Unit 714 Book Cliffs, North
The high, aspen-topped northern half of Utah's Book Cliffs trophy country, backed against the Uintah Basin and the Ute reservation line
Eastern Utah — Northern Book Cliffs / Tavaputs Plateau · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,292
sq mi
Public land
88%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–10,285
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Book Cliffs North is the northern subunit of Utah's premier eastern trophy range, spanning the upper Tavaputs Plateau and the Book/Roan Cliffs escarpment south of the Uintah Basin. It carries the same limited-entry pedigree as the greater Book Cliffs — mature mule deer with 180-inch potential and quality Rocky Mountain bulls — in a remote, largely roadless mix of aspen highcountry, pinyon-juniper benches and deep desert canyons. Access leans on the Seep Ridge Road corridor and BLM/oil-field spurs out of the Basin, with the closed Ute reservation forming a hard western edge.
Terrain
Rugged plateau-and-escarpment country: aspen- and conifer-topped mesas of the northern Tavaputs falling away through cliff bands and pinyon-juniper benches to canyon-cut desert. Bruin Point and the Roan Cliffs anchor the high ground; drainages like Willow, Bitter and Hill creeks slice the country into steep, broken blocks.
Cover: Aspen, Douglas-fir and spruce with mountain-brush stringers on the high north slopes and mesa tops; broad pinyon-juniper on the mid-elevations and cliff faces; sage and salt-desert shrub on the lower flats. Springs, seeps and creek bottoms concentrate game.
Landmarks: Bruin Point / Roan Cliffs · Seep Ridge Road · PR Spring · Willow Creek · Bitter Creek · Hill Creek · Winter Ridge
Access
Mostly BLM with SITLA state trust (open to hunting) enlarging the accessible-public footprint. The western boundary abuts the Uintah & Ouray (Ute) Indian Reservation, which is closed to non-tribal hunters — the most important line to know here. Access is via the paved Seep Ridge Road down from the Uintah Basin, then primitive BLM and oil/gas spur roads; a roadless core rewards horseback and backpack hunters. Scattered oil-and-gas and private parcels dot the north end near the Basin.
Managers: BLM (Green River District), SITLA, private, USFS
Access points: Seep Ridge Road from the Uintah Basin (Vernal/Ouray area) · PR Spring / Bitter Creek roads off US-40 · Hill Creek and Willow Creek road network · Spur roads from the Bonanza / oil-field area
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyA premium limited-entry buck hunt sharing the Book Cliffs' trophy genetics and low pressure. The northern plateau's aspen and mountain-brush country holds mature bucks with genuine 180-inch potential at lower densities — a quality-over-quantity draw tag.
- →Glass aspen edges, mountain-brush pockets and north-facing benches off the plateau tops at first and last light
- →Anchor on water — springs and creek heads pull deer in the dry country
- →Hunt the pinyon-juniper-to-aspen transition where mature bucks bed for security
- →Get into the roadless core on foot or horseback where the biggest bucks hold
- →Push effort toward the rut for traveling, less-wary mature bucks
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityLimited-entry bull country producing quality, mature Rocky Mountain bulls in the northern plateau timber and canyon heads. Remote, lightly pressured terrain rewards hunters who leave the roads.
- →Work aspen/conifer benches and canyon heads during the rut for bugling bulls
- →Set up on saddles and creek-bottom travel routes between bedding timber and feed
- →Hunt into the wind toward raking and bugles in the roadless drainages
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyRocky Mountain bighorns range the cliff systems of the northern Book/Roan Cliffs, part of the population that spread from the 1970s Ute-reservation reintroduction. A once-in-a-lifetime tag on rugged rimrock and escarpment.
- →Focus on the steep cliff bands and rimrock of the Roan Cliffs and Winter Ridge country
- →Age rams patiently behind quality glass in escape terrain
- →Work the canyon rims where sheep feed off the crags morning and evening
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bears use the aspen, oakbrush and creek-bottom timber of the northern plateau, concentrating on fall mast and berry crops.
- →Hunt oakbrush and serviceberry benches during fall feed-up
- →Watch spring-fed green pockets and creek bottoms on the plateau edges at first and last light
Cougar
common qualityA healthy mountain-lion population follows the deer and elk through the canyon and cliff country of the northern unit.
- →Cut fresh tracks on canyon-rim roads and creek-bottom mud after snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering benches and rimrock breaks where cats travel
Pro tips
- →Scout hard before the hunt — learn water, roads and where mature animals hold in this low-density country
- →Know the Ute reservation boundary on the west side; it is closed to non-tribal hunters and unmarked on the ground
- →Use Seep Ridge Road as your backbone, then work spurs and go beyond them on foot or horseback
- →Overpack fuel, water and recovery gear — help is hours away in the Basin
- →Time deer effort to the rut for your best shot at a mature buck
Watch out for
- !Uintah & Ouray (Ute) Reservation on the west edge is closed to non-tribal hunters
- !Gumbo roads become impassable when wet
- !Little to no cell coverage — carry a satellite communicator
- !Remoteness: long recovery distances and warm-weather spoilage risk
- !Scattered private and oil/gas parcels near the Basin — verify boundaries
- !Scarce water on the desert portions
Logistics
Base out of Vernal or Roosevelt in the Uintah Basin — the natural gateway to the north end via Seep Ridge Road — for fuel, groceries and lodging; Green River and Price serve the south. There are no services inside the unit. Carry extra fuel, water, recovery gear and spare tires; the BLM and oil-field roads are long and rough, and turn to impassable gumbo when wet. Cell coverage is minimal to nonexistent in the interior — carry a satellite messenger. Plan for warm-weather meat care given the distances.
Nearest towns: Vernal, Roosevelt, Bonanza, Green River, Price
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: Book Cliffs — Wikipedia (geography, Bruin Point, boundaries) · SUWA — Book Cliffs / Desolation Canyon Wilderness (wildlife, bighorn) · Hunt Addicts — Utah's Top Hunt Units (Book Cliffs trophy potential) · UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook 2026
FAQ
- How big is Unit 714 in Utah?
- Unit 714 (Book Cliffs, North) covers about 2,292 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 10,285 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 714?
- Approximately 88% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Green River District), SITLA, private, USFS. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 714?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 714 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.