Unit 926 West Desert, Swasey
Big, empty, and quiet — sky-island desert ranges where mule deer and antelope orbit a handful of springs.
West Desert Utah — House Range / Confusion Range (Millard County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
6,158
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
4,400–9,669
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
The West Desert, Swasey unit is one of Utah's largest and most remote general-season deer units, sprawling across the House Range, Confusion Range, and surrounding basins west of Delta toward the Nevada line. Landmark peaks — Swasey Peak (9,669 ft) and the sheer 2,000-ft wall of Notch Peak — rise from thousands of square miles of shadscale desert managed almost entirely by the BLM. Deer densities are low and animals are scattered, but the country is huge, lightly hunted, and rewards hunters who read water and terrain rather than chase crowds.
Terrain
Classic Basin-and-Range: narrow, steep fault-block mountains separated by wide, flat sagebrush and salt-desert valleys such as Tule and Snake valleys. The House Range is the high anchor; the Confusion Range to the west is lower, rockier, and even drier.
Cover: Shadscale, greasewood, and saltbush on the valley floors; extensive pinyon-juniper and mountain mahogany on the slopes; scattered Douglas-fir, aspen, and bristlecone pine on the highest House Range crests around Swasey Peak.
Landmarks: Swasey Peak (9,669 ft) · Notch Peak (2,000-ft limestone cliff) · House Range · Confusion Range · Tule Valley · Snake Valley · Sinbad Overlook / Marjum Pass
Access
Almost entirely BLM public land with scattered SITLA trust sections (generally open to hunting in Utah); private ground is limited to a few ranches and the Snake Valley farm belt near the Nevada line. Access is via long gravel and dirt roads off US-6/50 and Delta — Marjum Pass, Death Canyon, and Tule Valley roads open the House Range; the Confusion Range is reached by rougher two-tracks. High-clearance and self-sufficiency are mandatory; the interior has no services and roads turn to impassable mud when wet.
Managers: BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: US-6/50 west of Delta · Marjum Pass Road (House Range) · Tule Valley Road · Notch Peak / Sawtooth Canyon trailhead · Death Canyon Road · Snake Valley Road toward Gandy
Species notes
Mule Deer
limited opportunityLow-density desert mule deer scattered across an enormous area — roughly a thousand animals spread over the House Range and Confusion Range. A general-season buck unit best suited to hunters who like solitude, glassing, and covering ground.
- →Glass mahogany and pinyon-juniper benches and rimrock at dawn and dusk from a high vantage
- →Key on the few reliable springs, seeps, and guzzlers — deer, antelope, and chukar all orbit water here
- →Hunt the House Range high country early, then work lower Confusion Range draws as animals shift
- →Cover country by vehicle to locate deer, then stalk on foot — this is a spot-and-stalk unit, not a tree-stand unit
Pronghorn
common qualityTule and Snake valleys hold established West Desert antelope herds on open BLM flats — a classic remote pronghorn hunt with room to roam and mature bucks for the patient.
- →Glass the broad valley basins from foothill vantage points and cover ground on the two-tracks
- →Use dry washes and terrain rolls to close on open-country bucks
- →Watch water and green farm edges near Snake Valley during warm early hunts
- →Bring a spotting scope — judging horn length and mass at distance is the whole game
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe rugged House Range cliffs and Notch Peak escarpment are historic desert bighorn habitat and part of Utah's West Desert sheep management picture — an extremely limited once-in-a-lifetime draw where it applies.
- →If fortunate enough to draw, focus on the steepest limestone escarpments and lambing cliffs
- →Glass from long distance at first and last light and let rams reveal themselves on the rimrock
- →Plan for multi-day backcountry effort with full water and self-recovery capability
Pro tips
- →Success here is a water map — pin every spring, guzzler, and windmill before you leave home
- →Carry at least two spare tires and a full recovery kit; sharp rock and washboard shred tires
- →Glass, glass, glass — you cover this country with optics from high points, not by walking blind
- →Fuel up in Delta and carry extra cans; the nearest pump can be 100+ miles from where you hunt
- →Watch the weather radar — leave the valleys before a storm turns the roads to clay
Watch out for
- !Extreme remoteness — self-rescue only, no cell service, long distances to help
- !Roads become impassable mud when wet
- !Scarce water — plan for both you and the game
- !Fire danger in dry late-summer archery seasons
- !Scattered private ranch and farm ground near Snake Valley and the Nevada line
Logistics
Delta is the only real supply town — fuel, groceries, motels, and processing — and it is 60-90 minutes of pavement plus long dirt roads from the hunting country. Beyond Delta there is nothing: carry all fuel, water, food, and vehicle recovery gear you will need. Cell coverage is essentially absent in the interior. Dispersed camping only.
Nearest towns: Delta, Hinckley, Oak City, Baker NV (Snake Valley)
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: Utah DWR — Hunt tables, maps and boundaries · SUWA — House Range Wilderness · SummitPost — Utah Western Desert Ranges · UDWR — Bighorn Sheep Management Plans
FAQ
- How big is Unit 926 in Utah?
- Unit 926 (West Desert, Swasey) covers about 6,158 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,400 to 9,669 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 926?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 926?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 926 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.