Utah Black Bear

Unit Wasatch Mtns, Avintaquin/currant Creek (Wasatch Mtns, Avintaquin/Currant Creek)

Utah Hunting Guide — Black Bear

The Avintaquin/Currant Creek black bear unit sits on the southeast flank of the Wasatch Range in Duchesne and Wasatch counties, covering Avintaquin Creek, Currant Creek, and the Strawberry River headwaters. Thick aspen-conifer mosaic and heavy oak-brush make this one of Utah's more productive bear drainages. UDWR manages bear hunts under the 2025 Utah Big Game Guidebook with spring and fall limited-entry permits drawn through Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery. Applicant pressure runs about 19 applicants per tag on the 3-year average.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Black Bear Hunting in Unit Wasatch Mtns, Avintaquin/currant Creek

Where to Find Black Bear in Avintaquin/Currant Creek

Bears here follow food and cover. We hunt three habitat signatures.

Oak Brush on South-Facing Slopes

Spring bears emerge and feed heavily on emerging grass and forbs on south-facing oak-brush slopes. Glass the openings.

Aspen-Conifer Mosaic

Mid-elevation aspen and mixed conifer holds bedded bears through the heat of the day. Work edges and ridgelines.

Creek Bottoms With Berry Cover

Late summer bears feed hard on serviceberry, chokecherry, and currant in creek bottoms. Glass brush pockets from mid-slope.

How to Hunt Avintaquin/Currant Creek Black Bear

Spring and fall tactics differ. Know which season you drew before you plan.

Spring Spot and Stalk

Post up with optics and glass green-up slopes at first and last light. Bears feed openly in spring and are patternable.

Fall Hound Hunting

If you drew a hound hunt, work with a houndsman familiar with the unit. The density of aspen and oak brush makes track work productive.

Bait (Where Legal)

Utah does allow baiting under permit in some units. Check the 2025 guidebook — regulations change and you must register each bait site with UDWR.

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Black Bear Success Rates

Utah limited-entry bear hunts typically post 15–35% success on spot-and-stalk hunts, with hound hunts and bait hunts running materially higher. Avintaquin/Currant Creek is a productive bear unit — expect good bear encounters if you spend the time glassing.

Black Bear Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	5	118	4.2%	14

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

With 397 applicants against ~21 permits on the 3-year window, the unit runs about 19 applicants per tag. Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery splits permits 50/50 between the max-points pool and random-weighted pool. Each bonus point adds one chance in the random-weighted draw — a linear weighting. Low-point applicants get a reasonable shot through the random half of the lottery every year.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Currant Creek Campground (USFS) is a reservable option. Dispersed camping allowed across most of the UWCNF.

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Water

Good. Multiple creeks and Currant Creek Reservoir provide reliable water. Treat everything.

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Road Conditions

US-40 is paved. USFS roads off the main highways vary — Currant Creek Road is gravel and generally passable in 2WD when dry; side roads require higher clearance.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous. Steep canyon sides, thick oak brush, and deadfall in the burn scars.

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Hunting Pressure

Low to moderate. Limited-entry tag structure keeps pressure thin.

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Weather

Spring bear hunts see snowmelt runoff and mud; fall hunts can see early snow at elevation.

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Cell Service

Spotty. Signal fades quickly off US-40.

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Nearest Town

Heber City and Duchesne for fuel, groceries, and lodging. Roosevelt is another option for east-side access.

Note: Currant Creek Campground fills on summer weekends — reserve early if you want a base camp.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use bait for Utah bears?

Utah permits baiting on some units with a registered bait-site permit. Check the 2025 Utah Big Game Guidebook for current rules — baiting regulations change from year to year.

Is spring or fall the better bear season here?

Spring offers higher-visibility spot-and-stalk opportunities because bears feed openly on green-up. Fall produces heavier bears feeding on berries and mast, and hound/bait hunts run higher success.

How does Utah's bear draw work?

Bears are drawn through Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery — half the permits go to the max-points pool, half through a random-weighted drawing. Bonus points weight the random draw linearly, with each point adding one additional chance.

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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 Black Bear Hunting — Units, seasons, and application info — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Avintaquin/Currant Creek listed as a limited-entry bear unit under the Wasatch Mountains grouping, Spring and fall seasons offered with pursuit-only and harvest options · accessed 2026-04-17
2025 Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook — Black Bear section — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Bear hunts drawn through Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery (50% max-points, 50% random-weighted), Bait and hound hunting regulations and permit structures · accessed 2026-04-17
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF — Heber-Kamas Ranger District — US Forest Service — Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest · supports: USFS manages most of the Avintaquin and Currant Creek drainages · accessed 2026-04-17