Fortunately, utahs fervor for public lands seizure is not matched in most other states, and sportsmen will continue working to keep it that way. Sitla agreed to a threeyear moratorium on oil and gas drilling within a roadless section of sitla land in the book cliffs that is known as valuable wildlife habitat. South book cliffs the majority of the one eye and bogart canyon anadarko lease units lie within the little creek sub unit. As things grew we started getting request from clients who wanted us to offer deer and elk hunts in this area as well. The book cliffs are a series of desert mountains and cliffs in western colorado and eastern utah in the western united states. The book cliffs the book cliffs wildlife management unit wmu consists of 3 subunits. Herbert asks sitla to reconsider book cliffs lease.
Though many dirt roads in the area lead up to coal mines along the cliffs, only. Utah book cliffs, boulder and wasatch trophy bull elk. The united states is the fourth largest country in the world in area. Oct 22, 2010 uintah countyrejuvenate 300 acres of habitat by spraying cheatgrass, removing sagebrush killed by insects, and reseeding native grasses and forbs in the big park area of book cliffs. The land stewart described the roadless, hunting area as a gem for the state and the country, and said herbert believes sitla could realize even more revenue if the quasigovernment agency is open to trading it.
Sep 04, 20 utahs school and institutional lands administration sitla is offering up 96,000 acres of its land in utahs book cliffs to the oil and gas exploration company anadarko petroleum. The proposed book cliffs highway is not in the public interest and is. Those day hikes off of logan canyon to the 2,000yearold jardine juniper and the wind caves. Wildlife conservation and public education projects in 18 utah counties have been selected. Utah hunts moose, elk, mule deer, mountain goat, pronghorn. Partnerships key to protecting our best wild places. It is approximately 15 miles long by 10 miles wide, nestled at the top of the book cliffs due west of grand junction, colorado. Utah roadless areas trout unlimited trout unlimited. Between price, utah and grand junction, colorado, highway 6 and interstate 70. Another herd, managed by the ute tribe, roams to the west on the hill creek extension of the book cliffs. The elk can drop into some roadless areas which may require some hiking. It was created by a massive collaboration between federal officials, nonprofit groups like tu and local hunters, anglers and recreationists to preserve the pieces of roadless or largely roadless areas that remained in the national forest system.
Bull elk, book cliffs, little creek roadless, limited entry, any weapon, 2700, 1. This any weapon bull elk tag provides you an opportunity of a lifetime. Let us all stay vigilant of future efforts to restart the project and take swift, vocal action against those efforts when they occur. Book cliffs, geological feature of eastcentral utah and western. Colorado river cutthroat trout are returned to the book cliffs utah. As the name mentions this area is totally road less and can only be accessed by foot or horse back from two separate trail heads.
The recent sitla board decision to lease the lower book cliffs roadless area complicates the ongoing, collaborative planning effort, said congressman bishop. Both southern uintah county and northern grand county are included. But critics say the highway offers marginal benefits, is a waste of taxpayer. The catalog is searchable by conservation issue, management agency, county, land use type, and more. The canyons, cliffs and desert valleys are home to countless species including black bears, coyotes, great horned owls, and mountain lions. Colorado river cutthroats returned to the book cliffs utah fishing. The dwr reintroduced 14 of the 45 animals donated by the ute tribe into the rugged, remote, roadless area of the book cliffs in august 2008. The little book cliffs wilderness study area is characterized by gentlysloping plateaus, various small canyons, and four major canyon systems. Reasons to protect utahs book cliffs roadless area backcountry. The book cliffs, which run some 250 miles from near grand junction, colorado to price. I know that a few of you have put in for the bookcliffs roadless unit and we are headed up that way this. A cold rains storm much less snow will put them right into migration mode and it only takes less than a day for them to get to their winter grounds.
His son orion also went solo into the book cliffs at the age of 16. Sep 23, 2020 a coalition of rural counties is trying to convince the state to build a highway through the book cliffs in northern grand county to promote tourism. The books cliff little creek roadless area consistently produces tremendous big bull elk year after year. Camp consists of cabin tents with wood burning stoves. Book cliffs, little creek roadless hunters choice oct. New oil and gas leases throw another wrench in utahs big. The proposal, formally called the book cliffs conservation initiative, found support because it didnt seem radical. Oil clashes with elk in the book cliffs high country. Sitla relents on drilling book cliffs roadless area, for. In part eight of our series, we stop in at utahs book cliffs. For example, in the roadless portion of the book cliffs limited entry unit in eastern utah, odds of drawing a bull elk tag for resident applicants is 1 in 6, even with 8 preference pointsthat is, an eight year waiting period. Species area permits condition season dates bull elk book cliffs, bitter creeksouth 1 multiseason arch aug 19 sept 15 alw sept 16 sept 24, nov 11 nov 19 muzz sept 25. Rob bishop, rutah, who is leading efforts to achieve a grand bargain to settle eastern utahs longstanding landuse battles. Grand county fights resurrected book cliffs highway proposal.
