Unit 901 Nebo/San Pitch Mtns
The 11,900-foot southern anchor of the Wasatch Range — a premium limited-entry mule deer unit with quality bulls, big vertical, and easy Wasatch Front access.
Central Utah — Mount Nebo & San Pitch Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
967
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,550–11,928
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Nebo unit runs the length of the southern Wasatch Range and the parallel San Pitch Mountains, from Spanish Fork Canyon south past Nephi and the Mount Nebo Wilderness to the Valley Mountains and Sanpete country. Mount Nebo itself tops out at 11,928 feet — the highest peak in the Wasatch — towering over valley floors near 5,000 feet, so the unit is defined by extreme vertical relief and dramatic season-to-season deer movement. It is one of central Utah's marquee limited-entry mule deer units, producing mature bucks in a hard-to-draw tag, and it carries a quality limited-entry elk herd on the same ground. The San Pitch Mountains form a second, lower spine on the east side between the Juab and Sanpete valleys.
Terrain
Extreme relief: sagebrush-and-farm valley floors near 4,550–5,000 feet climb through oak-brush foothills and aspen benches to alpine ridgelines, cresting at 11,928-foot Mount Nebo. The San Pitch Mountains to the east are a lower, drier spine topping out near 8,200–9,200 feet. Country is steep and rugged on the Nebo massif, gentler and more rolling in the San Pitch.
Cover: Sagebrush, bitterbrush, and farmland on the valley edges; dense Gambel oak and maple brush on the foothills; aspen, mountain mahogany, and mixed conifer higher up, with subalpine fir and open alpine slopes near the Nebo summit. Pinyon-juniper and mahogany dominate the drier San Pitch range.
Landmarks: Mount Nebo (11,928 ft) & Mount Nebo Wilderness · Nebo Loop Scenic Byway · San Pitch Mountains · Salt Creek Canyon (Nephi) · Payson Canyon / Payson Lakes · Santaquin Canyon · Juab Valley (west) & Sanpete Valley (east) · Spanish Fork Canyon / US-6 (north boundary)
Access
The high country is largely national forest — the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF over the Nebo massif and the Manti-La Sal NF across the San Pitch range — but the productive foothill and winter-range benches are a patchwork of private ranch and farm ground with SITLA and BLM parcels mixed in, so ownership mapping matters on the valley fronts. The paved Nebo Loop Scenic Byway spines the north end from Payson to Nephi, feeding canyon roads and forest two-tracks; the Mount Nebo Wilderness is foot/horse only. SITLA state ground is generally open to hunting.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Manti-La Sal NF, private, SITLA, BLM
Access points: Nebo Loop Scenic Byway (Payson to Nephi) · Salt Creek Canyon from Nephi · Santaquin and Payson canyon roads off the Wasatch Front · Forest roads into the San Pitch from Fountain Green, Moroni, and Mount Pleasant · I-15 corridor exits (Santaquin, Nephi, Mona)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyA premium limited-entry mule deer unit and one of central Utah's best-known trophy tags. Deer summer high on the Nebo massif and in the San Pitch, then shift to lower oak-brush and sagebrush winter range as snow builds. The controlled tag numbers and quality winter range grow bucks with age, so drawing here means a genuine shot at a mature four-point.
- →Glass the high aspen-and-mahogany basins and timber pockets of the Nebo massif at first and last light early in the season.
- →As storms hit, drop with the deer to the oak-brush and sagebrush benches on the foothill fronts.
- →Hunt the steep, brushy canyon heads off the Nebo Loop where mature bucks bed away from roads.
- →Don't overlook the San Pitch — lower, drier country that holds bucks and sees less pressure than the Nebo high country.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA limited-entry elk herd shares the Nebo and San Pitch high country, offering quality bulls on a controlled tag. Bulls hold in the aspen and mixed conifer through the rut and drop to the timbered foothills and private valley edges later in the fall.
- →Locate rutting bulls by bugling the aspen-conifer transition and dark timber pockets high on the unit.
- →Set up on saddles and travel corridors between summer basins and lower feeding benches.
- →Watch the private-land field edges at dawn where elk pour off the mountain to feed.
- →Cover the quieter San Pitch drainages where bulls escape the busier Nebo canyons.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn work the open sagebrush of the Juab and Sanpete valley floors flanking the mountains. Numbers are modest and tags limited, but the wide valleys make for classic open-country spot-and-stalk.
- →Glass the sage flats and agricultural edges of the Juab and Sanpete valleys from vehicle vantages.
- →Pattern resident buck groups pre-season and plan stalks using the terrain rolls.
- →Be ready for a longer, flat shot in country with little cover.
Cougar
common qualityA healthy cougar population tracks the abundant deer herd through the brushy foothills and canyons. Hunted primarily in winter with hounds over snow.
- →Cut for tracks on fresh snow along the oak-brush foothill benches and canyon bottoms.
- →Focus on deer winter-range concentrations where lions follow the food.
- →Work the steep, timbered canyon heads off the Nebo Loop corridor.
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears range the timbered high country and oak-brush of the Nebo massif, with the best densities in the aspen and mixed conifer. Numbers are moderate and hunts are controlled.
- →Glass oak-brush and serviceberry pockets in late summer and fall when bears feed on mast.
- →Key on the aspen-conifer edges and stream drainages on the higher slopes.
- →Look for feeding sign in berry patches along the Nebo Loop drainages.
Pro tips
- →This is a hard-to-draw limited-entry deer unit — bank points and know it may take years, but the trophy potential rewards the wait.
- →The relief is extreme; use e-scouting to plan realistic routes before committing to the Nebo high country on foot.
- →As the first real storm hits, reposition to the winter-range benches — the biggest bucks move with the weather.
- →Verify ownership on the foothill fronts; the best low-elevation deer ground is a private-SITLA-BLM patchwork.
- →The San Pitch Mountains take pressure off the crowded Nebo canyons and can hold mature animals in quieter country.
Watch out for
- !Private ranch and farm inholdings ring the valley-edge winter range — map before you hunt.
- !Extreme vertical relief means long, steep pack-outs off the Nebo massif.
- !Early-season snowstorms can close upper Nebo Loop roads with little warning.
- !The Nebo Loop corridor draws recreational traffic; get away from roads for undisturbed animals.
Logistics
Full services on the Wasatch Front and I-15 corridor at Payson, Santaquin, and Nephi — fuel, lodging, groceries, and gear. Sanpete Valley towns (Mount Pleasant, Fountain Green, Moroni) serve the east side. The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway offers developed campgrounds; dispersed camping is available on both national forests. This is one of Utah's most road-accessible premium units, close to Provo and Salt Lake.
Nearest towns: Nephi, Payson, Santaquin, Mona, Mount Pleasant, Fountain Green, Moroni
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Utah Hunt Planner — unit boundaries & biologist notes · GOHUNT — Utah Nebo Unit Profile · Manti-La Sal National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 901 in Utah?
- Unit 901 (Nebo/San Pitch Mtns) covers about 967 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,550 to 11,928 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 901?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, USFS Manti-La Sal NF, private, SITLA, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 901?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Cougar, 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 901 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.