Unit 51 Manti
The high Skyline Drive spine of central Utah — a premium limited-entry deer and elk unit with big herds, big country and honest public access
Central Utah — Wasatch Plateau / Manti-La Sal · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,567
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–11,285
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
The Manti is the southern half of the Wasatch Plateau, a long high tableland that runs north-south through the center of the state with Skyline Drive tracing its crest above 10,000 feet. It is one of Utah's marquee limited-entry units for both mule deer (the Central Mountains, Manti/San Rafael deer unit) and Rocky Mountain elk (Elk Herd Unit #16, Manti), managed for mature bucks and trophy bulls. The west side is timbered plateau, aspen meadows and steep creek drainages dropping to the Sanpete and Sevier valleys; the far eastern flank breaks into the desert and canyon country toward the San Rafael Swell. Overwhelmingly public and roaded, it rewards hunters willing to bank points and then cover a lot of vertical country.
Terrain
A long, high plateau topping out above 11,000 ft (South Tent Mountain 11,285 ft) with Skyline Drive along the crest. Broad alpine meadows and flats on top give way to steep timbered creek drainages, rolling foothills and, on the eastern side, desert benches and canyons dropping toward the San Rafael country.
Cover: Spruce-fir and aspen with big subalpine meadows up high, oakbrush, mountain mahogany and pinyon-juniper on the mid-slopes, and sagebrush, grass and desert shrub on the foothills and the drier east side.
Landmarks: Skyline Drive · South Tent Mountain · Wasatch Plateau · Ephraim Canyon · Ferron Reservoir · Joes Valley Reservoir · Manti-La Sal National Forest · San Rafael Swell (eastern flank)
Access
The plateau core is Manti-La Sal National Forest with excellent public access; the eastern desert benches are largely BLM, and scattered SITLA state-trust sections (open to hunting) fill in around them. Private ground concentrates in the Sanpete and Sevier valley bottoms on the west and the ranch/ag land at the mouths of canyons. Skyline Drive plus a dense network of Forest roads and ATV trails reach the crest from both sides; canyon roads climb from towns like Ephraim, Manti and Ferron. Expect well-maintained dirt roads grading into rough 4WD and ATV routes higher up.
Managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Skyline Drive (crest access from Fairview Canyon and beyond) · Ephraim Canyon Road · Ferron Canyon / Ferron Reservoir Road · Joes Valley Reservoir access · Manti Canyon Road · US-89 valley corridor on the west, SR-10 on the east
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityA premium limited-entry buck unit (Central Mountains, Manti/San Rafael). Deer summer high on the plateau in the aspen and meadows and migrate to the foothills and desert benches as snow pushes them down. Managed for a healthy buck age class, it produces mature four-points for hunters who draw and put in the miles.
- →Glass aspen fringes and subalpine meadow edges at first and last light early in the season
- →As storms hit, follow deer to the mid-elevation oakbrush and the eastern desert benches
- →Hunt the heads of steep creek drainages where mature bucks bed off the roads
- →Get well away from Skyline Drive and the ATV network to find older deer
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe Manti carries one of Utah's largest elk herds (roughly 11,000-12,000 head) and is a limited-entry any-bull unit managed alongside general-season spike hunting. It is not the very top age-class trophy unit, but 300-inch bulls are common and hard work can turn up a 350-class bull in the timber and meadows of the plateau.
- →Work the aspen-meadow-timber mosaic on top and bugle-locate bulls during the rut
- →Hunt the dark north-slope spruce-fir timber where herd bulls hold cows
- →Set up on wallows and meadow edges in the early mornings
- →Push into steep pockets away from Skyline Drive traffic for the older bulls
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn use the open sagebrush and desert benches on the lower eastern and southern margins of the unit toward the San Rafael and Emery valley country. Densities are modest and this is a secondary hunt to the marquee deer and elk.
- →Glass the open sage flats and rolling benches on the desert side
- →Use terrain folds to close on treeless country
- →Key on scarce water sources in the drier lower country
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bears do well in the oakbrush, aspen and berry-producing draws of the Wasatch Plateau. It is a legitimate bear unit with good numbers in the mid-elevation cover.
- →Hunt oakbrush and chokecherry pockets and the aspen-timber edges in spring and fall
- →Glass avalanche chutes and green slopes in spring
- →Focus on mast and berry sources in the steep drainages
Cougar
common qualityA strong deer and elk base supports healthy mountain lion numbers across the plateau. Hunting is typically tied to tracking snow in the timbered and canyon country.
- →Cut tracks on snowy plateau roads and canyon rims after fresh snow
- →Focus on drainages and benches holding wintering deer
- →Work the transition timber where deer concentrate in winter
Pro tips
- →Bank preference points — both the deer and elk hunts here are limited-entry draws worth the wait
- →Learn the migration: hunt high early, then chase deer down to the oakbrush and desert benches when snow arrives
- →Get off Skyline Drive and the ATV grid; the mature bucks and bulls live where the crowds don't go
- →Scout Joes Valley, Ferron and Ephraim canyon systems ahead of time for elk holding cover
- →Watch the eastern desert side for pronghorn and a very different mule deer hunt in the same tag
Watch out for
- !Skyline Drive and canyon roads can close or turn to greasy mud after early snow
- !Private ranch and ag ground at canyon mouths and in the valley bottoms — verify boundaries
- !Weekend ATV and general-season spike-elk traffic on the plateau
- !Fast-changing high-country weather; cold and exposure above 10,000 ft
- !Fire closures possible in dry late summers on the forest
Logistics
Sanpete Valley towns (Ephraim, Manti, Mt. Pleasant, Fairview) on the west and Castle Valley towns (Ferron, Castle Dale) on the east provide fuel, groceries, lodging and dining. You can base in town and day-hunt the plateau, or camp on the forest. Skyline Drive and the main canyon roads are passable to most vehicles in good weather, but carry recovery gear and expect rough 4WD/ATV spurs higher up. Cell coverage is decent near the valleys and spotty on the plateau interior.
Nearest towns: Ephraim, Manti, Fairview, Ferron, Castle Dale, Mt. Pleasant
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Deer Herd Units #12/#16 (San Rafael & Manti) Management Plan · UDWR Elk Herd Unit #16 Manti Management Plan 2023 · GOHUNT Utah Manti/San Rafael deer unit profile · GOHUNT Utah Manti limited-entry elk unit profile · USFS Manti-La Sal National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 51 in Utah?
- Unit 51 (Manti) covers about 2,567 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 11,285 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 51?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 51?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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.
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