Ogden, Willard Peak, Utah

Rugged, steep quartzite and limestone ridgelines with rocky cliff faces and alpine escape terrain. Elevation ranges from approximately 4,400 feet near Willard and Perry on the valley floor to 9,764 feet at Willard Peak summit (UDWR Deer Plan, 2017). The western Wasatch face is steep and rough above communities including Willard, Perry, and Ogden; terrain moderates in intervening drainages. Major drainages include Willard Canyon, Perry Canyon, and portions of the Ogden River drainage. Mountain goat escape terrain is modeled as slopes greater than 30 degrees, with a 258m buffer applied to identify approximately 150 square miles of suitable habitat above 8,000 ft (UDWR Mountain Goat Plan, 2019).

Primary vehicle access to the high country is the Willard Basin Road, a narrow winding dirt road requiring high-clearance 4WD, open approximately July 1 through October 31; roughly 8 miles from pavement to the Willard Basin trailhead (elev. ~8,672 ft). SR-39 (Ogden Canyon/Monte Cristo highway) provides access to the eastern portions of the unit, connecting to Ant Flat Road (USFS Road 054) at Hardware Ranch — this road forms part of the unit boundary per the UDWR Deer and Elk management plans. SR-167 (Trappers Loop Road) connects SR-39 to I-84 along the unit's southern edge. Hiking trails include the North Skyline Trail (Ben Lomond approach), Cutler Basin Trail, and the Willard Basin to Willard Peak/Ben Lomond ridge trail. Land ownership within modeled mountain goat habitat above 8,000 ft: 84% USFS, 14% private, 1% SITLA, 1% UDWR (UDWR Mountain Goat Plan, 2019). Deer and elk winter range is approximately 80–81% private land below 7,000 ft (UDWR Deer and Elk Plans). Several CWMUs operate on the unit and limit public hunting access on substantial private parcels.

Lower-elevation winter range (4,600–7,000 ft) is characterized by sagebrush (big sagebrush), bitterbrush, and shrubby browse species; ongoing concern about cheatgrass and annual grass encroachment reducing sagebrush density (UDWR Deer Plan, 2017). Mid-elevation slopes support oakbrush, mountain mahogany, and scattered aspen. Upper slopes and ridgelines grade through conifer (Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce) into open alpine tundra with forbs and grasses above 8,000 ft. Aspen stands at mid-elevations face encroachment pressure from conifer. Riparian corridors along Box Elder Creek, Ogden River, and the Little Bear River support cottonwood and willow. Native endemic species including snowbasin draba (Draba burkei) and Utah mousetail (Ivesia utahensis) are present in mountain goat habitat areas (UDWR Mountain Goat Plan, 2019).

Mountain goats are the signature species, established by a transplant of 5 animals from Lone Peak in 1994 and 4 additional animals from Provo Peak in 2000 (UDWR Mountain Goat Plan, 2019). The herd peaked at 315 animals in 2011, then declined sharply due to a series of harsh winters and dry summers between 2018 and 2023, transplant removals (57 goats transferred to other Utah units), and hunting. The 2019 UDWR estimate was 85 animals; KUER reporting (September 2024) placed the herd near 30 individuals concentrated on the Willard Peak and Ben Lomond ridgeline. A UDWR recovery transplant of 15 goats was planned for November or December 2024 (KUER, 2024). Goats can be observed most days during summer from the trail between Inspiration Point and Ben Lomond Peak (UDWR Mountain Goat Plan, 2019). Mule deer are present across the unit; UDWR manages for a winter herd of 11,000 deer with a post-season buck-to-doe objective of 18–20:100; 2016 post-season population estimated at 9,400 (UDWR Deer Plan, 2017). Elk occupy the Ogden Valley and Cache Valley drainages; UDWR targets 2,000 wintering elk; spring 2023 population estimated at 1,950 (UDWR Elk Plan, 2023). Both deer and elk winter range is heavily affected by private land on valley foothills, with elk frequently wintering on CWMU and private land. Black bear and mountain lion are present as resident predators throughout the range. Mountain lion is managed statewide with regional harvest quotas. Wild turkey occupy lower-elevation mixed brush and riparian zones but are not a primary managed species for this boundary.

1. Mountain goat population in documented recovery: declined from 315 (2011) to ~30 animals (2023–2024); only 1 permit/year (GO6810, resident-only random draw) confirmed for both 2025 and 2026 by April 2026 RAC packet. A 15-goat recovery transplant was planned for Nov–Dec 2024 (KUER). 2. Transplant history corrected from draft: original 1994 transplant was 5 animals from Lone Peak; a second transplant of 4 animals from Provo Peak followed in 2000 (UDWR Mountain Goat Plan, 2019). 3. Mountain goat season dates corrected: draft said 'Late August through October' — eRegulations 2025 lists Sep 6 – Nov 26 for any-legal-weapon mountain goat seasons; 2026 dates not yet published. 4. Elevation floor corrected: UDWR Deer Plan specifies 4,400 ft near Willard (draft said 4,220 ft). 5. The 34% public land figure (GoHunt) reflects the full boundary; within primary mountain goat habitat above 8,000 ft, USFS constitutes 84% per the 2019 UDWR plan. 6. Deer 2016 harvest of 929 bucks confirmed from UDWR plan; no more recent unit-specific harvest data retrievable from public sources. 7. Elk 2023 population of 1,950 confirmed from 2023 UDWR Elk Plan. 8. Extended archery deer area is archery-only (not any-legal-weapon); draw required for the extended period.