Unit 634 Panguitch Lake
High volcanic plateau timber giving way to eastern high desert — a solid general-season buck unit wrapped around a quality elk herd.
Southern Utah — Markagunt Plateau · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
884
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–11,307
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
The Panguitch Lake unit (DWR Deer/Elk Herd Unit #28) straddles the Markagunt Plateau east of Cedar City, running from the aspen-and-conifer high country above 10,000 feet west of Highway 143 down into pinyon-juniper high desert toward Panguitch and Hatch. It is a general-season mule deer unit and a well-regarded limited-entry elk unit that produces quality bulls in big, canyon-cut country. Cedar Breaks National Monument sits inside the boundary and is closed to hunting.
Terrain
Terrain shifts dramatically west to east: steep hillsides, basins and buttes to roughly 11,000 feet along and west of Highway 143 (crowned by Brian Head Peak), stepping down to moderately steep basins and bowls in the high desert on the eastern side.
Cover: West-side basins fill with aspen and spruce-fir conifer; the eastern high desert carries pinyon, juniper, mahogany and ponderosa pine over sagebrush flats.
Landmarks: Panguitch Lake · Brian Head Peak · Cedar Breaks National Monument (closed to hunting) · Navajo Lake · Duck Creek · Mammoth Creek · Highway 143 / Highway 14
Access
Predominantly Dixie National Forest (Cedar City and Powell ranger districts) with BLM and scattered SITLA trust parcels on the eastern desert margins. Cedar Breaks National Monument is closed to hunting. Plenty of forest roads and four-wheel-drive trails reach every part of the unit; private inholdings around Panguitch Lake, Mammoth Creek and the Highway 143 corridor exist but do not significantly block access.
Managers: USFS Dixie NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Highway 143 (Panguitch Lake / Brian Head) · Highway 14 (Cedar Canyon) · Mammoth Creek Road · Duck Creek / Navajo Lake roads · forest roads off US-89 near Hatch
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityA general-season mule deer unit hunted primarily on the plateau and its desert transition. Steady deer numbers with mostly younger age-class bucks typical of a general unit, though heavy habitat restoration has improved range.
- →Hunt the aspen-conifer edges and basins high on the Markagunt in early season, then follow deer down toward pinyon-juniper transition as storms push them
- →Glass the desert bowls and mahogany pockets on the eastern side during the migration
- →Work water and green feed left by summer treatments in dry years
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityOne of southern Utah's respected limited-entry elk units, producing quality bulls in big country of deep canyons, sagebrush parks and steep timbered slopes.
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn from high glassing points over the sagebrush openings, then move into the steep timber to close
- →Focus on canyon heads and dark north-facing timber where bulls hold during hunting pressure
- →Use the extensive road network to cover country between glassing sessions
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn use the open sagebrush flats and high desert on the eastern side of the unit in limited numbers.
- →Glass the open sage valleys on the eastern margin
- →Watch waterholes in the dry desert stretches
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the strong deer herds across the plateau and desert transition.
- →Hunt fresh snow along the pinyon-juniper benches and canyon rims
- →Focus effort on deer winter concentrations
Pro tips
- →Treat the unit as two hunts: the high plateau timber to the west and the pinyon-juniper desert to the east, and let weather dictate which one holds deer
- →For elk, get high early and glass the big sagebrush openings for bugling bulls before they push into timber
- →Remember Cedar Breaks National Monument is closed to hunting — know that boundary before you shoot
- →Post-storm periods are prime as snow pushes deer off the top toward the eastern benches
- →Water-guzzler and treatment areas concentrate animals in dry years
Watch out for
- !Cedar Breaks National Monument closed to hunting inside the boundary
- !Private inholdings around Panguitch Lake, Mammoth Creek and the Highway 143 corridor
- !Early snow can close high roads and strand vehicles above 9,000 feet
- !General-season deer crowding on the accessible plateau roads
Logistics
Cedar City is the full-service hub (lodging, fuel, groceries, airport) on the west side; Panguitch and Hatch serve the eastern desert country. Brian Head, Duck Creek Village and the Panguitch Lake area offer cabins and campgrounds. Dixie NF has numerous developed and dispersed camping options along Highway 143 and 14.
Nearest towns: Panguitch, Cedar City, Brian Head, Hatch, Duck Creek Village, Parowan
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Deer Herd Unit Management Plan #28 Panguitch Lake (2020) · UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #28 Panguitch Lake · GOHUNT — Utah Panguitch Lake Unit Profile · USFS Dixie National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 634 in Utah?
- Unit 634 (Panguitch Lake) covers about 884 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,307 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 634?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Dixie NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 634?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 634 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.