Unit 672 Beaver, West
The desert-and-granite west half of the Beaver unit: quality general-season bucks, wide-open pronghorn ground, and famous Mineral Mountains desert bighorn.
Southwest Utah — Mineral Mountains / Milford Desert (Beaver West) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
989
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–9,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Beaver West is the country west of Interstate 15 in the Beaver unit — the granite spine of the Mineral Mountains, the San Francisco and Rocky Range foothills, and the broad sagebrush basins around Milford and Minersville in Beaver County. Unlike the towering Tushar peaks on the east side, this is lower, drier, mostly BLM desert-and-mountain terrain that still produces good general-season mule deer; Beaver is one of the few Utah units where deer numbers have reached state objectives. The Mineral Mountains are best known statewide as a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn range, and the surrounding valleys hold huntable pronghorn. Beginning in 2025 the Beaver West side carries restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle hunt structures to spread pressure.
Terrain
Rugged granite and volcanic ranges — the Mineral Mountains rising to roughly 9,600 ft — surrounded by wide sagebrush desert valleys near 4,900–5,500 ft around Milford and Minersville. Rocky, arid, big-view country with scattered springs.
Cover: Sagebrush, rabbitbrush and grass in the valleys, pinyon-juniper and mountain mahogany on the mountain flanks, with bitterbrush and cliffrose browse in the rocky draws. Granite outcrops and boulder fields define the Mineral Mountains crest.
Landmarks: Mineral Mountains · San Francisco Mountains · Rocky Range · Milford Valley · Minersville Reservoir · Interstate 15 (unit boundary)
Access
The west side is heavily public — predominantly BLM desert and mountain ground, with SITLA parcels (open to dispersed hunting in Utah) and some Fishlake NF on the higher flanks. Private ranch and irrigated ground clusters in the Milford and Minersville valleys and along Beaver River bottoms. A dense network of dirt and two-track roads reaches most of the country; higher granite terrain in the Mineral Mountains turns to rough 4x4 and foot access.
Managers: BLM, SITLA, USFS Fishlake NF, private
Access points: Minersville / SR-21 west toward Milford · Mineral Mountains BLM roads off the Minersville–Milford corridor · Rocky Range and San Francisco Mtn two-tracks west of Milford · I-15 exits at Beaver and Minersville · Beaver River / Minersville Reservoir approaches
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityGeneral-season buck deer on a unit whose herd has reached state population goals and still gives up good bucks. West-side deer hold in the Mineral Mountains and range flanks, moving between juniper-mahogany slopes and desert browse; densities thin out into the open desert.
- →Glass the granite draws, mahogany pockets and juniper edges of the Mineral Mountains at first and last light
- →Hunt browse concentrations near springs and rocky rims in dry years
- →Cover ground with the extensive road network, then hike into the roadless granite to escape pressure
- →Know the restricted muzzleloader/rifle hunt structure that now applies on the west side
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn range the open sagebrush basins of the Milford Valley and surrounding desert flats — classic wide-open west-desert antelope country with good visibility.
- →Glass the big sage flats from vehicle-accessible high points and stalk from cover
- →Watch water sources and green alfalfa edges in the valleys
- →Use the terrain rolls and washes to close distance on bucks in open country
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Mineral Mountains are a well-known desert bighorn range and a coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag in Utah, holding rams in the rugged granite crest and canyon country.
- →Glass the steep granite faces, benches and canyon rims of the Mineral Mountains crest
- →Focus on rugged escape terrain near reliable water
- →Plan a physical, boots-on-rock hunt in remote country
Cougar
common opportunityCougars follow the deer through the rocky Mineral Mountains canyons and juniper breaks — a viable houndsman opportunity across the west-side ranges.
- →Cut tracks after snow along the Mineral Mountains and Rocky Range roads
- →Focus on deer-wintering rocky canyon country
Pro tips
- →Treat water as the key variable — glass around springs, guzzlers and green valley feed
- →The Mineral Mountains granite holds the better bucks; hike off the roads to find them
- →Milford Valley is prime, glassable pronghorn country — spot from vehicle-height, then stalk
- →Confirm the 2025+ restricted muzzleloader/rifle hunt structure for Beaver West before applying/hunting
- →It's big, open, road-networked country — a good-glass, cover-ground unit
Watch out for
- !Very dry — carry your own water and plan around scarce sources
- !Private irrigated and ranch ground in the Milford/Minersville valleys is intermingled with BLM — verify lines
- !Deer densities thin quickly out in the open desert away from the ranges
- !Rough 4x4 and remote roadless granite in the Mineral Mountains — go prepared and self-sufficient
- !Desert bighorn is a once-in-a-lifetime tag — not a general opportunity
Logistics
Beaver (on I-15) has full services and is the natural base for the whole unit; Milford and Minersville put you right at the west-desert and Mineral Mountains doorstep. Fuel up before heading into the desert — services thin out west of Milford. Dispersed camping is abundant on BLM; carry ample water for the dry basins.
Nearest towns: Beaver, Milford, Minersville, Cedar City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Utah Beaver unit profile · UDWR 2026 big game permit / hunt structure news (Beaver West restricted hunts) · UDWR Hunt Planner boundary tool
FAQ
- How big is Unit 672 in Utah?
- Unit 672 (Beaver, West) covers about 989 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 9,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 672?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, SITLA, USFS Fishlake NF, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 672?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 672 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.