Over the counter general season tags are available in the book cliffs units and the uintas. Bookcliffs roadless unit scouting utah wildlife forum. Sep 16, 2015 in 2012, the utah legislature passed h. Sitla relents on drilling book cliffs roadless area, for now news. The conservation tag auctions are held from january to june each year. Utah dwr hunt map book cliffsbitter creek south, bear. They are so named because the cliffs of cretaceous sandstone that cap many of the southfacing buttes appear similar to a shelf of books. Sitla relents on drilling book cliffs roadless area, for now. Best kid friendly trails in red cliffs national conservation area, utah. And this varied altitude creates a number of different climates and conditions. Antelope are common and many people have seen rocky mountain bighorn sheep, and moose. Call the vernal office, 4357819453 or the price office, 43563700. Sep 18, 20 sitla relents on drilling book cliffs roadless area, for now kristin millis managing editor sep 18, 20 sitla agreed to a threeyear moratorium on oil and gas drilling within a roadless section of sitla land in the book cliffs that is known as valuable wildlife habitat. If a hunter purchases the once in a lifetime tag at an auction, it will erase any bonus points the hunter holds for that particular species in the utah public drawing.
The book cliffs are for spike only while the uintas are for any bull. A total of 57,048 acres and an estimated elk population of 4800. The colorado portion of the book cliffs coal field, which has an area of. That worldclass trophy mule deer and elk country in the high book cliffs area. Specializing in the roadless book cliffs, wasatch mountains, plateau boulder, oquirrhstansbury, fillmore oak creek. The altitude ranges from 4,500 on up to 8,000 feet. Us national park service conservation opportunities in the grand mesa national forest legend grand mesa national forest blm field office area of critical environmental concern conservation easements inventoried and potential lands with wilderness characteristics designated wilderness national. Those that remain are especially deserving of protection. View the next lot presented by sportsmen for fish and wildlife the future of wildlife dateaug 21 sept 17, 2021 area book cliffs, bitter creeksouth weapon archery exclusions utah hunting license auction rules all bids are binding any bids submitted. Black bear south slope, bonanzadiamond mtnvernal multiseason. A number of spectacular roadless areas namely desolation canyon and. The book cliffs little creek roadless area does require horses to access. Sometimes a poor notion backcountry hunters and anglers.
These four larger systems are also accompanied by many smaller side canyons. The remaining acreage is managed by private owners, the state of utah, and the school and institutional trust lands administration. The book cliffs are one of the worlds best places to study sequence stratigraphy. Species area condition season dates bull elk book cliffs, bitter creeksouth multiseason all limited entry seasons page 1 of 8 bull elk book cliffs, little creek roadless multiseason all limited entry seasons.
We anticipated that we would encounter some challenges along the way and that there would be complex issues through which we would have to work. This firstofitskind collection is courtesy of jon mullen and made available free of charge to organizations working to protect our environment and public lands. Book cliffs recreation area this area contains 455,000 acres of diverse ecosystems in a very remote setting, and maintains a frontier mystique. Utah offers a large number of conservation tags each year. Bull elk, book cliffs, little creek roadless, any weapon. We continue to make great progress toward creating policies that will allow for energy development, outdoor recreation, and habitat conservation. Rick egan the salt lake tribune an area where a tar sands project was in operation, in the book cliffs area in uintah, county, thursday, october 28, 2010. We are also licensed to guide most of the mountain goat units, several of the moose units and a couple areas for pronghorn. We offer fully guided hunts, hosted hunts and a great youth deer hunt as well. Utah hunting trips for elk, deer, mountain goat, moose and pronghorn. Oct 25, 2020 the little creek roadless unit is a small subunit in the book cliffs of utah.
You see, the cliffs are also a rich source of natural gas, coal, oil, helium, and potentially new reserves of oil. Utah conservation projects draw rmef funding rocky mountain. Book cliffs roadless deer eastmans hunting journals. Book cliffs recreation area bureau of land management.
We have a great team of horses and mules to take on the task. Species area permits condition season dates bull elk book cliffs, bitter creeksouth 1 multiseason arch aug 19 sept 15 alw sept 16 sept 24, nov 11 nov 19 muzz sept 25 oct 6. Best trails in little book cliffs wilderness study area. A few of utahs conservation once in a lifetime big game tags will be sold each year. The united states is relatively young by world standards, being less. Book cliffs geological feature, utah, united states britannica. The book cliffs little creek roadless is a good elk unit.
They will attend the auction and bid on the tag for you. Bull elk, book cliffs, little creek roadless, any weapon utah. The book cliffsdesolation canyon wilderness is a merging of. Tag is good for 1 bull elk for the book cliffs, little creek roadless. The size of the area, and difficult terrain, can make it a very challenging place to hunt. Sitla oil lease in roadless area draws opposed by gov. Theres also a herd of more than 250 bison on the nearby uintah and ouray reservation. Hunter is responsible for obtaining a valid utah hunting license and purchasing the tag.
