Oquirrh/Tintic, Utah

Moderate terrain with significant elevation relief. The Oquirrh Mountains rise from valley floors around 4,800 ft to Flat Top Mountain at 10,614 ft (highest point in the range); adjacent peaks Lowe Peak (10,578 ft) and Lewiston Peak (10,407 ft) are comparable. The Tintic and East Tintic ranges to the south reach Boulter Peak at approximately 8,307 ft. Lower-elevation terrain consists of rolling desert hills, valley flats, and bajadas typical of the eastern Great Basin. The Bingham Canyon open-pit copper mine occupies a large block of the northern Oquirrh Mountains and is closed to public access. The range runs roughly 30 miles north-south from the Great Salt Lake shore to SR-73/US-6.

The unit has road access on all sides. SR-36 runs north-south through the central-western portion (Tooele to Eureka), and SR-73 provides east-west access across the southern Oquirrh foothills. US-6 forms the western boundary through the Tintic area. BLM manages the majority of public land, including the North Oquirrh Management Area (NOMA), accessible via SR-36 to Bates Canyon Road (Exit 99 off I-80, then south on SR-36, east on Bates Canyon Road approximately 3 miles). Well-maintained dirt roads lead from main highways to less-maintained 4WD and ATV trails on BLM land. A significant portion of the Oquirrh range is privately owned — the Oquirrh Mountains are not within any National Forest, and private land creates access constraints especially on the east-facing slopes near the Bingham Canyon and Kennecott mine complex, which is entirely closed to public access. The East Tintic Mountains have BLM access via unpaved roads from Eureka.

Vegetation varies strongly by elevation. Valley floors and lower slopes (below ~6,000 ft) support desert shrub communities dominated by sagebrush, shadscale, and greasewood. Mid-elevations are characterized by pinyon-juniper woodland with continuous sagebrush understory. Upper slopes of the Oquirrh Mountains transition to scattered aspen groves and mountain mahogany. The highest terrain supports some conifer (limber pine) and open rocky ridgelines. Riparian corridors are limited. The unit is primarily winter range for deer and elk, with animals moving to higher elevations during summer.

Mule deer are the primary big game species. The 2025 winter population estimate was approximately 9,500 animals, exceeding the management objective of 8,800 (UDWR 2026 RAC Packet). The 2025 buck-to-doe ratio was 22.3 bucks per 100 does, above the 18-20 management objective; the 3-year average is 25.6. Elk are present in modest numbers; the broader West Desert Complex elk unit (which includes this area) had an estimated 1,450 animals in 2025 against an objective of 2,150. The North Oquirrh Management Area (NOMA) is noted as critical winter refuge for mule deer and elk. Rio Grande turkey populations inhabit the Oquirrh and associated ranges. Pronghorn antelope occupy valley-floor habitat, particularly Rush Valley in the Tooele County section. Black bear and mountain lion are present following deer populations. Chukar partridge are found throughout the mountain ranges. An antlerless deer archery hunt (DA1031, Oquirrh-Stansbury Settlement Canyon, 20 permits, Aug 15-Sep 11 2026) operates within the northern portion of the unit. Antlerless elk tags for the Tintic Valley area are issued as LE draw under EA1231 (45 permits, Nov 7-Jan 31 2026).