Barney Top/Kaiparowits, Utah

Elevation ranges from approximately 3,700 feet near Lake Powell and the lower desert canyon country to 10,620 feet at Barney Top summit (Aquarius Plateau), with Canaan Peak reaching 9,233 feet. The upper plateau (Aquarius Plateau/Boulder Mountain fringe and Table Cliff area) consists of broad timbered benchlands incised by steep, deep canyons dropping toward the desert floor. The Kaiparowits Plateau proper is a roughly triangular, tilted mesa extending over 50 miles from the Escalante area southwest to Lake Powell, defined on the northeast by the Straight Cliffs and on the west by the Paria River corridor and Cockscomb. The southern half transitions to red slickrock canyon country, deeply dissected by Rock, Last Chance, Warm, Wahweap, and Coyote Creek tributaries of the Colorado River and Lake Powell. Approximately 80 percent of terrain slopes are at or below 24 degrees, but roadless canyon breaks dominate the transition zones.

The Barney Top/Kaiparowits HAMSS boundary begins at SR-12 and the Paria River in Cannonville; south along the Paria River to US-89; east on US-89 to the Utah/Arizona border; east on this border to Lake Powell; east and north on Lake Powell to Bullfrog Creek; north along this creek to the Notom Road; north on this road to the Burr Trail Road; west on this road to SR-12; west on SR-12 and the Paria River in Cannonville (per UDWR 2023 management plan). Primary paved access corridors include SR-12 (Scenic Byway 12) along the northern edge, US-89 through Kanab on the west, and SR-276/Burr Trail Road connecting to the eastern boundary near Glen Canyon NRA. Internal access is via Cottonwood Canyon Road (BLM), Johnson Canyon Road, Skutumpah Road, and various Dixie National Forest and BLM two-track roads. Much of the southern Kaiparowits Plateau interior within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has very limited road access — hunters must navigate large roadless and wilderness-study areas. Barney Top itself is accessible via a difficult 8.4-mile trail in Dixie National Forest. Detailed maps showing vehicle access limits are essential; large sections require foot or pack-animal travel. No CWMUs are included within the Barney Top/Kaiparowits HAMSS elk boundary per the management plan. National Park lands (Capitol Reef NP, Glen Canyon NRA) are excluded from hunt boundaries.

Vegetation varies sharply with elevation. Lower desert terrain (below about 5,500 feet) supports sparse desert shrub with scattered pinyon pine, juniper, prickly pear, grasses, and sagebrush. The broad mid-elevation plateau surface is dominated by pinyon-juniper woodland, the most extensive cover type. Middle elevations also carry ponderosa pine and oakbrush, with sagebrush persisting throughout. The upper plateau and Barney Top area (above roughly 9,000 feet) transitions to aspen, Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir stands, providing the primary summer elk range. Aspen stands are a management priority — ongoing projects target decadent aspen restoration to maintain elk forage and cover per the UDWR Greater Plateau Complex management plan. Riparian corridors along the Paria River and major creek drainages provide willow, cottonwood, and mixed forb habitat. Pinyon-juniper encroachment into winter range is an active management concern on the unit.

Elk (Rocky Mountain) are present at lower densities than units immediately north (Fishlake/Monroe). The Boulder/Kaiparowits WMU supports a wintering population estimated at approximately 1,250 animals (2022-23 aerial census), below its objective range of 1,200-1,700. The Barney Top/Kaiparowits HAMSS sub-boundary occupies the more rugged southern portion of that unit where terrain is more challenging and elk densities are lower. Bull age objective is 6.5-7 years (lowered from 7.5-8 in 2022 to increase opportunity while maintaining quality per UDWR 2023 management plan). Mule deer occupy the full elevation range; the broader Boulder/Kaiparowits unit carries a target population of 8,500 deer. Desert-adapted mule deer use the lower slickrock canyon country, while higher-quality bucks concentrate on the upper plateau and timbered benches. Black bear inhabit the timbered upper plateau zones, particularly Boulder Mountain to the north. Mountain lion are present throughout. Desert bighorn sheep occupy the Kaiparowits Plateau under a separate sheep-specific hunt boundary (Kaiparowits East/West sub-units). Merriam's turkey are present in ponderosa pine zones on the northern plateau portion. Elk rut activity typically begins in early September and can run through early October, with bulls bugling on the timbered benches of Barney Top and upper canyon rims.

1. The barney-top-kaiparowits boundary is defined specifically for two LIMITED ENTRY ELK hunts (September archery EB3135 and November HAMSS EB3142) and is a southern sub-unit of the larger Boulder/Kaiparowits unit (25C). Boundary per UDWR 2023 plan: SR-12/Paria River at Cannonville south to US-89, east to AZ border, east/north along Lake Powell to Bullfrog Creek, north to Notom Road, north to Burr Trail, west to SR-12. 2. Elk harvest figures (2024): EB3135 = 9 permits, 3 harvested, 33.3% success; EB3142 = 10 permits, 4 harvested, 44.4% success; combined 19 permits, 7 harvested, ~38.9% blended. 3. Deer harvest (DB1091 Kaiparowits HAMSS): 2024 = 4 permits, 4 harvested, 100%; 2023 = 5 permits, 4 harvested, 80%. Draft figure of 60% with 3 harvested is not supported by either official report. 4. Bull age objective is 6.5-7 (lowered from 7.5-8 in 2022); draft reference to 7-8 years average harvest age reflects pre-2022 data only. 5. Population estimate 1,250 for Boulder/Kaiparowits WMU confirmed in management plan. 6. HAMSS description confirmed: handgun, archery, muzzleloader, shotgun, or straight-wall rifle cartridge — no scopes. 7. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument hunting IS permitted per BLM management. NPS units excluded. 8. No CWMUs within the Barney Top/Kaiparowits HAMSS elk boundary per management plan.