Unit 618 San Juan, Abajo Mtns
The forested Abajo (Blue) Mountains rising off the canyonlands west of Monticello — a scenic limited-entry mule deer unit within Utah's storied big-bull San Juan elk country
Southeastern Utah — Abajo (Blue) Mountains / Monticello · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,015
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–11,368
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The San Juan, Abajo Mtns unit is anchored on the Abajo Mountains (locally the Blue Mountains) that tower over Monticello and Blanding in San Juan County, capped by 11,368-foot Abajo Peak. From the alpine forests it falls thousands of feet to the pinyon-juniper foothills, bean fields and red-rock canyonlands below. It is a limited-entry mule deer unit that produces the occasional trophy buck, and it lies within the greater San Juan elk complex — one of Utah's premier big-bull limited-entry elk areas. Moose, bear and cougar are present. The mountains are largely public Manti-La Sal National Forest with good access, but the surrounding foothills and valleys are heavily private.
Terrain
A dramatic vertical unit dropping from 11,368-ft Abajo Peak through steep timbered slopes and pinyon-juniper foothills to canyon and desert floors 5,000+ ft below. Steep roadless timber up high transitions to broken slickrock and mesa country.
Cover: Alpine meadow, aspen, ponderosa pine and spruce-fir on the mountain; oak brush and pinyon-juniper on the mid-elevation foothills; sagebrush, blackbrush and desert shrub on the canyon benches and lowlands.
Landmarks: Abajo Peak (11,368 ft) · Abajo / Blue Mountains · Elk Ridge · Dark Canyon Wilderness (to the west) · Monticello · Blanding · Recapture Reservoir
Access
The Abajo high country is Manti-La Sal National Forest with good road and trail access from Monticello and Blanding. BLM canyonlands and SITLA state-trust sections (open to hunting) surround it. However, most of the valleys and foothills that form the unit boundaries are private ranch and farm ground — access to the lower deer country can be tight, and tribal (Ute Mountain Ute / Navajo) lands lie to the south. Get onto the forest or verify permission before hunting the foothills.
Managers: USFS (Manti-La Sal NF), BLM, SITLA, private, tribal
Access points: Abajo / Blue Mountain Loop Road from Monticello · North Creek / South Creek forest roads · Blanding-side forest access · Elk Ridge / Causeway road (high-clearance) · BLM canyon roads off US-191 and SR-95
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-entry mule deer unit with a healthy herd that occasionally produces trophy-class bucks. Deer summer in the steep forested mountains above 8,000 ft and, by mid-October, drop to the 6,500-8,000 ft foothills — timing a hunt to that migration is key.
- →Early season, hunt the high aspen and conifer basins and edges where bucks summer
- →By mid-October, focus on the pinyon-juniper and oak-brush foothills as deer migrate down
- →Glass the big open slopes and drainage heads at first and last light
- →Push into the steep roadless timber where mature bucks hold
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe Abajos sit within the greater San Juan elk unit, one of Utah's most famous big-bull limited-entry areas. Drawn or premium-tag hunters have a legitimate chance at a bull of a lifetime. Elk hold in the Abajo and Elk Ridge timber and rut in the high aspen basins.
- →Locate rutting bulls by bugling along the aspen-conifer ridges of the Abajos and Elk Ridge in September
- →Work dark timber, high parks and springs early and late
- →Hunt the roadless drainages and canyon heads where the biggest bulls escape pressure
- →Glass open slopes at dawn before elk retreat to timber
Moose
limited opportunityA small number of Shiras moose use the willow and aspen riparian pockets of the higher Abajos. Tags are once-in-a-lifetime and scarce, but occasional bulls are present.
- →Hunt willow bottoms, wet aspen meadows and spring-fed drainages at dawn and dusk
- →Glass the high riparian pockets and drainage heads
- →Move slowly through the creek corridors
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are well-distributed in the oak brush and timbered slopes of the Abajos, feeding heavily on acorns and berries in fall.
- →Focus on oak-brush and berry benches in early fall
- →Glass avalanche chutes, aspen slides and open slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Check south-facing green-up for spring bears
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer through the Abajo foothills and canyon country. Winter tracking on snow behind hounds is the productive approach.
- →Cut fresh tracks on snow along forest and canyon roads after a storm
- →Hunt the deer-rich pinyon-juniper foothills and canyon rims
- →Work with experienced hound handlers
Pro tips
- →Time deer hunts to the mid-October migration when bucks pour off the peaks into the foothills
- →Chase the San Juan reputation for big bulls — scout the aspen basins of the Abajos and Elk Ridge before the elk hunt
- →Verify boundaries carefully: most of the low country is private ranch and farm ground, with tribal land to the south
- →Get onto the national forest early — the best public access is the mountain itself
- →Carry a satellite device; cell coverage vanishes off the highways
Watch out for
- !Heavily private valleys and foothills — confirm boundaries and permission
- !Tribal lands (Ute Mountain Ute / Navajo) to the south — do not trespass
- !Slick, impassable canyon and mountain roads after rain or snow
- !Early snow closing the high Abajo and Elk Ridge roads
- !No cell service across most of the backcountry
- !Fire closures possible in dry late summer
Logistics
Monticello and Blanding sit at the foot of the Abajos with fuel, lodging, groceries and basic gear; Moab is the larger hub to the north. Camping is plentiful on the Manti-La Sal, with developed sites and dispersed camps along the Blue Mountain roads. High-clearance/4WD helps on the mountain and Elk Ridge roads and is essential on the BLM canyon two-tracks, which turn slick when wet. Cell service is limited to nonexistent off the highways and on the mountain — carry a satellite communicator for the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Monticello, Blanding, Moab, Bluff, La Sal
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 · GOHUNT — Utah San Juan, Abajo Mtns Limited Entry Deer Unit Profile · GOHUNT — Utah San Juan Limited Entry Elk Unit Profile · Manti-La Sal National Forest — Wikipedia (terrain, wildlife)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 618 in Utah?
- Unit 618 (San Juan, Abajo Mtns) covers about 2,015 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 11,368 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 618?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS (Manti-La Sal NF), BLM, SITLA, private, tribal. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 618?
- 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.
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