Fishlake/Thousand Lakes, Utah

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,200 feet on desert flats along the eastern margin to 11,500 feet at the Fish Lake Hightop Plateau and 11,306 feet on Thousand Lake Mountain. The northern two-thirds of the boundary (WMU 25A, Fishlake) features the high-elevation Fish Lake Mountains with rolling ridges, forested creek drainages, and large mountain meadows. Thousand Lake Mountain (WMU 25B) is a volcanic, basalt-capped plateau that drops sharply into red-rock canyon country to the east. Approximately 80% of the combined elk unit has slopes of 21 degrees or less, indicating broadly moderate topography at high elevation, though individual drainages can be steep. Winter range occupies the sagebrush benches and pinyon-juniper slopes below 8,600 feet; severe-winter range compresses animals below that contour.

Primary highway corridors are I-70 (northern boundary), SR-24 (eastern and southern fringe running through Sigurd, Loa, Bicknell, and Torrey), and SR-72 (western side between I-70 and Loa). Fish Lake itself is reached via Utah SR-25 (Fish Lake Scenic Byway, paved), which branches from SR-24 near Loa. Fishlake National Forest (Fremont River Ranger District) administers the bulk of summer and transition range on the Fishlake subunit; BLM field offices (Richfield and Henry Mountain) manage most winter range. On the Thousand Lakes subunit, Capitol Reef National Park (NPS) manages approximately 37% of the deer winter range and is excluded from hunting. Multiple Forest Service roads provide access into the high country, including FR-206 (Elkhorn Trailhead area, elevation ~9,843 ft) on Thousand Lake Mountain; high-clearance or 4WD is recommended for spur roads, and snow typically closes access roads from late October through mid-June. Named access points referenced in hunter forums include the Hogan Pass area north of Forsyth Reservoir, the Gooseberry, Elk Horn, and Johnson Reservoir areas. Private land blocks exist at approximately 17% of the Fishlake winter range, concentrated near Loa, Fremont, Lyman, and Torrey. CWMUs operating within or adjacent to the Greater Plateau Complex are excluded from standard LE hunt boundaries. Native American Trust Lands and Capitol Reef NPS lands within the outer boundary are also excluded from hunting.

Dominant cover types shift by elevation. Summer and transition range (above roughly 8,000 ft) is characterized by quaking aspen groves, mountain meadows, spruce-fir forest, and scattered subalpine lakes. The Fish Lake Mountains hold some of the most extensive aspen stands in Utah; aspen-conifer encroachment is an active management concern. Winter range is dominated by sagebrush communities and pinyon-juniper woodland; pinyon-juniper comprises about 22-25% of the combined unit and is expanding into historic shrublands. Desert shrub and sparse grassland cover the lower eastern fringe bordering Capitol Reef National Park. Riparian corridors follow creek drainages throughout. Annual cheatgrass occurs on some winter range areas but is not yet dominant. WRI habitat projects totaling more than 25,000 acres (unit 25A) and 6,900 acres (unit 25B) have been completed since 2004, targeting pinyon-juniper reduction, aspen recruitment, and sagebrush restoration.

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are the signature species; the Greater Plateau Elk Complex — which includes units 23, 24, 25A/B, and 25C — was estimated at 8,220 wintering elk in the 2022-23 aerial survey against a combined complex objective of 10,400. The Fishlake/Thousand Lakes (25A/B) portion carries a population objective of approximately 4,500 based on the management plan; the complex was below objective at time of the survey. The rut typically begins in early September and can run four to six weeks. Bull age objective is 5.5-6 years (3-year average of harvested bulls), placing it in a mid-tier trophy quality category within Utah. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are present across both subunits. Black bears are present with higher concentrations in the northern and eastern portions of the unit. Mountain lions are present throughout; as of 2023, Utah law allows year-round cougar harvest with a valid hunting or combination license only — no separate limited-entry permit is required, though harvested cougars must be checked in with DWR within 48 hours. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are documented on the lower sagebrush winter-range flats but no designated pronghorn hunt unit covers this boundary. Wild turkeys are present in the Fishlake mountain areas. Fish Lake supports a regionally renowned trout fishery (rainbow, tiger muskie, splake).

1. BOUNDARY STRUCTURE: 'Fishlake/Thousand Lakes' is the combined WMU 25A (Fishlake) + 25B (Thousand Lakes) and is used as a single elk management unit. For mule deer, Fishlake (25A) is OTC general season and Thousand Lakes (25B) was converted to limited-entry restricted-weapons-only for a 4-year research study (2025-2028) approved by the Utah Wildlife Board in December 2024. Restricted weapons defined as: archery = traditional longbow/recurve only, no sights, 40+ lb draw; muzzleloader = flintlock or percussion cap only, open/peep sights; rifle = open/peep sights only, no semiautomatic. 2. ELK POPULATION: The Greater Plateau Complex (units 23, 24, 25A/B, 25C) had 8,220 elk in the 2022-23 aerial survey against a complex objective of 10,400; complex was below objective. The Fishlake/Thousand Lakes portion objective is approximately 4,500. The draft's claim of '4,500 wintering elk against objective of 5,000-5,900' could not be confirmed from accessible sources and may be inverted; flagged for manual review against the plan PDF. 3. DEER POPULATION: The 2020 deer management plan placed the Unit 25 (combined) 2019 modeled population at 13,100 deer. Draft figures of 5,100-7,200 for Fishlake and 1,200 for Thousand Lakes could not be confirmed from accessible sources; tag_quota and precise population figures should be verified against the current plan. 4. ELK HARVEST: The 85.3% success rate and 63 harvested elk reflect 2020 early rifle LE bull hunt data from the annual report. A 2024 late season hunt showed 73.2% success (45 of 61 permits). These figures vary by hunt type and year. 5. DEER HARVEST: The 33.3% and 100 harvested reflect 2020 combined Fishlake+Thousand Lakes general rifle data. 6. BEAR QUOTA: The 27 total figure is approximate, summing LE permit buckets across spring/fall/multiseason and harvest-objective; may include overlapping periods. 7. MOUNTAIN LION: Confirmed year-round, no separate permit needed since 2023 Utah legislative change. Reporting required within 48 hours of harvest. 8. TURKEY: 2026 season dates confirmed: LE draw Apr. 11-30, OTC general May 4-31, Youth May 1-3. 9. PRONGHORN excluded from species array — no designated pronghorn hunt unit found within this boundary. 10. CAPITOL REEF NPS and CWMU lands within the outer boundary are excluded from hunting.