East Canyon, Morgan-Summit, Utah

The unit drops from the crest of the Wasatch Range down steep west-facing slopes toward the Wasatch Front and then opens into more gradual canyons, ravines, and rolling mountain valleys to the east toward Morgan and Henefer. Elevation ranges from approximately 4,700 feet in the valley bottoms to 9,706 feet on the highest Wasatch peaks. Much of the terrain above 6,500 feet is steep and rugged; terrain analysis notes roughly 80% of slopes are 30 degrees or less.

Interstate 80 and Interstate 84 provide primary access along the eastern edge of the unit through the Morgan and Henefer valleys, and SR-65 (East Canyon Road) runs through the heart of the unit past East Canyon Reservoir. Skyline Drive in Farmington provides access to the Wasatch summit along the western boundary. Two public walk-in access areas are located north of East Canyon Reservoir and are restricted to foot or horse travel only. Large portions of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest are open to hunting near the west unit boundary and on the high Wasatch crest. County roads in Morgan and Summit counties provide access to the eastern portions. The moose boundary (378 sq mi) is approximately 16% public land (61.88 sq mi per TopoSports); the broader deer/elk East Canyon unit (~631 sq mi) carries roughly 26% public land per GoHunt. Several large private ranches require special permission to access. CWMUs in the broader Morgan/Summit area include Chimney Rock (2 deer/elk permits), Mountain Top (2 deer permits), and Tunnel Hollow (1 deer/elk permit) — these are private-land-only hunts sold separately.

Upper-elevation slopes support lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, Douglas-fir, and Engelmann spruce, providing thick canopy cover. As elevation descends, these transition into expansive Gambel oak thickets and mountain mahogany, which are the dominant mid-elevation cover type and primary moose forage. Sagebrush, maple brush, and bluegrass/cheatgrass/forb meadows occupy the lower foothills. Riparian corridors follow East Canyon Creek and its tributaries through the canyon bottom near East Canyon Reservoir. Farm fields, pastures, and grassy meadows exist in valley bottoms on private land.

Shiras moose occupy the unit year-round, concentrating in Gambel oak thickets and riparian areas where thick cover and forage coexist; bulls can reach Boone and Crockett class due to moderate hunting pressure and abundant cover. Mule deer are widespread across the unit, with the best bucks found on large private tracts between 6,500 and 8,500 feet; CWD surveillance is conducted here annually. Rocky Mountain elk (any bull unit) range through the timbered mountains and foothills; most bulls taken are spikes and raghorns, with public-land bull harvest described as an accomplishment. Black bear are present and regulated under the Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich bear unit. Mountain lion are present throughout the Wasatch Range. East Canyon Reservoir and the Weber River drainage provide habitat for rainbow and brown trout and waterfowl. Ruffed grouse and dusky grouse inhabit the timbered slopes.

1. BOUNDARY SCOPE: 'east-canyon-morgan-summit' corresponds specifically to the moose-only hunt boundary (MB6003), ~378 sq mi in Morgan and Summit counties. Deer and elk are hunted on the broader East Canyon unit (~631 sq mi, also extending into Davis/Salt Lake counties). Profile covers all species present within the geographic area. 2. PUBLIC LAND PCT: 16% (61.88 of 378.16 sq mi) from TopoSports for the moose boundary; the broader deer/elk unit carries ~26% public land per GoHunt. GoHunt moose page cited 8% public — TopoSports with exact acreage figures retained as more precise. 3. MOOSE SUCCESS: 2-year average (2023: 100%, 2024: 66.7%) = ~83%. With only 3 permits annually, year-to-year variance is high. 4. CWMU EXCLUSIONS: Chimney Rock, Mountain Top, and Tunnel Hollow CWMUs are private-land-only hunts not accessible on general or LE tags. 5. DEDICATED HUNTER: DB1800 (East Canyon Dedicated Hunter buck deer) had 70 permits and 28.0% success in 2024 — a multiseason program separate from OTC/LE. 6. HAMSS DEER (DB1105): Restricted to handgun, archery, muzzleloader, shotgun, or straight-walled rifle — no standard centerfire rifle. 7. CWD: East Canyon is an active CWD surveillance unit for 2026; check stations may operate during general rifle deer season. 8. ELK EXTENDED ARCHERY (EA1236 / Wasatch Front): OTC archery elk tag holders may also participate in the Wasatch Front extended archery area (Aug. 15–Dec. 15, archery only). 9. BEAR: Spring/fall quota figures from Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich combined bear unit per 2026 predator guidebook.