Unit 10003 Mineral Mountain
A compact granite range between Beaver and Milford holding a young, growing once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn herd over an 80% public backcountry
West-central Utah — Mineral Mountains (Beaver/Milford) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
537
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–9,580
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Mineral Mountains unit straddles the granite spine that runs north-to-south between Beaver and Milford in west-central Utah, dropping to desert flats and geothermal country on either side. The range is best known for its recently reestablished and expanding desert bighorn sheep herd, hunted as a once-in-a-lifetime tag — trophy potential is still developing but climbing as the population matures. Mule deer and elk share the range, and the unit sits under active predator management to protect the sheep. Roughly 80% is public BLM and SITLA land, making access straightforward on the granite core, with private ag concentrated in the valley bottoms.
Terrain
Desert lowlands and rolling foothills give way to the rugged granite backbone of the Mineral Mountains, which crest near 9,500+ ft. Much of the terrain is manageable, but the high granite core is steep, rocky and locally very rugged.
Cover: Salt desert shrub and sagebrush on the Milford and Beaver valley flats; pinyon-juniper across the foothills; mountain brush, scattered aspen and conifer stringers with open granite slabs and outcrops on the high spine.
Landmarks: Mineral Mountains crest · Granite Peak / Milford Needle (~9,580 ft) · Rock Corral Recreation Area · Roosevelt Hot Springs geothermal field (Blundell plant) · Milford Flat · Beaver Valley
Access
The granite core of the range is largely BLM with interspersed SITLA state-trust sections (open to hunting), so the sheep and high-country deer ground is accessible. Private ground is concentrated in the irrigated Milford Flat and Beaver Valley bottoms and around the geothermal fields — respect those boundaries. Access is via graded dirt roads and two-tracks off SR-21 (Beaver-Milford), including the Rock Corral road on the east side; the high crest is reached on foot from road ends.
Managers: BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Rock Corral Recreation Area road (east side, off Beaver) · SR-21 between Beaver and Milford · Ranch/BLM roads off the Milford Flat (west side) · I-15 at Beaver (unit gateway)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityThe unit's flagship — a new but healthy and growing desert bighorn herd reestablished on its native granite range, hunted as a once-in-a-lifetime tag. Tag numbers are low and mature rams are still limited, but trophy quality is expected to rise as the herd matures. Rams are typically found throughout the central Mineral Mountains.
- →Glass the granite outcrops, cliff bands and open slabs of the central range where rams hold to escape terrain
- →Locate several rams during scouting and study them so you can evaluate maturity quickly in the field
- →Work the terrain from lower vantage points with quality optics before committing to a stalk
- →Focus near water in the dry months — sheep and deer both key on scarce sources
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer occupy the pinyon-juniper foothills and mountain-brush slopes as a sympatric species with the bighorns. A solid general-opportunity deer range rather than a trophy destination, with bucks using the rougher granite country for security.
- →Hunt the pinyon-juniper and mountain-brush transitions at dawn and dusk
- →Push into the rocky granite pockets where mature bucks bed away from roads
- →Glass the foothill benches on the cooler west and north exposures
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk are present as a sympatric ungulate on the range, using the higher timber and brush of the Mineral Mountains. Numbers are modest compared with Utah's premier elk units.
- →Focus on the highest aspen and conifer stringers along the crest
- →Work springs and meadow edges early season
- →Cover ground to locate scattered groups on this compact range
Pro tips
- →Scout the granite core hard for sheep — the herd is small, so knowing where individual rams live is the whole game
- →Use the Rock Corral side for a straightforward east-side entry to the high country
- →Water sources concentrate game across the whole unit — find them first
- →Verify SITLA vs. private boundaries in the valley bottoms before hunting the edges
- →Predator management is active here; expect to share the range with agency efforts protecting the sheep
Watch out for
- !Private ag and geothermal-field parcels in the Milford Flat and Beaver Valley bottoms — respect boundaries
- !Small, young sheep herd means limited mature rams and very low tag numbers
- !Scarce water on the desert flanks in early season — carry your own
- !Rough two-tracks and rocky granite terrain — 4WD and good tires
- !Spotty cell coverage in the range interior
Logistics
Beaver (right on I-15) and Milford are the practical bases — Beaver has full services and quick freeway access, Milford covers the west side. High-clearance/4WD helps on the granite-core two-tracks; the Rock Corral road on the east is a reliable entry. Carry water — the flats are hot and dry in early fall. Cell service is decent near the towns and I-15 but drops out in the range interior.
Nearest towns: Beaver, Milford, Minersville, Cedar City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Bighorn Sheep Unit Management Plan — Mineral Mountains (May 2018) · GOHUNT — Utah Mineral Mtns Desert Bighorn Sheep Unit Profile · UDWR Hunt Planner boundary — Desert Bighorn Mineral Mountains (DB1555)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 10003 in Utah?
- Unit 10003 (Mineral Mountain) covers about 537 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 9,580 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 10003?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 10003?
- Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 10003 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.