Unit 743 Wasatch Mtns/Central Mtns
A vast Skyline Drive high country of trophy bulls, big deer herds, and roadside meadows
Central Utah — Wasatch Plateau / Mount Nebo / Manti · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
6,898
sq mi
Public land
78%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–11,928
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
This sprawling unit stitches together the southern Wasatch Mountains and Utah's Central Mountains — the Nebo range, the long spine of the Wasatch Plateau, and the country running toward the San Rafael — into one of the largest and most productive big-game blocks in the state. Skyline Drive rides the top of the plateau for nearly its entire length, opening meadows and aspen parks that hold heavy elk and deer numbers, while Mount Nebo (11,928 ft, the highest peak in the Wasatch Range) anchors the north end. It is a trophy-bull-managed limited-entry elk unit that produces 330-plus bulls every year, wrapped in excellent public access on the Manti-La Sal, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, and Fishlake national forests.
Terrain
A high, flat-topped plateau and connected mountain ranges — broad alpine meadows and flats on top, steep creek drainages falling off both sides to rolling foothills and valley farmland.
Cover: Sagebrush and oakbrush on the low foothills, extensive aspen and mixed conifer on the mid and upper slopes, and open subalpine meadow, grass, and rock along the plateau top and highest peaks.
Landmarks: Skyline Drive (crest of the Wasatch Plateau) · Mount Nebo (11,928 ft) · Manti-La Sal National Forest · Nebo Loop Scenic Byway · Sanpete and Sevier valleys · San Rafael Swell fringe (east)
Access
Great public access across three national forests, with Skyline Drive and the Nebo Loop providing high-elevation road access to the heart of the elk and deer country. The valley floors and lower foothills are heavily private farm and ranch ground, so plan to hunt up on the forest; SITLA and BLM sections add public acreage on the lower and eastern edges. Roads range from good gravel to rough 4WD spurs.
Managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Fishlake NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: Skyline Drive (from Fairview Canyon, Ephraim Canyon, and others) · Nebo Loop Scenic Byway (Payson / Nephi) · Fairview, Ephraim, Manti, and Ferron canyons off the west side · Huntington and Ferron canyons off the east side · US-89 corridor through Sanpete Valley
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant trophyA premier trophy-managed limited-entry unit with large herds; it produces roughly 310-340 bulls annually and a handful of 340-plus bulls each year. The saying holds that any canyon dropping off Skyline Drive can hold elk.
- →Glass the meadows and aspen edges along Skyline Drive at dawn and dusk
- →Drop off the top into steep drainages where pressured bulls retreat
- →Locate rutting bulls by bugling the canyon heads in the timber
- →Hunt the aspen-conifer transition benches midday where elk bed
Mule Deer
abundant qualityOne of Utah's better deer regions, with strong numbers and a decent buck-to-doe ratio; the southern end of Skyline tends to hold more deer and, in turn, more hunter pressure. Mature bucks live in the rough oak and timber pockets.
- →Glass oakbrush and aspen benches at first light for bucks feeding into cover
- →Hunt the steep creek drainages off the plateau where big bucks hide
- →Work away from Skyline Drive and the road-hunter crowds for better bucks
- →Push lower into the foothill oak as storms and the rut move deer down
Moose
common qualityShiras moose inhabit the willow bottoms and aspen-conifer drainages of the Nebo range and northern plateau — a once-in-a-lifetime Utah tag with quality bulls.
- →Still-hunt willow-lined creek bottoms and wet meadows
- →Glass aspen-conifer edges morning and evening
- →Focus on the higher, wetter drainages of the Nebo country
Mountain Goat
limited trophyA goat herd occupies the rugged high cliffs and cirques of Mount Nebo — a coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag in steep, technical alpine terrain.
- →Glass the cliff bands and rock faces of the Nebo massif from below
- →Plan a physical, multi-day approach to the high peaks
- →Hunt early before snow closes the alpine rock
Cougar
common qualityAbundant deer support strong lion numbers across the canyon and foothill country; best hunted with hounds on tracking snow.
- →Cut roads and canyon bottoms for fresh tracks after snow
- →Work the deer wintering areas where lions concentrate
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bears do well in the aspen, oak, and berry-rich drainages of the plateau and Nebo, offering a solid Utah bear opportunity.
- →Focus on oakbrush and serviceberry pockets in late summer and fall
- →Check aspen benches and riparian corridors with heavy forage
- →Glass avalanche chutes and green pockets at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →Skyline Drive is the artery — but the best bulls and bucks are down in the steep canyons off the top, away from the road hunters
- →The unit is enormous; commit to one section (a few canyons) and learn it deeply rather than running the whole plateau
- →Watch the weather — early snow can shut Skyline and the Nebo Loop, so have a lower-elevation plan and chains
- →The southern plateau holds more deer but also more hunters; the north and Nebo end can be less crowded
- →Respect the heavy private valley floor — hunt up on the national forest and use SITLA/BLM edges for public access
Watch out for
- !Extensive private farm and ranch ground on the valley floors and lower foothills — know your boundaries
- !Early snow can close Skyline Drive and the Nebo Loop and strand vehicles
- !Heavy hunter pressure along Skyline Drive and the southern deer country
- !Steep, technical terrain on Mount Nebo and the plateau breaks
Logistics
Sanpete Valley towns (Ephraim, Manti, Fairview) and Nephi on the west, plus Price on the east, provide fuel, lodging, and groceries within easy reach of the forest. Skyline Drive and the Nebo Loop make high camps and roadside glassing simple, but the top can be snowed shut early — carry chains and be ready to drop elevation. Given the unit's size, pick a zone and learn it rather than trying to cover everything.
Nearest towns: Nephi, UT, Ephraim, UT, Manti, UT, Fairview, UT, Price, UT, Payson, UT
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Manti limited-entry elk unit profile (Skyline Drive, 310-340 bulls, terrain, access) · GOHUNT — Wasatch Mtns limited-entry elk unit profile · USFS Manti-La Sal National Forest · UDWR Utah Hunt Planner
FAQ
- How big is Unit 743 in Utah?
- Unit 743 (Wasatch Mtns/Central Mtns) covers about 6,898 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 11,928 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 743?
- Approximately 78% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Manti-La Sal NF, USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Fishlake NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 743?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Mountain Goat, Cougar, 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.