Unit 29 Cache
A limited-entry mule deer unit in the Bear River Range and Wellsville Mountains above Cache Valley — quality bucks on largely National Forest ground
Northern Utah — Bear River Range / Cache Valley · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,833
sq mi
Public land
52%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Cache unit covers the Bear River Range and the steep Wellsville Mountains flanking Cache Valley in Utah's northern tier, running up to the Idaho line and east toward Bear Lake. Managed as a limited-entry mule deer unit, it produces mature bucks on a heavily forested, largely public landscape — much of it Uinta-Wasatch-Cache (Cache) National Forest — that gives strong public access despite the productive farm valley below. Beyond the marquee deer, the unit carries general-season Rocky Mountain elk, a limited-entry moose herd, and cougar. Terrain grades abruptly from Cache Valley farmground into rugged creek-cut mountains, and the biggest conservation concern is loss of crucial winter range to development along the valley's east side.
Terrain
Steep, big country where the Bear River Range and Wellsville Mountains rise abruptly out of Cache Valley farmground to rugged high ridges near 10,000 ft. Deep creek drainages knife down through the foothills, and summer range on the high forest is sharply divided from lower winter range on the valley edge.
Cover: Sagebrush, grass, and Gambel oak on the lower foothills and winter range; extensive aspen and mixed conifer (Douglas-fir, spruce-fir, lodgepole) on the mountain; wet meadows, willow bottoms, and maple pockets in the drainages. Dense summer cover on the high country contrasts with open sage benches below.
Landmarks: Naomi Peak · Mount Naomi Wilderness · Logan Canyon · Wellsville Mountains · Bear Lake · Tony Grove · Blacksmith Fork Canyon
Access
About half the unit is public, dominated by Cache National Forest on the mountain and including the Mount Naomi Wilderness plus SITLA trust parcels; the valley floor and much of the winter range are private farm and ranch land. There is road access on all sides, with well-maintained dirt roads feeding less-maintained 4WD roads and ATV trails up the drainages — Logan Canyon (US-89) is the main artery. Wilderness on the crest is foot/horse access only. Respect private boundaries along the Cache Valley east bench where winter range and development meet the forest.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF (Cache), private, SITLA, BLM
Access points: Logan Canyon (US-89) · Blacksmith Fork Canyon road · Tony Grove Lake road · Wellsville Mountains / Mount Naomi Wilderness trailheads · Bear Lake / Garden City side (SR-30)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe marquee hunt, managed as limited-entry to grow older age class and mature bucks. Deer summer high on the Cache National Forest and drop to the valley-edge winter range with snow. Good public access and productive habitat make this a sought-after draw for a quality general-terrain mule deer hunt in northern Utah.
- →Glass the high aspen-conifer edges and mountain-shrub benches at first and last light early in the season
- →Hunt the abrupt transition between forest summer range and the lower sage/oak winter range as weather turns
- →Work the steep creek drainages and dark timber where mature bucks hold security cover
- →Time later hunts to snow and the rut, which push bucks toward the lower foothills and get them moving
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityGeneral-season Rocky Mountain elk inhabit the timbered high country and basins of the Bear River Range and Wellsville Mountains. Solid numbers and extensive National Forest access make this a good DIY elk unit for hunters willing to work the steep terrain and dark timber.
- →Push into the high aspen and conifer basins and north-facing timber where elk hold during warm early weather
- →Call the rut in the upper drainages of Logan Canyon and Blacksmith Fork country
- →Follow elk toward lower cover and the forest edge as snow accumulates
Moose
limited qualityA limited-entry Shiras moose herd uses the willow bottoms, riparian corridors, and wet meadows of the Bear River Range. A once-in-a-lifetime Utah tag, but the drainages of Logan Canyon and the high wet meadows reliably hold bulls.
- →Focus on willow-choked creek bottoms, beaver ponds, and wet meadows in the canyon drainages
- →Glass aspen and riparian edges near water at first and last light
- →Scout preseason to pattern specific bulls in the wet corridors
Cougar
common opportunityThe mountainous, deer-rich Bear River Range supports a healthy cougar population. A pursuit-and-track hunt tied to the deer herds and the snow-line country of the high forest.
- →Cut tracks on fresh snow along ridge roads and drainages after storms
- →Focus effort near winter deer concentrations on the lower range
- →Work the rugged creek-cut terrain where cats travel and cache kills
Pro tips
- →This is a draw-quality deer unit — if you pull the limited-entry tag, hunt the summer-to-winter range transition and be patient for a mature buck rather than filling early
- →Use Logan Canyon (US-89) as your spine and branch onto the side drainages and ATV roads to reach less-pressured basins
- →Scout the Cache National Forest summer range in advance, then be ready to shift low fast when the first snow hits
- →Respect the private winter-range bench on Cache Valley's east side from Hyrum north to Richmond — development and posted ground are dense there
- →The Mount Naomi Wilderness and Wellsville crest offer foot-access escape country away from the road hunters
Watch out for
- !Roughly half the unit is private, concentrated on the productive valley floor and crucial winter range
- !Development and posted private ground along the Cache Valley east bench (Hyrum to Richmond)
- !Wilderness areas (Mount Naomi, Wellsville) are non-motorized — foot or horse only
- !Early snow and slick backcountry roads once storms arrive
- !Steep, creek-cut terrain and heavy hunting pressure typical of a northern Utah unit
Logistics
Logan is the hub — a full-service college town at the mouth of Logan Canyon with lodging, gear, and groceries, and the main road access up US-89 into the heart of the unit. Garden City on Bear Lake serves the east side. Services are close, cell coverage is decent in the valley and canyon corridors but drops in the backcountry, and the Cache National Forest offers campgrounds and dispersed camping. Bring a detailed map that shows road access and public/private lines, especially along the developed valley bench.
Nearest towns: Logan, Hyrum, Richmond, Garden City, Smithfield
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Utah Cache Unit Profile · UDWR Cache Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #2 · UDWR Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 29 in Utah?
- Unit 29 (Cache) covers about 1,833 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 29?
- Approximately 52% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF (Cache), private, SITLA, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 29?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 29 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.