Unit 667 Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek (pronghorn)
One of the West's premier trophy big-game units — remote Book Cliffs benches and canyons growing giant bucks and bulls, with pronghorn scattered across the high sage
Eastern Utah — Book Cliffs / Tavaputs Plateau · Last reviewed 2026-07-13
Area
2,203
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek country of eastern Utah is one of the most renowned big-game destinations in the nation, a vast, remote sweep of sage benches, long mesas and cliff-broken canyons on the southern edge of the Tavaputs Plateau. It is best known as a premium limited-entry unit for trophy mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk, and it also holds a reintroduced bison herd, desert bighorn on the breaks, and pronghorn on the open high-desert benches — the species this hunt targets. The unit borders the Uintah & Ouray (Ute) Reservation to the north and the Colorado line to the east; access is rugged and roads are long, but the country is huge and holds mature animals across the board.
Terrain
The southern face of the Tavaputs Plateau — high sage benches and long, flat-topped mesas dissected by deep north-south canyons and cliff bands, dropping from roughly 9,000 feet on the plateau to the Green River desert near 4,500 feet. Best big-game country generally lies between 7,500 and 8,800 feet.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass dominate the high benches and flats (prime pronghorn and mule deer range), with pinyon-juniper on the mid-slopes, aspen and mixed conifer in the higher drainage heads, and greasewood/desert shrub down toward the Green River and Bitter Creek.
Landmarks: Book Cliffs escarpment · Tavaputs Plateau · Bitter Creek · Seep Ridge Road (SR-88) · Bonanza · Green River · Roan Cliffs · Glen Bench / Deadman Bench
Access
A mix of BLM (the dominant public owner), SITLA state trust land (open to hunting) and significant private ranch holdings, with the Uintah & Ouray Reservation bounding the unit to the north (tribal land, not open to non-tribal hunting). Access runs on long, rough dirt roads: Seep Ridge Road (SR-88) south from the Fort Duchesne/US-40 area, the Bonanza highway, and Book Cliffs/Steer Ridge ridge roads. Private tracts are scattered and generally small enough to hike or drive around, but some large ranches gate off key country. This is deep, remote backcountry far from services.
Managers: BLM, SITLA, private, Ute Indian Tribe (Uintah & Ouray Reservation — adjacent)
Access points: Seep Ridge Road / SR-88 (from US-40 near Fort Duchesne) · Bonanza Highway · Book Cliffs Ridge Road · Steer Ridge Road · Bitter Creek Road · Green River access (west)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe species this hunt targets. Pronghorn range the open sagebrush benches and flats of the Tavaputs Plateau, where the high sage-grassland is classic speed-goat country. Bucks are visible and huntable across the open high desert, with good horn quality in a lightly pressured unit.
- →Glass the open sage benches and flats from high mesa edges at first light to locate bucks
- →Use the rolling terrain, canyon rims and draws to close distance across otherwise open country
- →Key on water sources and green sage in dry stretches where pronghorn concentrate
- →Judge bucks carefully with a spotting scope — mass and prong length separate the top animals here
Mule Deer
common trophyThe Book Cliffs is one of the West's marquee trophy mule deer units. Remote terrain, mature age structure and limited pressure grow exceptional bucks. Premium limited-entry only, with long point waits and tough draw odds.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper benches and cliff-broken canyon heads where mature bucks bed with escape terrain
- →Preseason scout the remote drainages — patterning one big buck beats blind miles in this country
- →Work the sage-to-pinyon transition at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the rut when heavy bucks travel between the benches and canyon cover
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyA premier Rocky Mountain elk unit producing mature, heavy bulls. Elk use the aspen and conifer of the higher plateau and the timbered canyon heads, moving to the benches to feed. Limited-entry only and highly coveted.
- →Bugle the timbered heads of the north-south canyons and aspen pockets during the rut
- →Glass the plateau meadows and sage-to-timber edges at first and last light
- →Hunt water and wallows in the backs of side canyons and hollows away from creek bottoms
- →Push into the roadless, higher country to escape pressure and find mature bulls
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn inhabit the rugged cliff bands, rims and breaks of the Book Cliffs escarpment and the canyons dropping toward the Green River. A once-in-a-lifetime desert sheep tag with very limited opportunity.
- →Focus on the steepest cliff bands, rims and escape terrain along the Book Cliffs breaks
- →Spend full days glassing to locate and age rams before committing
- →Hunt shaded ledges and water in early-season heat
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bears use the aspen, oak brush and canyon riparian of the higher country, feeding on mast and forbs. A solid opportunity alongside the marquee deer and elk hunts.
- →Glass oak-brush and aspen slopes with abundant mast in late summer and fall
- →Focus on riparian canyon bottoms and berry patches
- →Cover ground glassing the open sage-timber edges morning and evening
Pro tips
- →This is a premium draw unit across the board — treat any tag here as a rare, plan-your-year opportunity
- →Know exactly where the Uintah & Ouray Reservation boundary sits to the north — it is tribal land and closed to non-tribal hunting
- →Scout the remote benches and canyons in person; low road density and huge country reward hunters who have already located animals
- →Map SITLA state trust parcels (open to hunting) to expand your public footprint around the scattered private ranches
- →Watch the weather — a single storm can turn the clay roads to gumbo and trap you deep in the unit
- →Carry full water, fuel and recovery capacity; there is no resupply once you leave Vernal or Green River
Watch out for
- !Premium draw odds — a lottery unit, not an annual plan
- !Uintah & Ouray Reservation borders the north — tribal land, no non-tribal hunting
- !Large private ranches gate off some key country; verify boundaries and SITLA parcels
- !Clay/gumbo roads impassable when wet — storms can strand vehicles for days
- !Scarce, unreliable water across the sage benches
- !No cell service and no interior services — full self-recovery required
Logistics
Vernal is the primary supply and staging town for the north side (via US-40 and Seep Ridge Road); Green River serves the far south. Once you leave pavement this is deep, self-supported backcountry — long, rough dirt roads, no cell service across most of the unit, and no fuel or services in the interior. Carry recovery gear, extra fuel, and plenty of water. Clay roads become greasy and impassable when wet, and the distances between camp and hunting country are large. A capable high-clearance 4x4 is essential.
Nearest towns: Vernal, Bonanza, Green River, Fort Duchesne, Roosevelt
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Utah Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek Unit Profile · UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan #10 (Book Cliffs) · BLM — Book Cliffs Travel Map · Book Cliffs — Utah Travel Secrets
FAQ
- How big is Unit 667 in Utah?
- Unit 667 (Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek (pronghorn)) covers about 2,203 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 667?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, SITLA, private, Ute Indian Tribe (Uintah & Ouray Reservation — adjacent). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 667?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear. 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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Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.