Unit 248 West Desert, Vernon
A West Desert limited-entry mule deer unit built around the Sheeprock Mountains, with quarter-century-long tag restrictions and a healthy buck-to-doe ratio
West-Central Utah — Sheeprock Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,523
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–9,262
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The West Desert, Vernon unit is one of Utah's classic limited-entry mule deer areas — a roughly circular block of cold-desert basin-and-range about 50 miles across, centered on the Sheeprock Mountains. Deer tags here have been limited for around 25 years, producing a strong buck-to-doe ratio and reliable representative bucks, with the occasional larger deer, even though the unit is not managed for world-class antlers. The Sheeprocks hold most of the deer, backed by the West Tintic, Keg, Simpson and Vernon Hills ranges, and the unit also carries a Sheeprock bighorn herd and limited elk on drawn tags.
Terrain
Cold-desert basin-and-range: sagebrush valleys and benches broken by four to five steep island mountain ranges. The Sheeprock Mountains are the high point, topping out at Black Crook Peak (9,262 ft), with the West Tintic, Keg, Simpson and Vernon ranges filling out the unit.
Cover: Great Basin sagebrush, rabbitbrush and grasses on the valley floors and benches, rising through extensive pinyon-juniper on the foothills into mountain mahogany, aspen, Douglas-fir and scattered conifer stands on the higher Sheeprock slopes.
Landmarks: Sheeprock Mountains · Black Crook Peak (9,262 ft) · West Tintic Mountains · Keg Mountain · Simpson Mountains · Vernon Hills · Little Valley · Lookout Pass
Access
Predominantly public: broad BLM valley and foothill country, a block of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the Sheeprock high country, and open SITLA trust parcels throughout. Private ranch and agricultural inholdings cluster around the town of Vernon and the valley floors. A good road network reaches most ranges, but the Sheeprock interior offers rougher two-track and foot access.
Managers: BLM, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, private
Access points: Vernon and Little Valley roads (Sheeprocks) · Lookout Pass (SR-73 corridor) · Pony Express Road (BLM) · Benmore / Vernon Reservoir area · Keg Mountain and Simpson Mountain BLM roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe marquee draw and a genuine limited-entry mule deer tag. Roughly 25 years of tag restriction have built a healthy buck-to-doe ratio and dependable numbers of mature bucks. Most deer live in and around the Sheeprock Mountains; the unit reliably yields solid representative bucks with a scattering of larger animals, though it is not managed for giant antlers.
- →Concentrate on the Sheeprock Mountains, which hold the bulk of the deer, then check the West Tintic, Keg and Simpson ranges
- →Glass pinyon-juniper foothills and mahogany benches at first and last light
- →Hunt the timber edges and aspen pockets high in the Sheeprocks, moving down as weather pushes deer
- →Scout thoroughly in advance to locate mature bucks and their bedding country before the hunt
- →Be patient and selective — the limited-entry structure means you can afford to hold out for a good buck
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Sheeprock Mountains carry a bighorn herd on their namesake range, available on a very limited, coveted sheep tag. Numbers are small and the hunt is tightly controlled, but the rugged Sheeprock escape terrain offers a rare desert sheep opportunity.
- →Focus on the steepest rock, cliff bands and escape terrain of the Sheeprock high country
- →Invest days behind a spotting scope locating and evaluating rams
- →Work the crag edges early and late when sheep feed off the rocks
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA limited elk presence uses the timbered high country of the Sheeprock and West Tintic ranges. Elk numbers are modest relative to Utah's top units, but bulls are available to hunters who draw and work the roughest, most remote pockets.
- →Hunt the aspen and conifer stands high in the Sheeprock Mountains
- →Check springs and wallows in early season and timber edges as pressure builds
- →Glass the heads of canyons and open parks at dawn and dusk
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn use the open sagebrush valleys and benches around the ranges, spilling in from the surrounding West Desert antelope country. Opportunity is limited and secondary to the marquee deer hunt.
- →Glass the open sage flats and valley benches between the ranges at dawn
- →Use terrain folds and washes to close on bucks across open country
- →Watch water and green edges in early-season heat
Pro tips
- →This is a draw-and-scout unit — once you have a limited-entry deer tag, invest heavy preseason time locating mature bucks in the Sheeprocks
- →Most of the deer live in the Sheeprock Mountains, so start there before spreading to the outlying ranges
- →Temper expectations: this unit produces solid representative bucks, not consistent giants — a buck over 170 inches is a real trophy here
- →Mark private inholdings around Vernon and the ag valleys on your GPS
- →Take advantage of the limited-entry tag to hunt selectively and pass young bucks
Watch out for
- !Private ranch and agricultural inholdings around Vernon and the valley floors — verify boundaries
- !Limited water across the desert benches and valleys
- !Heat early, fast-cooling snow potential in the Sheeprock high country
- !Rough two-track in the range interiors — carry recovery gear
- !Manage antler expectations — this is a quality opportunity unit, not a world-class trophy area
Logistics
Base out of the small town of Vernon or the Tooele and Eureka areas for the closest access, with fuller services in Tooele, Nephi or Delta. The unit sits within reasonable reach of the Wasatch Front, so cell service is fair near the main corridors but drops off in the range interiors. Camping is dispersed on BLM, SITLA and Forest ground; roads are generally good but the Sheeprock interior gets rough.
Nearest towns: Vernon, Eureka, Tooele, Nephi, Delta
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Utah West Desert, Vernon Unit Profile · Utah DWR Hunt Planner · Sheeprock Mountains — Wikipedia (Black Crook Peak, desert bighorn) · Huntin' Fool — Utah Mule Deer Hunting (Vernon limited entry)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 248 in Utah?
- Unit 248 (West Desert, Vernon) covers about 1,523 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 9,262 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 248?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 248?
- Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 248 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.