Book Cliffs (Bitter Creek/East) elk unit: draw, harvest and public land
Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East is a 3,052-square-mile limited-entry bull elk unit in DWR's Northeastern Region of Utah. Limited-entry bull elk hunters here took 62 bulls on 97 permits in 2025, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 69.3% public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,078,217 acres), measured from UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: DWR's 2026 guidebook. Harvest: DWR's reports, 2023 to 2025. Draw: DWR's 2024 and 2025 results. Land: UGRC, 2023.
National forestBLMState trust land (SITLA)DWR wildlife landNational wildlife refugeNational park or monument (NPS, no hunting)Tribal land (tribe's rules)Military land (closed)State park (park rules)State sovereign land (lake and river beds)Other public land (highways, other state land)Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/EastNeighboring elk unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Northeastern Region (Vernal office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,953,164 acres (3,052 square miles) |
| Public land | 69.3% (1,352,590 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 7 (DWR guidebook) |
| Bulls harvested, 2025 | 62 on 97 permits |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 64 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 1,953 residents, 513 nonresidents (90 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 5, 18,327 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | Thompson Springs, Green River, Ballard and Myton |
When are the 2026 elk hunts on Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 7 limited-entry bull elk hunts on this unit, shown here with the 2025 draw for the same hunt number where DWR used it.
| Hunt number | Hunt | 2026 season | 2025 first-choice applicants (residents) | 2025 permits drawn (residents) | 2025 first-choice applicants (nonresidents) | 2025 permits drawn (nonresidents) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3160 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 15 | 179 | 19 | 100 | 2 |
| EB3161 | Late archery | Nov. 28-Dec. 13 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| EB3162 | Early rifle | Sept. 16-Sept. 20 | 851 | 8 | 227 | 1 |
| EB3163 | Late rifle | Nov. 7-Nov. 15 | 219 | 12 | 62 | 2 |
| EB3164 | Midseason rifle | Oct. 3-Oct. 15 | 395 | 23 | 79 | 2 |
| EB3165 | Multiseason | Limited-entry seasons | 111 | 3 | ||
| EB3166 | Muzzleloader | Sept. 21-Oct. 2 | 184 | 12 | 40 | 1 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60; boundaries from DWR Hunt Planner hunt table. DWR can change a season during the year: check the Utah Hunt Planner before you go.
How many bulls are taken on Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East each year?
DWR's harvest reports cover Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East's limited-entry bull elk hunts in 3 years from 2023 to 2025. In 2025, 97 hunters afield took 62 bulls, 64 for every 100 hunters. In 2024: 57 from 90 hunters on 90 permits.
| Year | Hunts reported | Permits | Hunters afield | Bulls harvested | Harvest per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 97 | 97 | 62 | 64 |
| 2024 | 7 | 90 | 90 | 57 | 63 |
| 2023 | 7 | 86 | 83 | 50 | 60 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2023 to 2025, every limited-entry bull elk hunt DWR printed for this unit's name each year, added up by FilledTag. CWMU, landowner, conservation and sportsman permits are not included. Harvest per 100 hunters is worked out from DWR's own two numbers.
Each 2025 hunt on Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bulls harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3160 | Archery | 23 | 23 | 10 | 43.5% | 12.6 | 2.9 |
| EB3161 | Late archery | 5 | 5 | 1 | 20% | 10.6 | 3.6 |
| EB3162 | Early rifle | 10 | 10 | 8 | 80% | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| EB3163 | Late rifle | 16 | 16 | 10 | 62.5% | 5.2 | 4 |
| EB3164 | Midseason rifle | 26 | 26 | 16 | 61.5% | 5.8 | 3.3 |
| EB3165 | Multiseason | 4 | 4 | 4 | 100% | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| EB3166 | Muzzleloader | 13 | 13 | 13 | 100% | 3.3 | 4.3 |
Source: DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East by weapon, year by year
Bulls harvested of permits issued, by weapon, for each year DWR reported since 2023:
| Weapon | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 10 of 23 | 8 of 21 | 9 of 20 |
| Early rifle | 8 of 10 | 9 of 9 | 8 of 9 |
| Late archery | 1 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 5 |
| Late rifle | 10 of 16 | 9 of 14 | 10 of 13 |
| Midseason rifle | 16 of 26 | 15 of 26 | 14 of 25 |
| Multiseason | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
| Muzzleloader | 13 of 13 | 9 of 13 | 8 of 12 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2023 to 2025. An empty cell means DWR printed no hunt of that kind on this unit that year.
