Beaver, Utah

Elevation ranges from approximately 4,852 feet in valley floors to 12,174 feet at Delano Peak (Utah's third-highest summit); other major peaks include Mount Belknap (12,143 ft), Mount Baldy (12,085 ft), and Mount Brigham (11,770 ft). The interior is steep and rugged with numerous east-west trending canyons. The unit spans roughly 1,787 square miles total (Beaver East ~799 sq mi at 88% public land; Beaver West covers the remainder). The USFS Beaver Ranger District lower boundary is approximately 5,898 ft.

Primary vehicle access via Utah SR-153 (Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway) east from the city of Beaver into the Tushars, connecting to Forest Road 123 (Big Flat) and Forest Road 137. High-elevation trailheads at Big Flat, Big Johns Flat, and Lake Stream start above 10,000 ft. Bullion Canyon Road from Marysvale provides eastern approach. The Paiute ATV Trail system crosses portions of the unit. The Fishlake National Forest Beaver Ranger District administers 301,105 acres of the core forested area; BLM manages lower-elevation foothills. Beaver East sub-unit is approximately 88% public land; the broader unit is approximately 80% public land. Private land inholdings in valley floors near Beaver, Marysvale, Circleville, Sulphurdale, and Manderfield create active elk depredation management zones. I-15 and I-70 lane fencing (completed 2010) reduced ungulate highway mortality significantly. Eagle Point ski resort operates on the western slopes. No designated Wilderness Areas in the Tushar core.

Vegetation is vertically zoned: lower valley floors support sagebrush steppe and pinyon-juniper woodland; mid-elevations support ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and mixed-conifer timber; upper slopes feature aspen, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and five-needle pine. Alpine tundra and rocky scree dominate ridges above 11,000 ft. Spruce-fir and pinyon-juniper invasion has reduced forage productivity on summer and winter ranges; recent fires on the northern portion of the unit (including prescribed burns and the Cinder Cone Fire) have opened forest cover and improved habitat. Riparian zones along Beaver River, Pine Creek, and numerous drainages provide important cover. The Paiute ATV Trail crosses portions of the unit and affects elk calving area use.

Mule deer are the primary game species; populations reported at or near state management objectives. Elk (Rocky Mountain elk) are managed as Elk Herd Unit #22 with Beaver East as Limited Entry any-bull and Beaver West as general any-bull OTC. An aerial survey in February 2022 counted 644 elk, yielding a modeled population estimate of approximately 850 animals — below the former objective of 1,050. The 2023 management plan set a new long-term population objective of 1,150–1,350 (Beaver East portion). A 2024 GoHunt estimate cited approximately 1,000 elk with a bull-to-cow ratio of 84:100. The average age of harvested bulls in 2022 was 8.6 years (3-year average 8.4 years), above the prior objective; the statewide elk plan revised the harvest age objective down to 6.5–7.0 years in 2022, resulting in significant permit increases (38 permits in 2021 to 65 in 2022, then 78 in 2023). The unit produces bulls with 340–360 inch realistic average and 380-inch-plus trophy potential. Mountain goats roam the highest Tushar peaks and are documented on the Fishlake NF Beaver Ranger District. Black bear present in mid-elevation mixed-conifer habitat. Mountain lion present throughout unit following deer populations. Pronghorn occupy lower sagebrush valley floors on unit periphery. Turkey present in forested mid-elevations. No documented bighorn sheep herd in the main Tushar core. Heavy Paiute ATV Trail use has reduced elk use of traditional calving areas.

1. The Beaver hunt boundary is subdivided into Beaver East (LE bull elk, east of I-15) and Beaver West (general any-bull elk, west of I-15); this profile covers the combined boundary. Elk is managed as Elk Herd Unit #22. 2. Beaver West sub-unit is subject to a restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle research study 2025–2028; archery and LE late muzzleloader hunts are exempt. 3. Elk population estimated ~850 (2022 aerial survey of 644 counted) and ~1,000 (2024 GoHunt estimate), below the 2023 plan's new long-term objective of 1,150–1,350 for Beaver East. 4. Bull harvest age objective was revised DOWN to 6.5–7.0 years by the statewide elk plan in 2022, resulting in significant permit increases (38→65→78). The 8.4-year 3-yr average (2020–2022) reflects the OLD higher-age management era. Current management is shifting toward higher harvest rates and younger bulls. 5. Mountain goat quota of ~18 total and success rates are derived from GoHunt 2025 draw data; verify against current UDWR guidebook. Archery success was 0% per GoHunt. 6. No bighorn sheep hunting unit identified within the main Beaver Tushar boundary. 7. Elk season dates for LE rifle and muzzleloader hunts not confirmed from primary sources; statewide framework dates used as approximation. 8. Pronghorn and black bear season dates reflect statewide framework. 9. No CWMUs were identified within the Beaver boundary in sourced data; the management plan explicitly states the boundary excludes all CWMUs.