Book Cliffs (Little Creek Roadless) elk unit: draw, harvest and public land
Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless is an 89-square-mile limited-entry bull elk unit in DWR's Northeastern Region of Utah. Limited-entry bull elk hunters here took 10 bulls on 11 permits in 2025, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 99.9% public land open to hunting, most of it state trust land (SITLA), 48,557 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, 2014 to 2025. Draw: DWR's 2024 and 2025 results. Land: UGRC, 2023.
BLMState trust land (SITLA)DWR wildlife landTribal land (tribe's rules)Book Cliffs, Little Creek RoadlessNeighboring elk unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Northeastern Region (Vernal office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 57,048 acres (89 square miles) |
| Public land | 99.9% (57,009 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 5 (DWR guidebook) |
| Bulls harvested, 2025 | 10 on 11 permits |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 91 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 403 residents, 69 nonresidents (12 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 1, 6,585 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | None within 20 miles |
When are the 2026 elk hunts on Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 5 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3002 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 15 | 47 | 3 | ||
| EB3028 | Early rifle | Sept. 16-Sept. 20 | 174 | 2 | ||
| EB3079 | Muzzleloader | Sept. 21-Oct. 2 | 45 | 2 | ||
| EB3104 | Multiseason | Limited-entry seasons | 52 | 1 | ||
| EB3167 | Midseason rifle | Oct. 3-Oct. 15 | 85 | 3 | 69 | 1 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 54, 56, 57, 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, Little Creek Roadless each year?
DWR's harvest reports cover Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless' limited-entry bull elk hunts in 12 years from 2014 to 2025. In 2025, 11 hunters afield took 10 bulls, 91 for every 100 hunters. In 2024: 6 from 6 hunters on 6 permits.
| Year | Hunts reported | Permits | Hunters afield | Bulls harvested | Harvest per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 91 |
| 2024 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 100 |
| 2023 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 100 |
| 2022 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 50 |
| 2021 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 89 |
| 2020 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 85 |
| 2019 | 4 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 81 |
| 2018 | 4 | 30 | 29 | 22 | 76 |
| 2017 | 4 | 40 | 40 | 25 | 63 |
| 2016 | 4 | 44 | 43 | 37 | 86 |
| 2015 | 4 | 46 | 44 | 30 | 68 |
| 2014 | 4 | 46 | 44 | 36 | 82 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2014 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, Little Creek Roadless
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bulls harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3002 | Archery | 3 | 3 | 2 | 66.7% | 6.7 | 4.7 |
| EB3028 | Early rifle | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 1 | 4 |
| EB3079 | Muzzleloader | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 2 | 5 |
| EB3104 | Multiseason | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 5 |
| EB3167 | Midseason rifle | 4 | 4 | 4 | 100% | 3.5 | 5 |
Source: DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless by weapon, year by year
Bulls harvested of permits issued, by weapon, for each year DWR reported since 2018:
| Weapon | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 4 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 8 |
| Early rifle | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 | ||||
| Midseason rifle | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | |||||
| Multiseason | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 2 |
| Muzzleloader | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Rifle (any legal weapon) | 3 of 4 | 11 of 11 | 13 of 15 | 14 of 16 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2018 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, Little Creek Roadless elk permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 403 residents put a Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless elk hunt first and 11 drew a permit, 2.7% of them; 69 nonresidents applied first choice and 1 drew (1.4%). In 2024, 349 residents applied first choice and 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3002 | Limited-entry archery bull elk | 47 | 3 | ||
| EB3028 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - early | 174 | 2 | ||
| EB3079 | Limited-entry muzzleloader bull elk | 45 | 2 | ||
| EB3104 | Limited-entry multi-season bull elk | 52 | 1 | ||
| EB3167 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - mid | 85 | 3 | 69 | 1 |
| Hunt | Residents, reserved permits: points | Residents, random permits: points | Nonresidents, reserved permits: points | Nonresidents, random permits: points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3002 | 16 | 5 | ||
| EB3028 | 26 | 6 | ||
| EB3079 | 24 | 7 | ||
| EB3104 | 16 | |||
| EB3167 | 18 to 19 | 14 | 6 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3002 | Limited-entry archery bull elk | 49 | 2 | ||
| EB3028 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - early | 184 | 2 | ||
| EB3079 | Limited-entry muzzleloader bull elk | 32 | 1 | ||
| EB3104 | Limited-entry multi-season bull elk | 35 | 1 | ||
| EB3167 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - mid | 49 | 2 | 50 | 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, Little Creek Roadless is public land?
99.9% of the Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless elk unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 57,009 of 57,048 acres. The largest share is state trust land (SITLA), 48,557 acres or 85.1% of the unit. 37 acres are tribal land, hunted only under the tribe's own rules.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless |
|---|---|---|
| State trust land (SITLA) | 48,557 | 85.1% |
| DWR wildlife land | 6,585 | 11.5% |
| BLM | 1,867 | 3.3% |
| Tribal land (tribe's rules) | 37 | 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 2 | 0% |
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 area inside the unit: Book Cliffs Roadless WMA (6,585 acres).
What other hunts share the Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless 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, Little Creek Roadless it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek/South | once-in-a-lifetime bison | 100% |
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless | general-season spike elk (over the counter) | 100% |
| Book Cliffs | limited-entry deer | 100% |
| Nine Mile, Jack Creek | once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | 100% |
| Book Cliffs, North | limited-entry deer | 100% |
How do you get to the Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless unit?
No numbered highway crosses the unit.
Which elk units border or overlap Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bulls harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East | 3,052 | 69.3% | 62 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 elk hunts on Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 5 limited-entry bull elk hunts on Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless: Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 15 (EB3002), Early rifle Sept. 16-Sept. 20 (EB3028), Muzzleloader Sept. 21-Oct. 2 (EB3079), Multiseason Limited-entry seasons (EB3104) and Midseason rifle Oct. 3-Oct. 15 (EB3167).
How many bulls were harvested on Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless in 2025?
10, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 11 hunters afield on 11 permits, 91 bulls for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 6.
How many people apply for Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless elk permits?
403 residents and 69 nonresidents made a Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 11 residents and 1 nonresident drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless mostly public land?
Yes. 99.9% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it state trust land (SITLA), 48,557 acres, measured from UGRC's land ownership map.
What is the closest town to the Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless elk unit?
No incorporated town lies within 20 miles of the unit.
DWR's boundary description for Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless
Grand County: Boundary begins at the Steer Ridge road at Ten Mile Knoll and the Book Cliffs summit (north-south drainage divide); southwest along the Book Cliffs summit on Diamond Ridge to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation boundary (Hells Hole/head of Sego Canyon); north on this boundary (west side of West Willow Creek) to the DWR Wildlife Management Area/Ute Tribe Fence at the confluence of East and West Willow Creek; northeast from this confluence; cross-country to the Steer Ridge road (NW 1/4 Sec 7, T17S R21E); south and east on the Steer Ridge road (atop the drainage divide) to Ten Mile Knoll and the Book Cliffs summit. EXCLUDES ALL NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST LAND WITHIN THIS BOUNDARY. Excludes all CWMUs. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Westwater. Boundary questions? Call 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, Bitter Creek/East