How many hunters apply for Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East elk permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 1,953 residents put a Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East elk hunt first and 81 drew a permit, 4.1% of them; 513 nonresidents applied first choice and 9 drew (1.8%). In 2024, 1,875 residents applied first choice and 79 drew. Limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime permits are drawn on bonus points: DWR reserves half of each hunt's permits for the applicants with the most points and draws the rest at random (Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-8).
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3160 | Limited-entry archery bull elk | 179 | 19 | 100 | 2 |
| EB3161 | Limited-entry archery bull elk - late | 14 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| EB3162 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - early | 851 | 8 | 227 | 1 |
| EB3163 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - late | 219 | 12 | 62 | 2 |
| EB3164 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - mid | 395 | 23 | 79 | 2 |
| EB3165 | Limited-entry multi-season bull elk | 111 | 3 | ||
| EB3166 | Limited-entry muzzleloader bull elk | 184 | 12 | 40 | 1 |
| Hunt | Residents, reserved permits: points | Residents, random permits: points | Nonresidents, reserved permits: points | Nonresidents, random permits: points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3160 | 9 to 14 | 4 to 9 | 19 | 16 |
| EB3161 | 6 | 4 | 8 | |
| EB3162 | 22 to 24 | 4 to 17 | 26 | |
| EB3163 | 14 to 17 | 1 to 12 | 23 | 3 |
| EB3164 | 17 to 20 | 0 to 16 | 24 | 16 |
| EB3165 | 23 to 25 | 10 | ||
| EB3166 | 16 to 20 | 4 to 13 | 19 |
From DWR's 2025 drawing results, which list each point level's permits from the reserved half (most points first) and from the random half. A blank cell means no permit of that kind went to the group.
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3160 | Limited-entry archery bull elk | 161 | 19 | 105 | 2 |
| EB3161 | Limited-entry archery bull elk - late | 11 | 4 | ||
| EB3162 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - early | 789 | 7 | 264 | 1 |
| EB3163 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - late | 227 | 12 | 57 | 2 |
| EB3164 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - mid | 359 | 22 | 97 | 2 |
| EB3165 | Limited-entry multi-season bull elk | 150 | 3 | ||
| EB3166 | Limited-entry muzzleloader bull elk | 178 | 12 | 68 | 1 |
Source: DWR 2025 drawing results and DWR 2024 drawing results, first-choice applications only, as DWR reports them; DWR leaves out second to fifth choices. The share who drew in a past year is not a forecast for the next draw. Deadlines and fees: Utah draw deadlines and fees.
How much of Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East is public land?
69.3% of the Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East elk unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,352,590 of 1,953,164 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,078,217 acres or 55.2% of the unit. 518,718 acres are tribal land, hunted only under the tribe's own rules.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,078,217 | 55.2% |
| Tribal land (tribe's rules) | 518,718 | 26.6% |
| State trust land (SITLA) | 256,046 | 13.1% |
| DWR wildlife land | 18,327 | 0.9% |
| State sovereign land (lake and river beds) | 1,012 | 0.1% |
| Other public land (highways, other state land) | 610 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 80,234 | 4.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside DWR's 2026 boundary from UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023). State trust land (SITLA) is open to hunting where it can be reached legally; many sections touch no public road. A permit does not allow hunting on CWMUs, tribal land or national parks.
DWR wildlife management areas inside the unit: Two Waters WMA (10,897 acres), Willow Creek (Uintah/Grand) WMA (3,712 acres), Bitter Creek WMA (2,195 acres), Nash Wash WMA (1,178 acres) and Book Cliffs Roadless WMA (345 acres).
What other hunts share the Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East elk unit's ground?
