High Uintas Kamas, Utah

The unit spans from valley floors and rolling foothills at roughly 5,700–6,500 ft up to steep, glacially carved ridgelines and alpine summits reaching approximately 11,900 ft. Upper elevations feature cliffy escape terrain, cirque basins, and talus fields typical of the western Uinta high country. Mid-elevation canyons cut steeply down from the main ridge toward the Provo River and Weber River drainages. The high country is primarily within the High Uintas Wilderness and is roadless, requiring foot or pack-stock access. Lower terrain transitions into private ranchlands and irrigated valley bottoms that comprise much of the unit's winter range.

SR-150 (Mirror Lake Highway/Mirror Lake Scenic Byway) is the main paved artery, running northeast from Kamas through the national forest and cresting at Bald Mountain Pass (~10,715 ft). A recreation pass is required for stops along the highway (3-day $10, 7-day $20, annual $60; America the Beautiful passes accepted). Key trailheads off SR-150 include the Bald Mountain Trailhead, Crystal Lake Trailhead, Highline Trailhead (near Mirror Lake, elevation ~10,000 ft), and the Grandview Trailhead. The Uinta Highline Trail runs east-west along the crest with access points scattered along SR-150. On the northern boundary, Weber Canyon Road (CR-2596) runs east from Oakley to Holiday Park, connecting to the Weber River Trail and providing an alternate northern entry. The Heber-Kamas Ranger District also maintains dispersed camping areas and primitive roads branching off SR-150 for 4WD and ATV use. Most of the upper unit lies within the High Uintas Wilderness (453,900 acres overall), which is closed to motorized vehicles and has group-size limits of 14 people and 15 pack animals; free self-registration is required at trailheads. The western and southern portions of the unit (Kamas Valley, West Hills, and Provo River corridor) are predominantly private land; hunters must obtain landowner permission for access in these areas. Summer range is approximately 93% USFS; winter range is roughly 62% private, making winter-range hunting highly dependent on private-land relationships.

Mid-elevation slopes (roughly 8,000–10,500 ft) support dense stands of Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine. Aspen groves and mixed-species forest appear at lower elevations and in sheltered drainages. Above approximately 10,500 ft the timber thins to krummholz and gives way to alpine tundra, rocky meadows, and persistent snowfields. Willow thickets along stream courses and lake margins provide moose habitat. Sagebrush and mixed shrublands dominate lower transition zones and private ranchland fringes. The unit contains hundreds of alpine lakes and extensive riparian corridors along the North Fork Provo River and upper Weber River tributaries.

Mountain goats inhabit the upper cliffs and talus zones above approximately 10,000 ft, concentrating on steep escape terrain along the main Uinta crest and on ridgelines accessible from SR-150 such as Bald Mountain. The Uinta mountain goat population was counted at 593 adults with 140 kids in a 2017 helicopter survey; the overall Uintas population target is 1,500 counted adults. The hunt sub-unit is officially designated 'Chalk Creek/Kamas' (WMU #7) by UDWR. Mule deer use the unit as critical summer range, migrating to lower winter range in surrounding valleys; the Kamas deer herd is well below its management objective and has a suppressed buck-to-doe ratio. Rocky Mountain elk occupy the unit as summer range, with a wintering population stable at approximately 1,100 animals (objective is 850 wintering animals); the higher count reflects seasonal migration influx from adjacent units. Elk depredation on private valley-bottom agricultural land is a documented management challenge. Moose frequent willow-lined streams, lake margins, and riparian corridors; bulls in the 140–150 Boone and Crockett inch range have been reported. Black bear and mountain lion are present throughout the unit. Bighorn sheep core use area in the Uintas is concentrated between Gunsight Pass and Divide Pass (Central and East sub-units), not the Kamas western sub-unit. Coyotes, pine marten, river otter, and numerous raptors round out the wildlife community.

1. UNIT NAME: The UDWR Mountain Goat Management Plan (2019) designates the hunt sub-unit as 'Chalk Creek/Kamas' (WMU #7); GoHunt labels the same boundary 'High Uintas Kamas.' These are the same western Uinta mountain goat boundary. 2. ELK POPULATION: The December 2023 UDWR Elk Herd Unit #7 plan states the population is 'stable at approximately 1,100 wintering animals,' which is above the 850-animal objective due to migration influx from adjacent units. 3. SUMMER/WINTER RANGE OWNERSHIP: Confirmed from elk plan — 93% USFS summer range, 62% private winter range. 4. MOUNTAIN GOAT HARVEST: 2024 data shows 2 permits issued, 2 harvested (100% success); 2025 resident quota listed as 1 by GoHunt. Harvest figure of 2 reflects 2024 season. 5. DEER POPULATION: Kamas is one of three general units that exceeded the 20% draw threshold per 2026 DWR permit recommendations (ETV News), consistent with below-objective population. Specific population count of 2,350 vs. 8,000 objective sourced from GoHunt and not confirmed by a primary UDWR deer plan. 6. BIGHORN SHEEP: Confirmed not a huntable species in the Kamas/western Uinta sub-unit; core bighorn area is Gunsight Pass to Divide Pass (Central unit) per UDWR goat plan. 7. PUBLIC LAND PCT: 75% figure from GoHunt goat unit profile; broader elk/deer unit is 63–65% public due to more valley-bottom private land.