Fillmore, Oak Creek LE, Utah

The unit is characterized by a steep, rugged ridge system running the length of the Pahvant Range east of I-15, with sheer cliffs, rocky drainages, and deeply cut canyons. Much of the high terrain features large exposed ledge systems where deer shelter. Elevation ranges from approximately 5,000 feet in the valley foothills and sagebrush flats along the unit's western margins to 9,717 feet at Fool Creek Peak on the high ridge. The 2012 Clay Springs fire burned over 100,000 acres across much of the unit, opening previously impenetrable terrain and creating broad glassing opportunities across rocky drainages and burned slopes. The unit covers approximately 348 square miles total, with the summer range dominated by Forest Service land (86% of ~119,000 acres summer range).

Approximately 71% of the unit is public land (Forest Service dominates summer range at 86% of summer acres; BLM and State Trust lands cover portions of year-long and winter range; private land comprises ~49% of year-long range and ~50% of winter range acreage). Primary vehicle access is via US-50 (from the south/Holden area) and Interstate 15 (from Fillmore to the south and Leamington to the north). Oak Creek Canyon Road (Forest Road 089/FR-412) departs Oak City heading east, reaching Oak Creek Campground at approximately 4.4 miles, providing a key entry point into the National Forest. Highway 132 west of Leamington and the Leamington Pass Road provide access from the north. Additional approach corridors include Food Creek Road and Bridge Canyon roads north of Oak City, Eight Mile Road in the southeastern portion of the unit (reached via frontage road off I-15), Whiskey Creek Road (referenced in the legal boundary description), and the West Fork Eight Mile Road. Two-wheel-drive vehicles can access some roads; 4WD with chains is recommended for muddy or snowy conditions at higher elevations. Private land parcels exist within and adjacent to the unit boundary, particularly in valley floors and lower drainages — written landowner permission is required to cross private land on National Forest access routes. CWMUs may be present. The steep and rocky upper terrain requires significant foot travel from any trailhead.

Vegetation follows a distinct elevational gradient. Low-elevation foothills and valley margins feature sagebrush, grassy flats, hay meadows, private alfalfa fields, and willow-lined creek bottoms. Mid-elevations are dominated by pinyon pine and juniper woodland intermixed with sagebrush, bitterbrush, serviceberry, mountain mahogany, and pockets of Gambel oak brush. Upper slopes transition into quaking aspen groves, ponderosa pine stands, and dense chokecherry thickets, with the highest ridges supporting fir, spruce, and mixed conifer forest. Much of the mid-to-upper elevation canopy was heavily modified by the 2012 Clay Springs fire, resulting in post-burn browse regeneration of forbs, grasses, and shrubs that now provide concentrated deer forage. Fire rehabilitation projects (9 projects, ~124,000 acres) were undertaken 2006–2014. Winter range condition across much of the Oak Creek subunit was rated poor following the fire due to conversion of browse to annual and perennial grasses.

Mule deer are the primary managed species and the reason for the unit's LE designation, with a UDWR target population of 2,500 wintering deer (2015 management plan); trophy bucks in the 190-inch Boone and Crockett class have been documented. The 2014 model estimated the population at 3,000 deer. Fawn recruitment is identified as a major concern and potentially the single greatest limiting factor. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep were transplanted to the Oak Creek unit beginning in January 2014 (33 sheep from Antelope Island and Newfoundland Mountains), with additional transplants in January 2015 (65 more sheep) and January 2016; a November 2017 survey estimated 134 bighorns, with a population objective of up to 300. Mountain lions (cougars) are identified as the anticipated main predator of bighorns on the unit; a predator management plan is in place. Black bear and turkey are also present. Rattlesnakes inhabit the lower rocky terrain. Livestock (cattle) interact seasonally with bighorn sheep on the unit.

1. Elk REMOVED from species array: no 'Fillmore, Oak Creek' elk hunt appears in the 2026 UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook; only 'Fillmore, Pahvant' elk hunts exist. The draft's elk claim (1 permit for Oak Creek portion of Elk HU #21) cannot be verified from the 2026 guidebook and is likely outdated or conflated with the Pahvant subunit. 2. Target winter mule deer population is 2,500 per the 2015 UDWR management plan (draft incorrectly stated 2,000). 3. Unit boundary per 2015 plan includes Millard, Sevier, AND Juab counties (draft omitted Sevier). 4. The draft's 'early 5-day any-legal-weapon season Oct 8–12' is not found in the 2026 guidebook; removed. The confirmed 2026 rifle window is Oct 17–25 (DB1019). 5. Bighorn sheep seasons corrected from 2026 guidebook: RS6720 Oct 3–23, RS6726 Oct 24–Nov 13, RS6727 Nov 14–Dec 6 archery (draft incorrectly stated 'September 1–December 31'). 6. Tag quota of 26 and 94% hunter success for mule deer are from GoHunt/historical data and should be verified annually in the UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook draw odds tables. 7. The 2012 Clay Springs fire burned over 100,000 acres confirmed by both the deer plan and bighorn sheep plan. 8. Public land percentage (71%) sourced from GoHunt unit profile; Forest Service dominates summer range (86% of summer acres per UDWR plan).