Utah draws a separate map of units for each species and hunt type. These units cover part of the same ground, measured from DWR's 2026 boundaries:
| Unit | Hunt type | Share of Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Book Cliffs | limited-entry deer | 100% |
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East | general-season spike elk (over the counter) | 100% |
| Book Cliffs, North | limited-entry deer | 72% |
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek | once-in-a-lifetime bison | 72% |
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 72% |
| Nine Mile, Jack Creek | once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | 43% |
| Book Cliffs, South | once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | 28% |
| Book Cliffs, South | limited-entry deer | 28% |
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek/South | once-in-a-lifetime bison | 28% |
| Book Cliffs, South | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 28% |
How do you get to the Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East unit?
Highways through the unit: US 50, I-70 and US 6 (one road, about 65 miles inside it). Towns inside: Thompson Springs. Nearby: Green River (19 miles), Ballard (19 miles) and Myton (19 miles). Rivers: Green River (53 miles) and White River (40 miles).
Which elk units border or overlap Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bulls harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless | 89 | 99.9% | 10 (2025) |
| La Sal Mountains | 2,477 | 78.4% | 86 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 elk hunts on Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 7 limited-entry bull elk hunts on Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East: Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 15 (EB3160), Late archery Nov. 28-Dec. 13 (EB3161), Early rifle Sept. 16-Sept. 20 (EB3162), Late rifle Nov. 7-Nov. 15 (EB3163), Midseason rifle Oct. 3-Oct. 15 (EB3164) and Multiseason Limited-entry seasons (EB3165), and 1 more in the table above.
How many bulls were harvested on Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East in 2025?
62, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 97 hunters afield on 97 permits, 64 bulls for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 57.
How many people apply for Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East elk permits?
1,953 residents and 513 nonresidents made a Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 81 residents and 9 nonresidents drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East mostly public land?
Yes. 69.3% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,078,217 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map.
What is the closest town to the Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East elk unit?
Thompson Springs is inside the unit. Just outside: Green River (19 miles), Ballard (19 miles) and Myton (19 miles).
DWR's boundary description for Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East
Grand and Uintah counties: Boundary begins at the Utah-Colorado state line and the White River; west along this river to the Green River; south along this river to the southern boundary of the Ute Indian Reservation; east along this boundary to the Sego Canyon road; south on this road to the Thompson Canyon Road; south on this road to Thompson and I-70; east on I-70 to the Utah-Colorado state line; north on this state line to the White River. EXCLUDES THE BOOK CLIFFS, LITTLE CREEK ROADLESS UNIT. EXCLUDES ALL NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST LAND WITHIN THIS BOUNDARY. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Huntington, Moab, Price, Seep Ridge, Vernal, Westwater. Boundary questions? Call the Vernal office, 435-781-9453 or the Price office, 435-613-3700. EXCLUDES Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless Unit as follows: Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless Grand County: Boundary begins at Steer Ridge road and Ten Mile Knoll; southwest along Diamond Ridge and the Book Cliffs summit (north-south drainage divide) to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation boundary (Hells Hole/head of Sego Canyon); north along this boundary (west side of West Willow Creek) to the Wildlife Management Area/Ute Tribe Fence at the confluence of East and West Willow Creek; northeast to the west fork of the Steer Ridge road (NW 1/4 Sec 7, T17 S R 21 E); south and east along the Steer Ridge road (atop the drainage divide) to Ten Mile Knoll. EXCLUDES ALL NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST LAND WITHIN THIS BOUNDARY. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Westwater. Boundary questions? Call the Vernal office, 435-781-9453.
From DWR's 2026 unit layer.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, permits, hunters, days and satisfaction: DWR harvest reports, 2013 to 2025 (2025 preliminary).
- 2026 hunts and season dates: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook; boundary names: DWR Hunt Planner hunt table.
- Applicants and permits drawn: DWR drawing results, 2024 and 2025.
- Unit boundary: DWR 2026 hunt unit boundaries. Public land: UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023). WMAs: DWR public access properties (WMAs). Walk-In Access: DWR Walk-In Access properties (December 17, 2025).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Numbers are copied from DWR and the State of Utah, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Utah hunting units Northeastern Region Utah draw deadlines Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless La Sal Mountains