Unit 186 San Juan, Hatch Point
Slickrock mesa country above Canyonlands — a limited-entry San Juan piece where trophy deer share the rims with desert bighorn.
Southeastern Utah — Canyon Rims / Colorado River · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,119
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–6,400
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
The Hatch Point subunit forms the northern, canyon-country portion of Utah's limited-entry San Juan unit, sprawling across the high desert mesas of the Canyon Rims Recreation Area between Moab and Monticello. It is defined by broad pinyon-juniper and sagebrush flats that break away into the sheer sandstone gorges of the Colorado River and its tributaries near Needles and Anticline Overlooks. As part of the San Juan trophy unit, deer and elk tags are hard-won and managed for quality. Land is overwhelmingly public BLM and state trust.
Terrain
A tilted high-desert bench — Hatch Point — capping cliffs that plunge to the Colorado River. Rolling mesa tops give way abruptly to slickrock rims, talus benches, and deep dry washes cutting toward the river canyons.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper woodland and big sagebrush dominate the mesa; grassy openings, greasewood in the washes, and scattered ponderosa and oak in the higher, sheltered pockets. Sparse water and desert exposure define the flats.
Landmarks: Hatch Point · Needles Overlook · Anticline Overlook · Canyon Rims Recreation Area · Hatch Wash · Colorado River gorge · Kane Springs Creek
Access
Almost entirely BLM and open state trust land. The paved/graveled Canyon Rims road leaves US-191 and reaches Needles Overlook, Anticline Overlook, and Hatch Point campground; a network of BLM two-tracks branches across the mesa. Scattered private and ranch parcels sit along the US-191 corridor and creek bottoms. Canyonlands National Park abuts the country to the west and is closed to hunting.
Managers: BLM (Canyon Rims Rec Area), SITLA, private
Access points: Canyon Rims / Needles Overlook road from US-191 · Anticline Overlook road · Hatch Point campground · Hatch Wash / lower two-tracks
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyPart of the limited-entry San Juan deer unit, managed for mature bucks. Deer use the pinyon-juniper mesa and broken rim country; a hard tag to draw but capable of producing top-end desert bucks.
- →Glass sagebrush openings and rim edges at first light
- →Work the heads of dry washes and pinyon-juniper stringers where deer bed
- →Hunt near the scarce water sources in warm early seasons
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA limited-entry portion of the San Juan elk unit. Elk numbers on the desert mesa are lower and more scattered than the high country to the south, but mature bulls use the pinyon-juniper and canyon heads.
- →Locate elk near reliable water and greener mesa pockets
- →Glass canyon-head timber at dawn
- →Cover ground to find scattered mesa herds
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn use the steep talus slopes and cliff bands below the rims of the Canyon Rims/Colorado River gorge — a once-in-a-lifetime caliber tag.
- →Glass the talus benches and ledges below the vertical cliffs from the overlooks
- →Hunt the rugged breaks where the mesa drops to the river
Cougar
common qualityCougars work the deer concentrations along the rim and canyon country.
- →Cut tracks on the mesa two-tracks after snow
- →Focus on rim edges and deer wintering pockets
Pro tips
- →Use the overlooks (Needles, Anticline) as glassing platforms into the surrounding breaks and canyon heads.
- →Find water first — in this dry mesa country, the tanks and seeps concentrate deer and elk.
- →Desert bighorn hold below the rims, not on top — glass down into the talus and cliff bands.
- →Don't drift into Canyonlands National Park; the park boundary is closed to hunting.
- →Rain turns the clay two-tracks to grease — time your movement around weather.
Watch out for
- !Canyonlands National Park boundary (no hunting) borders the unit to the west
- !Water is very scarce on the mesa — plan supply carefully
- !Clay roads become impassable when wet
- !Scattered private/ranch parcels along US-191 and creek bottoms
- !Extreme sun and heat exposure on the open flats in early seasons
Logistics
Moab (north) and Monticello (south) both offer full services off US-191. The Canyon Rims road is graveled and passable to most vehicles, but mesa two-tracks demand high clearance and can turn greasy when wet. Water is scarce — carry your own. Cell service is spotty off the highway.
Nearest towns: Monticello, Moab, La Sal
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR San Juan Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #14 · UDWR San Juan Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #14 · BLM / Canyon Rims Recreation Area (Hatch Point, Needles & Anticline Overlooks)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 186 in Utah?
- Unit 186 (San Juan, Hatch Point) covers about 1,119 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 6,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 186?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Canyon Rims Rec Area), SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 186?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 186 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.