Unit 685 Beaver, East
The high, timbered east flank of the Tushars — a top-tier general mule deer unit crowned by 12,000-foot peaks above the Sevier River valley
Southern Utah — Tushar Mountains / Fishlake NF · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
801
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–12,169
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Beaver, East unit covers the eastern half of the Tushar Mountains, one of Utah's highest and most rugged ranges, dropping east toward the Sevier River valley around Marysvale, Junction and Circleville. Anchored by 12,169-foot Delano Peak and the alpine backbone of the Tushars on Fishlake National Forest, it is one of Utah's most popular and productive general-season mule deer units — one of the few where deer numbers have reached state population objectives. Rocky Mountain elk, mountain goats on the high peaks, and bear and cougar round out the big game, all on overwhelmingly public ground.
Terrain
Steep, deeply canyoned high country. From the Sevier River valley floor near 6,000 ft the land climbs abruptly through pinyon-juniper and aspen benches to the alpine crest of the Tushars, topping out at Delano Peak (12,169 ft) and Mount Belknap. Numerous deep east-west canyons with jagged cliffs and creek bottoms cut the range.
Cover: Sagebrush and pinyon-juniper on the lower benches, extensive aspen and mixed conifer (spruce-fir, Douglas-fir) on the mid and upper slopes, and open alpine tundra above treeline. Old burns have opened glassing pockets in the timber.
Landmarks: Delano Peak · Mount Belknap · Tushar Mountains crest · Sevier River valley · Big John Flat · Marysvale Canyon · Fishlake National Forest
Access
Overwhelmingly public — Fishlake National Forest covers the high Tushar core, with BLM and SITLA (open to hunting) on the lower benches and scattered private in the valley bottoms near Marysvale, Junction and Circleville. High trailheads such as Big John Flat let hunters start near timberline and cut the vertical climb. Forest roads are rough, high-clearance/4WD, and drift shut with early snow.
Managers: USFS Fishlake NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Big John Flat Road (from Beaver Canyon / SR-153) · SR-153 Beaver Canyon · US-89 / Sevier River corridor (Marysvale, Junction) · Forest roads off Marysvale and Circleville · Kimberly / Gold Mountain area roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe marquee hunt. Beaver is one of Utah's premier general-season mule deer units and one of the few where the herd has reached state population objectives, producing good numbers of deer and better-than-average general-unit bucks in the high timber and aspen.
- →Hunt the aspen-conifer edges and old burns at first and last light
- →Follow the elevation — deer push down as high-country snow arrives, so track the snowline
- →Glass open alpine basins and avalanche chutes on the upper Tushars
- →Start high from trailheads like Big John Flat to reach lightly pressured pockets
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityRocky Mountain elk are well established on the Tushars, using the high aspen and conifer basins in early fall and dropping to the benches as weather pushes them. The unit supports a managed elk hunt with a good component of mature bulls in the timbered high country.
- →Work timbered basins and aspen pockets on the high slopes during the early rut
- →Bugle and cold-call the dark-timber draws at dawn
- →Glass alpine meadows and burn edges from a distance
- →Set up on water and wallows in the dry early season
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats inhabit the highest peaks and cliffs of the Tushars around Delano Peak and Mount Belknap, hunted under a coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag. A small but visible herd holds to the alpine crags.
- →Glass the highest cliffs and alpine ridgelines from below with a spotting scope
- →Plan a physically demanding above-treeline stalk and be ready to pack out from steep ground
- →Scout billies well before the season along the crest between Delano and Belknap
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears range the timbered canyons and aspen of the Tushars, hunted on a limited-entry basis. Densities are moderate with good cover and forage.
- →Focus on oak, aspen and berry-rich canyon bottoms in late summer and fall
- →Glass avalanche chutes and open burns at dawn and dusk
- →Check creek bottoms and springs for feeding sign
Pro tips
- →Track the snowline — a fresh high-country storm triggers the deer migration to the benches and can make the hunt
- →Use the high trailheads (Big John Flat) to start near timberline and avoid the steepest climbs
- →Hunt old burns and aspen edges where glassing lanes open up in otherwise dense timber
- →Get well off the main forest roads to escape the crowds this popular general unit draws
- →Be prepared to relocate camp with the weather as high roads snow shut
Watch out for
- !Crowding — this is a popular general deer unit; pressure is heavy near roads on the opener
- !Early snow can close high roads and trailheads with little warning
- !Rough, high-clearance forest roads that turn greasy when wet
- !Private inholdings and irrigated ground in the Sevier valley bottoms — verify boundaries
- !Steep, avalanche-prone alpine terrain on the high peaks
Logistics
Beaver (off I-15) is the primary hub for fuel, lodging and groceries on the west, with Marysvale, Junction and Circleville along US-89 serving the east side and Richfield the larger regional center to the north. Forest roads into the high Tushars are rough and demand high-clearance or 4WD; carry recovery gear, chains and warm layers. Cell service drops quickly off the highways — bring offline maps.
Nearest towns: Beaver, Marysvale, Junction, Circleville, Richfield
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 (mule deer general unit 22) · UDWR Hunt Planner · USFS Fishlake National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 685 in Utah?
- Unit 685 (Beaver, East) covers about 801 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 12,169 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 685?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Fishlake NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 685?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 685 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.