Topography and Vegetation: This area is made up of a mix of mostly open sagebrush flats with some limited juniper in the broken country in the very southern portion of the hunt area. The topography of the area can generally be described as flat open country with interspersed mesas/buttes as well as some hilly country in the south and north central portions of the area. There are also riparian habitats on the western edge of the hunt area along the Green River.
General Statement Regarding this Hunt Area: This elk population inhabits nontraditional habitats, in that they spend most of their time in open sagebrush habitats year round. Elk can found throughout the hunt area, but the largest concentrations can be found in the Steamboat Mountain/Jack Morrow Hills area in the central portion of the hunt area. Because this area is so open and so heavily roaded, elk use distance rather than cover for security areas. This means that some of the best hunting can be found in the Wilderness Study Areas, such as Alkali Draw and the South Pinnacles WSAs. Some other important areas for elk are Joe Hay and Bush Rims, and the flats to east of those rims, as well as Jack Morrow Creek, Freighter’s Gap, and the flats to the southeast of Steamboat Mountain. Elk can also be found in the eastern, sagebrush flat, portion of the hunt area, but the elk in this portion of the area tend to be more nomadic and are fewer in number than in the Jack Morrow Hills. Most roads in this hunt area become nearly impassable when wet and muddy due to the clay content of the soil.
Additional Hunting Opportunities: Hunting opportunities for small game species are limited to sage-grouse, cottontails, and a few chukars. Both sage-grouse and cottontails are widespread and can be abundant in this area, but chukars are limited to the rough canyon lands around White Mountain. Consult the Chapter 11 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulation for season dates, license requirements and bag/possession limits.
Herd Unit Job Completion Report: See the EL426 (Steamboat) Job Completion Report for more detailed information on the management of this mule deer herd.
What is a Job Completion Report?
View the
Green River Region Elk Job Completion Report (JCR) for detailed information on this elk herd.
Last Updated: December 13, 2018