Unit 185 San Juan, Elk Ridge
Utah's trophy San Juan high country — giant mule deer and bugling bulls on Elk Ridge and the Blue Mountains.
Southeastern Utah — Abajo Mountains / Bears Ears · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
3,089
sq mi
Public land
88%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–11,360
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Elk Ridge subunit anchors Utah's famed San Juan limited-entry unit, one of the state's premier destinations for oversized mule deer and mature bull elk. It spans the timbered Abajo (Blue) Mountains above Monticello and Blanding and the high, forested tableland of Elk Ridge running north toward the Bears Ears and Dark Canyon. Tags are hard to draw and hunts are managed for trophy age-class, so expectations run high. Predominantly public land — Manti-La Sal National Forest, Bears Ears National Monument BLM, and open state trust sections.
Terrain
A high island range and plateau rising abruptly from surrounding canyon country. The Abajo Mountains top out near 11,360 ft at Abajo Peak, while Elk Ridge forms a broad 8,000-8,900 ft forested bench dissected by deep sandstone canyons draining toward the Colorado and San Juan Rivers.
Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the lower flanks giving way to ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, aspen, and spruce-fir stands on the high ridges and peaks; grassy parks and oak brush pockets hold deer and elk.
Landmarks: Abajo Peak · Elk Ridge · Bears Ears buttes · Dark Canyon Wilderness · Blue Mountains · Causeway · Allen Canyon
Access
Overwhelmingly public. Forest roads climb the Abajos from Monticello (FR 101 / Blue Mountain Road) and reach Elk Ridge via the Causeway and Bears Ears (FR 088). Dark Canyon Wilderness is non-motorized backcountry. Private inholdings and the tribal-managed Allen/White Canyon corridor exist on the lower southern flanks near Bluff.
Managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, BLM (Bears Ears NM), SITLA, private
Access points: Blue Mountain Road / FR 101 from Monticello · Bears Ears / Causeway (FR 088) · Cottonwood/Allen Canyon from near Bluff · Dark Canyon Wilderness trailheads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyThe marquee draw. San Juan produces some of Utah's largest mule deer, with genuine 190-inch potential and long point/waiting periods to draw. Age-class management keeps mature bucks in the herd.
- →Glass high oak-brush benches and aspen edges at first and last light
- →Focus on the Abajo timber pockets and Elk Ridge rims during the rut
- →Hunt water and transition zones where high country meets pinyon-juniper as storms push deer down
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyA limited-entry quality bull unit. Elk Ridge and the Abajos hold mature bulls in dark timber and high parks; bugling can be excellent during the rut.
- →Work aspen/spruce-fir edges and wallows in the September rut
- →Call bulls off the high ridges into oak-brush bowls
- →Still-hunt dark timber on Elk Ridge midday where pressured bulls hold
Black Bear
common qualityHealthy black bear numbers in the oak brush and aspen of the Abajos and Elk Ridge, feeding heavily on acorns and berries.
- →Locate oak-brush flats and berry patches in late summer/fall
- →Glass avalanche chutes and open slopes at dawn
Cougar
common qualityStrong mule deer numbers support a robust cougar population across the timbered canyons and rims.
- →Cut tracks on snow along canyon rims and forest roads after storms
- →Hunt deer wintering areas on the lower slopes
Pro tips
- →This is a draw-and-savor tag — plan multiple scouting trips before your season if you can, as the terrain is vast.
- →The Abajos and Elk Ridge hunt differently: the peaks favor timber and oak-brush glassing, the ridge favors rim-and-canyon edge work.
- →Storms are your friend — snow pushes both trophy deer and elk down into more huntable oak-brush zones.
- →Learn the road network before opener; the Causeway and Bears Ears roads are the keys to the northern high country.
- →CWD has been documented in San Juan-area deer and elk — follow UDWR carcass and testing guidance.
Watch out for
- !Clay forest roads become impassable when wet — a common way to get stranded
- !Private and tribal-managed inholdings on the lower southern flanks near Bluff/Allen Canyon
- !Dark Canyon Wilderness is non-motorized — plan pack-out logistics
- !Chronic wasting disease present in the herd
- !Remote country with little cell service — carry navigation and communication backup
Logistics
Base out of Monticello or Blanding for fuel, lodging, and supplies; both sit at the mountain's foot on US-191. High-clearance/4WD is needed on Elk Ridge and the upper forest roads, which turn to slick clay when wet. Cell coverage drops quickly off the highway corridor.
Nearest towns: Monticello, Blanding, Bluff
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR San Juan Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #14 · UDWR San Juan Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #14 · UDWR Maps / Hunt Boundary
FAQ
- How big is Unit 185 in Utah?
- Unit 185 (San Juan, Elk Ridge) covers about 3,089 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 11,360 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 185?
- Approximately 88% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, BLM (Bears Ears NM), SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 185?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 185 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.