paved access across the top of the unit; interior is USFS gravel and two-track.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — willow bottoms can be wet and thick; benches are walkable.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low — limited moose tags, but overlapping general seasons bring other hunters.

🌦️

Weather

Cold mornings through all seasons at 7,500-9,000 ft; snow possible late.

📱

Cell Service

Good around the reservoir; spotty deeper in the drainages.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Heber City (30 minutes); Duchesne and Vernal to the east.

Note: Strawberry is a heavily fished reservoir — expect significant non-hunting traffic along the main corridor.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Strawberry Ridge a once-in-a-lifetime moose tag?

Yes — Utah classifies moose as once-in-a-lifetime. Harvesting a moose in Utah ends your ability to apply for moose in Utah again.

How many points for Strawberry Ridge elk?

We plan for 14-20 bonus points in Utah's 50% max-points pool. Weighted-random pulls can hit earlier.

Is Strawberry Ridge a premium trophy unit?

Yes. It consistently produces 340+ class bulls and sits in Utah's top tier of limited-entry elk hunts.

Can I fish and hunt the Strawberry Ridge unit on the same trip?

Yes. Strawberry Reservoir is one of Utah's premier fisheries for trophy cutthroat and rainbow trout. Many hunters build a combination hunt-and-fish trip around this unit, extending their stay to enjoy the reservoir fishing around hunting hours.

What time of year is best for archery mule deer on Strawberry Ridge?

Late August through mid-September is the prime archery window when bucks are still in velvet or freshly hardened at high-elevation meadows. Pre-rut velvet bucks in aspen parks are predictable and offer excellent close-range archery opportunities.

Are there trophy bucks on Strawberry Ridge or is it primarily a numbers unit?

Both. The unit produces consistent numbers of mature 4x4 and 5x5 bucks in the 165 to 190 inch class, and a handful of exceptional 200-plus inch bucks are harvested each season. The reliable water source and diverse habitat help bucks reach full maturity.

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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: Strawberry Ridge listed as limited-entry moose hunt with defined boundary · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Statewide Moose Management Plan — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Statewide population objectives and harvest framework for moose · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for Strawberry Ridge moose unit · accessed 2026-04-17
Utah Big Game Harvest & Survey Data Index — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual limited-entry elk harvest stats · accessed 2026-04-17