Unit 461 Diamond Mtn/Bonanza
High sage-and-aspen plateau country above Vernal dropping into the Bonanza oil-shale desert — general-season elk and deer near the Colorado line.
Northeastern Utah — Diamond Mountain / Uinta Basin · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,228
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–9,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Northeast of Vernal in Uintah County, this unit rises onto Diamond Mountain — a high sage, aspen and pinyon-juniper plateau of old Browns Park outlaw country above the Green River and Jones Hole — and drops south and east through the Bonanza desert and Book Cliffs foothills toward the White River and the Colorado state line. It is a mostly public, general-season any-bull elk unit that holds a lot of elk on the south slope of the Uintas' eastern reach, plus solid mule deer, with the rugged canyon country of Diamond Mountain giving it real character.
Terrain
A high, broken plateau — Diamond Mountain — of sage parks, aspen pockets and pinyon-juniper above the Green River canyons, stepping down south and east through desert benches and Book Cliffs foothills to the White River and Bonanza flats.
Cover: Aspen, mountain brush and pinyon-juniper on the Diamond Mountain plateau grade into sagebrush parks and grassland, then salt-desert shrub, blackbrush and greasewood across the lower Bonanza desert; riparian cottonwood along the Green and White rivers.
Landmarks: Diamond Mountain plateau · Green River / Jones Hole · Dinosaur National Monument (closed to hunting) · White River · Bonanza / Book Cliffs foothills · Browns Park · Blue Mountain (Yampa Plateau)
Access
Predominantly public — extensive BLM across the Bonanza desert and Diamond Mountain, SITLA trust parcels open to hunting, and a fringe of Ashley National Forest on the higher north edge. Private ranch ground sits on the Diamond Mountain plateau, Browns Park bottoms and around the towns. Dinosaur National Monument (Green River canyons) is closed to hunting, and the Uintah & Ouray Reservation borders the west and south — know those boundaries. Gravel and two-track roads reach most of the country but turn to slick clay when wet.
Managers: BLM, SITLA, USFS Ashley NF, private, NPS Dinosaur NM (closed to hunting), Uintah & Ouray tribal (adjacent)
Access points: Diamond Mountain Road from Vernal · US-40 corridor east of Vernal · Bonanza Highway (SR-45) toward the White River · Brush Creek / Red Cloud Loop off Ashley NF · Island Park / Jones Hole area roads · BLM two-tracks across the Bonanza desert
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general-season any-bull elk unit (part of the Vernal/Bonanza/Diamond herd) that holds good elk numbers on the south slope country; a solid opportunity hunt with some mature bulls in the rougher pockets rather than a trophy draw.
- →Glass aspen pockets, sage parks and timber edges on Diamond Mountain at dawn and dusk
- →Bugle the aspen and brush heads during the September rut
- →Push into the roughest canyon breaks and roadless pockets to find older bulls away from crowds
- →Check the transition where the plateau timber meets the desert benches
Mule Deer
common qualitySolid mule deer across the plateau and desert breaks, with mature bucks holding in the rough pinyon-juniper and canyon country of Diamond Mountain and the Book Cliffs foothills.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and sage benches and canyon rims at first and last light
- →Still-hunt the rough breaks and cedar pockets where mature bucks hide
- →Time later hunts to storms that push deer down off Diamond Mountain
- →Cover ground in the desert country to locate scattered bucks
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn range the open sage and desert flats of the Bonanza country and the Diamond Mountain parks.
- →Glass big from high benches over the open sage flats
- →Spot-and-stalk using washes and terrain rolls
- →Watch water sources and stock tanks in the dry desert
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the aspen, brush and canyon country of Diamond Mountain and the Ashley NF fringe in modest numbers.
- →Glass oakbrush and berry patches in late summer
- →Check aspen stands and creek bottoms for sign
Cougar
common opportunityLions follow the deer through the canyon breaks and pinyon-juniper of the plateau and desert country.
- →Cut ridge and canyon roads for tracks after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer wintering breaks and rimrock
Pro tips
- →Get onto Diamond Mountain's rough canyon breaks and roadless pockets to find older bulls and bucks away from road hunters.
- →Know your boundaries — Dinosaur National Monument is closed to hunting and the Uintah & Ouray Reservation borders the unit.
- →Time a late deer hunt to the first hard storms that push animals off the high plateau.
- →Carry water and recovery gear for the Bonanza desert; the clay roads turn to grease when wet.
- →Take advantage of free CWD testing at the DWR Vernal office for deer taken on this unit.
Watch out for
- !Dinosaur National Monument boundary — closed to hunting
- !Uintah & Ouray Reservation boundary along the west and south
- !Private ranch ground on the Diamond Mountain plateau and Browns Park bottoms
- !Slick clay roads after rain or snow
- !Limited water in the Bonanza desert
Logistics
Vernal is the regional hub with full fuel, lodging, groceries and gear, and hosts a DWR office (318 N. Vernal Ave.) offering free CWD testing for deer from this unit. Most hunters camp in the unit to cut travel; dispersed camping is easy on the abundant BLM and the Ashley NF fringe. Desert and plateau roads are mostly gravel and two-track that turn to slick clay after rain or snow.
Nearest towns: Vernal, Jensen, Naples, Dinosaur (CO)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #9 B,C,D (Vernal/Bonanza/Diamond) · UDWR Utah Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 · GOHUNT — Utah Yellowstone/Vernal/Bonanza Elk Unit Profile · Worldwide Trophy Adventures — Utah Diamond Mountain Mule Deer
FAQ
- How big is Unit 461 in Utah?
- Unit 461 (Diamond Mtn/Bonanza) covers about 1,228 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 461?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, SITLA, USFS Ashley NF, private, NPS Dinosaur NM (closed to hunting), Uintah & Ouray tribal (adjacent). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 461?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 461 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.