Unit 609 Ogden
A public-land-rich general-season deer and elk unit stacking the northern Wasatch peaks against the Monte Cristo high country east of Ogden
Northern Utah — Wasatch Front / Monte Cristo · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
634
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–9,712
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
The Ogden unit wraps the northern Wasatch Range and the Monte Cristo Range on the doorstep of the Weber County population centers, offering some of the most accessible general-season mule deer and elk hunting in the state. It runs from the steep, timbered front above Ogden and Ogden Valley eastward across Powder Mountain and the Monte Cristo plateau, most of it Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This is an opportunity unit — general archery, muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon deer plus general-season elk — where pressure is high but so is public access, and a mix of moose, bear and cougar rounds out the fauna.
Terrain
Steep, canyon-cut Wasatch front rising abruptly from the Ogden and Weber valleys, transitioning east to the broad, rolling Monte Cristo plateau. Ben Lomond and Willard Peak anchor the west; the Monte Cristo Range tops out near 9,700 feet.
Cover: Oak brush, maple and mountain mahogany on the lower front, giving way to aspen stands, mixed conifer (Douglas fir, subalpine fir, spruce) and open sage-and-grass parks and high meadows across Monte Cristo. Dense timber and thick brush make this classic still-hunt and edge country.
Landmarks: Ben Lomond Peak · Willard Peak · Monte Cristo Range · Powder Mountain · Snowbasin · Ogden Valley (Huntsville, Pineview Reservoir) · Durst Mountain · Causey Reservoir · North Fork Ogden River
Access
Large blocks of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest cover the Monte Cristo plateau and the high Wasatch, reached by SR-39 (Ogden Canyon/Monte Cristo Highway), SR-158 to Powder Mountain, and a web of Forest Service roads and trailheads. Private ranch and residential ground is concentrated in Ogden Valley and along the canyon mouths and lower foothills — respect posted parcels and access ag land only with permission. SITLA state trust sections are open to hunting.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, private, BLM
Access points: SR-39 Monte Cristo Highway · Ogden Canyon (SR-39) · North Ogden Divide · Powder Mountain / SR-158 · Causey Reservoir road · Monte Cristo Campground · Ben Lomond / Willard Basin trailheads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityThe bread-and-butter draw — a general-season buck unit managed for opportunity, not trophy quality. Deer are spread across the front and the Monte Cristo high country in good numbers, and a patient hunter working thick edges can find a mature buck, but expect company on the easy access.
- →Hunt the timber-and-aspen edges and oak-brush pockets at first and last light where bucks feed then bed
- →Get above and behind the road-accessible drainages off Monte Cristo Highway to escape pressure
- →Glass the open sage parks and burns on the Monte Cristo plateau early season
- →As storms hit, follow deer down off the high plateau into the mid-elevation brush
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA general-season elk unit with elk scattered through the Monte Cristo timber and the broken Wasatch front. Success runs modest given dense cover and hunter numbers, but the herd is healthy and a hunter willing to hike into the black timber can find bulls and cows.
- →Push into the dark conifer benches and north-facing pockets on Monte Cristo where elk hold off the roads
- →Cover ground to locate herds, then work the timber edges at dawn
- →Call sparingly during the archery rut; still-hunt travel routes between feeding parks and bedding timber
- →Use the aspen-conifer transition and wallows in the high meadows
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose inhabit the willow bottoms, aspen and riparian stringers of the Monte Cristo and northern Wasatch country. Permits are limited-entry and scarce, but the unit produces respectable bulls for a hunter who draws.
- →Work the willow-choked creek bottoms and beaver pond complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Glass aspen-conifer edges near water where bulls feed
- →Move slowly and quietly through riparian corridors — moose hold tight to cover
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the oak-brush, aspen and berry-producing slopes across the unit. Be bear aware while hunting deer and elk.
- →Glass oak-brush and serviceberry slopes in early fall when bears feed heavily
- →Check aspen stands and creek bottoms with mast and berries
- →Focus dawn and dusk on feeding sign
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer herds through the canyon-and-timber country of the northern Wasatch and Monte Cristo. A viable pursuit hunt on tracking snow.
- →Cut fresh tracks on Forest Service roads after a snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering terrain and steep canyon breaks
- →Hunt the ridge systems linking Monte Cristo to the Wasatch front
Pro tips
- →Escape the road pressure by hiking into the dark timber and pocket basins off the Monte Cristo Highway
- →Know the private boundaries in Ogden Valley and the canyon mouths before you hunt — inholdings are common on the lower ground
- →Scout the aspen-conifer edges and burns on the Monte Cristo plateau where deer and elk concentrate
- →Hunt weekdays to dodge the heavy Wasatch Front crowds
- →Watch the forecast — the high country snows early and deer follow
Watch out for
- !Heavy hunter pressure given metro proximity and easy road access
- !Private inholdings and residential ground in Ogden Valley and at canyon mouths
- !Early snow can shut down the Monte Cristo high country fast
- !Dense timber and brush make shots close and tracking hard
- !Bear and cougar present — store food and be aware
Logistics
Base out of Ogden or Ogden Valley (Huntsville/Eden) for full services minutes from the trailheads, or camp on the forest along Monte Cristo Highway. SR-39 over Monte Cristo is the spine of the unit; Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed sites are plentiful. Cell coverage is strong near the Wasatch Front and Ogden Valley but drops in the Monte Cristo backcountry. Proximity to the metro means crowded weekends.
Nearest towns: Ogden, Huntsville, North Ogden, Eden, Morgan, Woodruff
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: Utah Big Game Field Regulations 2026 (UDWR) · UDWR Maps and Hunt Boundaries · Utah Hunt Planner — Deer boundary lookup · Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 609 in Utah?
- Unit 609 (Ogden) covers about 634 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 9,712 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 609?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, SITLA, private, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 609?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, 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 609 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.