Unit 244 West Desert, Riverbed
Vast open-sage antelope country — a limited-entry pronghorn stronghold sprawled across the Simpson, Sheeprock and Tintic ranges.
Western Utah — West Desert / Old River Bed (Great Basin) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
3,671
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
4,400–9,200
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
The West Desert, Riverbed unit is an enormous slice of Utah's Great Basin, stretching from the southwest corner of the Great Salt Lake south toward the Sevier Desert near Delta and taking in the Simpson Mountains, Sheeprock Mountains, the East and West Tintic ranges, Keg Mountain and the broad Old River Bed. Wide sagebrush and grass valleys — prime pronghorn habitat roamed by wild horse bands — are broken by fortress-like desert ranges and pinyon-juniper foothills. It is best known as one of Utah's premier limited-entry pronghorn units, backed by general-season mule deer and elk across a mostly public, heavily roaded landscape.
Terrain
Expansive sage and salt-desert valleys — Skull Valley, Rush Valley margins, the Old River Bed and Sevier Desert — separate isolated desert ranges that rise to roughly 9,000 feet on the Sheeprock Mountains and near 8,300 on the Simpsons.
Cover: Salt-desert shrub, greasewood and expansive big-sagebrush grasslands on the valley floors climb into pinyon-juniper foothills, with scattered mountain brush, aspen and Douglas-fir on the highest slopes of the Sheeprocks and Simpsons.
Landmarks: Simpson Mountains · Sheeprock Mountains · East and West Tintic Mountains · Keg Mountain · Old River Bed · Sevier Desert · Erickson Pass · Pony Express / Simpson Springs
Access
Overwhelmingly public — vast BLM ground plus USFS parcels on the Sheeprock/Vernon district and open SITLA state trust land — laced with an extensive network of desert roads and two-tracks. The Dugway Proving Ground military reservation on the northwest is closed to entry, and private ranch and farm ground clusters near Vernon, Delta and the valley edges. The Pony Express Trail is the main east-west spine.
Managers: BLM, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, US Army Dugway Proving Ground (closed), private
Access points: Pony Express Trail (Simpson Springs, Lookout Pass) · Vernon / SR-36 corridor · Erickson Pass and Porter Valley roads · Jericho / Little Sahara area from the south · Delta-area desert roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe marquee hunt — a limited-entry buck antelope unit widely regarded as one of the best in Utah, with bucks scattered across the huge sage-grass valleys. Big open country and good numbers reward glassing.
- →Glass the wide sage and grass valleys at first light from high benches or vehicle-height vantage
- →Spot-and-stalk bedded bucks using terrain rolls, washes and the Old River Bed's cuts
- →Cover ground between ranges to locate mature bucks, then commit to a stalk
- →Watch water sources and stock tanks in the dry desert heat
Mule Deer
common opportunityGeneral-season mule deer occupy the pinyon-juniper foothills and mountain brush of the Simpson, Sheeprock and Tintic ranges; a spread-out, work-for-it hunt with occasional good bucks.
- →Glass the sage-juniper transition and brushy draws at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the higher mountain-brush and aspen pockets of the Sheeprocks and Simpsons
- →Cover ground across the ranges to locate deer, then still-hunt the pockets
- →Work the roughest breaks where mature bucks avoid road pressure
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general-season West Desert elk herd uses the timbered heads and higher benches of the Sheeprock, Simpson and Tintic ranges, feeding out onto the flats and ag edges.
- →Bugle the aspen and conifer heads of the higher ranges at dawn during the rut
- →Glass mountain-brush parks and burn regrowth
- →Focus on the limited water and wallows in the dry early season
- →Check dry-farm and meadow edges where elk feed at night
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityRocky Mountain bighorn occupy the Sheeprock Mountains, a small once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in rugged, isolated terrain.
- →Glass the rocky ridgelines and cliff bands of the Sheeprocks
- →Focus on rough escape terrain near the higher peaks
- →Be prepared for remote, self-supported hunting
Cougar
common qualityMountain lions follow the deer through the desert ranges and juniper breaks.
- →Cut for tracks on the range roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer wintering areas in the foothills
Pro tips
- →This is a glassing game — cover ground between ranges and spend the low-light hours behind good optics to locate pronghorn bucks.
- →Know the Dugway Proving Ground boundary on the northwest — it is a closed military reservation.
- →The unit is huge; pre-scout with maps and plan fuel and water for long drives between areas.
- →Push into the Sheeprock and Simpson high country for the best deer and elk away from the road-hunted flats.
- →Watch for wild horse bands and stock — and for slick clay two-tracks after any rain.
Watch out for
- !Dugway Proving Ground military reservation (northwest) — closed to entry
- !Vast distances with no services, water or cell coverage
- !Slick clay desert roads after rain or snow
- !Scattered private ranch and farm ground near Vernon and Delta
- !Limited water and extreme early-season heat
Logistics
Services thin out fast in the West Desert — stage out of Tooele, Nephi, Delta or the small towns of Vernon and Eureka for fuel, groceries and lodging, then be self-sufficient once you hit the dirt. The unit is enormous, so plan long drives between glassing areas, carry extra fuel, water and recovery gear, and expect no cell service across much of the interior. Dispersed camping on BLM and forest ground is plentiful.
Nearest towns: Vernon, Delta, Eureka, Tooele, Nephi
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Utah West Desert, Riverbed Antelope Unit Profile · GOHUNT — Utah West Desert General Elk Unit Profile · UDWR Utah Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 · Tooele Transcript Bulletin — Simpson Mountains, West Desert
FAQ
- How big is Unit 244 in Utah?
- Unit 244 (West Desert, Riverbed) covers about 3,671 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,400 to 9,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 244?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, US Army Dugway Proving Ground (closed), private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 244?
- Pronghorn, 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 244 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.