Made some great friends and saw lots of elk and scenery. There are several routes into the roadless area from there. Jul 05, 1992 the foundation, then, will turn over the lands to the bureau of land management and the state division of wildlife resources to manage as part of the book cliffs conservation initiative perhaps the largest and most significant wildlife enhancement project ever attempted in the lower 48 states, at least in recent history. Huntington, moab, price, seep ridge, vernal, westwater. As the name implies, this is an area that is accessible by foot traffic or horseback only. Aug 27, 20 the lower roadless area has tremendous values beyond traditional energy resources and their conservation is a worthwhile endeavor, said rep. To say the book cliffs mountain range unfolds over 200 miles between. The deer in the utah book cliffs live a sheltered life. In the 1980s, exxon scientists used the cretaceous strata of the book cliffs to develop the science of sequence stratigraphy. Representatives of extractive industry feared the obvious. The recently approved twoyear delay in leasing the book cliffs roadless area for oil extraction is only a temporary protection measure. The blm, hunters, and biologists use the name to cover this whole area even though a lot of the area is nowhere near the socalled cliffs. This is a friends le elk hunt and i was fortunate to get an invite.
Sep 12, 20 about 70 percent of the book cliffs area is administered by the u. Utah, like flaming gorge national recreation area and dinosaur national. The book cliffs have been renowned as one of the best hunting destinations in the country. Gardner, mesa county commissioners wrote a letter proposing the release for development of the little book cliffs wilderness study area, which includes. Reasons to protect utahs book cliffs roadless area. Sep 23, 2020 the proposed book cliffs highway is not in the public interest and is inconsistent with the management of public lands for conservation and wildlife protection, the sept. Book cliffs roadless area miles hanberg and ashley green utah division of wildlife resources january 22, 2014 2. These badlands, part of the colorado plateau are framed by the uinta highlands to the north and interstate70 to the south. Aug 27, 20 the lower roadless area has tremendous values beyond traditional energy resources, and their conservation is a worthwhile endeavor.
Book cliffs, little creek roadless the book cliffs, little creek roadless unit is one of our favorite elk areas. The land is abutted to the west by the uintah and ouray indian reservation. The book cliffs extend through eastern utah into western colorado, and draw. Email us at email protected for more information on how you can get involved in our efforts in the region. This predominantly roadless area derives its name from a singular rock stratum that. Jan 29, 2011 the book cliffs are a relatively remote part of utah that face increasing encroachments from oil, gas and tar sands developments. Oct 22, 2010 october 22, 2010 utah conservation projects draw rmef funding missoula, mont. For nonresidents the draw odds last season were 1 in 41 with a wait of up to years. The uintah and ouray indian reservation is on the west side of the bookcliffs. For those that want to skip the annual drawing, we have a few landowner deer tags and there is always the conservation tag options.
Ecostock is the definitive library of stock photos and imagery for conservation use. But critics say the highway offers marginal benefits, is a waste of taxpayer money and could endanger big game, like elk and bison, who call the lush mountains and canyons home. There is an abundance of wildlife species for viewing, including deer, elk, black bear, blue and sage grouse, numerous hawks, antelope, mountain lion, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The book cliffs have preserved excellent strata of the foreland basin of the ancient western interior seaway that stretched north from the gulf of mexico to the yukon in the cretaceous time. Main canyon, coal canyon, cottonwood canyon and spring canyon. The book cliffs area is an exceptional trophy elk and mule deer unit. There is a good opportunity for bulls in the 330350 range with bulls slightly larger roaming the area. Beloved by utahs hunters and anglers, the wildlife values of this area are unequaled. Utah conservation projects draw rmef funding rocky. Bison, book cliffs, little creek roadless cow only kinda. This conservation money is used on wildlife projects here in utah. It produces 310340 bulls yearly with a few bulls 340 plus taken each year. Interior department under the bureau of land management.
The area begins about 50 air miles south of vernal, utah and extends south to the book cliffs divide. Cattle would be reduced in number, but not kicked off the plateau entirely. People need to look at wildlife conservation in its totality. Best kid friendly trails in red cliffs national conservation. The book cliffs roadless area is pristine country for anyone to enjoy who values the backcountry experience. She works for living rivers, a conservation group that opposes energy. Prior to learning of sitlas plans for oil and gas development in the area, public lands stakeholders took a backcountry horseback tour in august of sitla land with. The road less area is a small oasis all of its own. Arizona 20212022 permittags valid aug 15, 2021aug 14, 2022.
Species location type weapon applicants tags avail. The roadless book cliffs are not huge in size, but is far bigger than can be hunted in a single season. A recent petition to list the species was denied mainly because of the conservation efforts that are taki. Jan 21, 2009 in all, 45 bison will be introduced onto public lands in the book cliffs. Proposed highway through book cliffs faces opposition from. Aug 12, 2009 biologists released the bison onto public land in an area in the book cliffs that doesnt have any roads. National conservation area status for deserving areas not protected by other designations, such as chippean ridge. I have seen it down there when there is not a single deer to be found up high, and this is in early october before the rifle hunts start. Aug 01, 2018 the book cliffs the book cliffs wildlife management unit wmu consists of 3 subunits.
1 863 97 902 1535 1710 596 1472 341 1023 932 1386 1618 411 602 1755 368 158 871 198 381 286 1670 1109 1243 1251 1386 1544 310 1438