The La Sal Mountains, rising majestically east of Moab, Utah, offer some of the most diverse and rewarding big game hunting opportunities in the American West. This spectacular mountain range, with elevations ranging from 4,000 to 12,700 feet, provides habitat for healthy populations of elk, mule deer, black bear, and other big game species. The unique geography of the La Sal Mountains creates a hunting experience unlike anywhere else in Utah, combining high alpine environments with desert canyon country in a landscape that challenges and rewards hunters in equal measure.

Located on the Utah-Colorado border in Grand and San Juan counties, the La Sal Mountains represent one of Utah’s premier big game hunting destinations. The area is managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) as Elk Herd Unit #13, which includes both the La Sal Mountains proper and the Dolores Triangle area.

The La Sal Mountains are the only significant mountain range within the hunting unit, creating a dramatic landscape that transitions from red rock desert to alpine peaks. This geological diversity provides varied habitat types that support different wildlife species throughout the year. The mountains themselves are characterized by steep, timber-covered canyons that descend from the high peaks down to the desert floor, creating natural corridors for wildlife movement.

The terrain varies dramatically across the unit’s roughly 2,365 square miles. At lower elevations, hunters encounter dry, desert rolling hills and flats dominated by grass, prickly-pear cactus, and sagebrush, with scattered pinyon pines and juniper trees. Middle elevations feature ponderosa pines and oak brush, while sagebrush continues through these transitional zones. The higher elevations showcase scattered aspen groves with steep slopes covered in dense conifer forests, providing excellent cover for elk and other big game.

The La Sal Mountains support one of Utah’s most robust elk populations, with current management objectives targeting a winter population of 2,500 elk distributed across two subunits. The La Sal Mountains proper are managed for 1,800 elk, while the Dolores Triangle area maintains a population objective of 700 elk.

Recent population surveys indicate the La Sal Mountains currently support approximately 1,900 elk, slightly above the management objective. The most recent helicopter survey, conducted in January 2021, counted 1,714 elk, yielding a population estimate of 2,100 elk. This healthy population provides excellent hunting opportunities while maintaining sustainable harvest levels.

The elk herd demonstrates strong genetics and age structure, with limited entry bull hunts producing an average harvest age of 6.1 years over the past five years. This exceeds the management objective of 5.5-6.0 years, indicating successful trophy management. Bull harvest on limited entry hunts has averaged 103 bulls per year over the past five years, with harvest success remaining consistently high.

The La Sal Mountains also support healthy mule deer populations throughout the unit. The diverse terrain and elevation gradients provide excellent habitat for mule deer, from winter range in the lower desert areas to summer range in the high country. The unit is managed to provide both hunting opportunity and quality deer hunting experiences.

The La Sal Mountains provide habitat for black bears, with hunting opportunities available through limited draw permits. The varied terrain and abundant food sources, including oak brush, serviceberry, and other native plants, support a healthy bear population. Mountain lions are also present throughout the unit, though hunting opportunities are more limited.