Unit 802 Fillmore B
Roadless, forest-dominated Pahvant high country producing old-age limited-entry bulls above Fillmore
Central Utah — Pahvant Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,982
sq mi
Public land
83%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–10,222
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Fillmore, Pahvant unit (the 'B' subunit of the Fillmore complex, east of I-15) covers the Pahvant Range above Fillmore and Kanosh in Millard and Sevier counties. It is a big, steep, largely roadless block of Fishlake National Forest that grows some of central Utah's best limited-entry bull elk — the unit has run harvested-bull ages well above objective, into the 8-year class — alongside a quality limited-entry mule deer hunt. About four-fifths of the range is National Forest, making this a genuinely public, backcountry unit where physical hunting on foot and horseback pays off.
Terrain
The Pahvant Range runs as a long, high spine east of Fillmore, topping out near Mine Camp Peak around 10,200 feet and falling west into the Pahvant Valley and I-15 corridor. The country is steep, deeply canyoned and roadless in its core, with a series of high peaks and timbered basins.
Cover: Low elevations are sage and grassy flats with hay meadows, willow-lined creeks and some private alfalfa; mid-elevations run sagebrush and grass ridges with pinyon-juniper, bitterbrush, serviceberry and aspen; the high country is quaking aspen, pine-fir-spruce timber, and slopes thick with oakbrush and chokecherry. Conifer and pinyon-juniper encroachment is an ongoing habitat concern.
Landmarks: Pahvant Range crest · Mine Camp Peak (~10,222 ft) · Fillmore / Chalk Creek · Kanosh / Corn Creek · Paiute ATV Trail · Fishlake NF (Fillmore Ranger District)
Access
Around 80% of the Pahvant is Fishlake National Forest — the summer range is over 90% Forest Service — so public access to the high country is excellent. Private ground (roughly 17%) concentrates on the lower winter range, valley bottoms and ag land along the western foot of the range near Fillmore, Holden and Kanosh, with scattered BLM and SITLA on the margins. The interior is steep and roadless, worked from canyon-mouth trailheads; the Paiute ATV Trail system crosses the unit and drives significant motorized recreation traffic that can push elk off traditional ground.
Managers: USFS Fishlake NF (Fillmore Ranger District), private, BLM, SITLA
Access points: Chalk Creek / Fillmore Canyon access · Corn Creek Canyon (Kanosh) · Paiute ATV Trail network · Meadow / Holden west-side approaches · I-15 Fillmore and Scipio exits
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe Pahvant's signature hunt — a limited-entry bull unit managed for older age class that has consistently produced harvested bulls averaging above the 6.5-7.0-year objective, into the 8-year range, off a herd of roughly 1,300-1,600 animals. Low tag numbers and old bulls make this a true quality/trophy elk draw.
- →Bugle the high aspen-conifer basins and timbered canyon heads at first light during the rut
- →Hunt away from the Paiute ATV Trail corridors — mature bulls favor roadless, undisturbed pockets
- →Glass the oakbrush-and-aspen transition benches morning and evening, then still-hunt dark north timber midday
- →Be ready for steep, roadless country — the best bulls are deep and high
Mule Deer
common qualityA limited-entry mule deer hunt spanning the full range of terrain, offering good bucks and a hunt suited to any fitness level given the mix of roadless high country and more accessible mid-elevation ground.
- →Work the mid-elevation sagebrush-and-aspen ridges and pinyon-juniper edges where bucks feed and bed
- →Push high into the quaking aspen and timber pockets for mature bucks holding security cover
- →Hunt the oakbrush-chokecherry benches on the transition between summer and winter range
- →Time effort to the rut for the best crack at older bucks moving in daylight
Cougar
common opportunityThe strong deer and elk base supports resident mountain lions throughout the Pahvant's canyons and timber.
- →Cut fresh snow in the major canyon systems behind hounds
- →Focus the deer-concentrated benches and rocky rims linking summer and winter range
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears inhabit the timbered, berry-and-oakbrush high country of the Pahvant at modest densities.
- →Focus on oakbrush, chokecherry and serviceberry pockets when soft mast is available
- →Glass aspen-conifer edges and canyon stringers early and late
Pro tips
- →If you draw the Pahvant bull tag, hunt old — this unit is managed for 8-year-class bulls, so pass young ones and grind the roadless timber
- →Get away from the Paiute ATV Trail corridors to find undisturbed elk
- →Use horses or commit to serious foot travel for the high, roadless core
- →Scout the aspen-and-oakbrush transition benches where both elk and deer stage
- →Pin down water and camp on the National Forest before the crowds during the rut
Watch out for
- !Steep, roadless interior demanding real physical effort and good navigation
- !Heavy Paiute ATV Trail traffic can displace elk onto private and roadless refuges
- !Private winter range and ag ground along the western foot near Fillmore and Kanosh
- !Conifer and pinyon-juniper encroachment reducing forage on parts of the range
- !Early snow can close high roads and complicate access
Logistics
Fillmore, right on I-15, is the natural hub with fuel, lodging and basics, backed by Delta, Kanosh and the Scipio junction. The unit is roughly two hours south of Salt Lake City. Camp on the Fishlake National Forest or at Fillmore Ranger District campgrounds; horses help in the roadless interior. Cell service drops off fast in the canyons, so plan comms and navigation before heading up.
Nearest towns: Fillmore, Kanosh, Holden, Meadow, Scipio, Delta
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Elk Herd Unit Management Plan — Unit 21 (Fillmore, Pahvant/Oak Creek) · GOHUNT — Utah Fillmore, Pahvant Limited-Entry Elk Unit Profile · GOHUNT — Utah Fillmore (21A/21B) Limited-Entry Mule Deer Unit Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 802 in Utah?
- Unit 802 (Fillmore B) covers about 1,982 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 10,222 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 802?
- Approximately 83% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Fishlake NF (Fillmore Ranger District), private, BLM, SITLA. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 802?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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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