CWMU program

Ensign Ranches

Operator information

  • Name: Travis Murphy
  • Phone: 801-791-3876
  • Email: ensignranches@qmail.com

CWMU description

The Ensign Ranches Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) is up Echo Canyon on both sides of Interstate Highway I-80. The highest point on the Unit is in the southeast at 9200 feet. This drops down to 5900 feet in Echo Canyon. On the other side of I-80 the elevation ranges from 7600 feet to 5900 feet. To the north elevation is around 6800 feet, to the east 7300 feet, to the south 6400 feet, and to the west 7600 feet. There are relatively flat areas in the southeast (7600 feet) with many waterbodies. The terrain on the north side of I-80 is steeper than on the south side. The most common elevation is 6900 feet but ranges from 5900 feet to 9100 feet with an elevation difference of 3200 feet. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the CWMU elevation ranges between 6900 feet and 8100 feet an elevation difference of 1200 feet.

Over fifty percent (50%) of the land cover on the Ensign Ranches Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) is Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe (62). Towards the southwest are areas of Rocky Mountain Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland (41). Towards the southeast and some in the northwest area areas of Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland (22). There are areas of Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper Woodland (36), and in the north patches of Southern Rocky Mountain Montane-Subalpine Grassland (71). Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe (66) adds to the Shrub-Steppe component, and there are large patches of Recently Burned (116) areas.

One of the Ensign Ranches Cooperative Wildlife Mangement Unit (CWMU) nearest weather stations, COALVILLE (421590), is about 5.4 km south from the south edge of the CWMU. COALVILLE has thirty-four (34) years of records, 1974 - 2008. During the FALL (September, October and November) the average precipitation is 3.71 inches, but it can be as high as 7.09 inches or as low as 1.68 inches. During the 91-day FALL period, 19 days will experience greater than or equal to 0.01 inch of precipitation, 10 days of greater than or equal to 0.10 inch, or 2 day of the greater than or equal to 0.50 inch of precipitation. Snowfall during the FALL averages 14.8 inches but can be as high as 32.0 inches. FALL temperature at COALVILLE averages 43.4 degrees F. but can be as high as 87.0 degrees F. or as low as -17.0 degrees F. During the FALL, 61 days will be below freezing (32 degrees F.) and no days above 90 degrees F.

Location

  • Counties: Morgan/Rich/Weber
  • Wildlife management unit(s): Chalk Creek

Access contact

  • Name: Operator
  • Phone: 801-791-3876
  • Best time to contact: Business hours

Property size

An estimate of the property size and the public/private composition

Acres
Private 84609
Public 0
Total 84609

Drawing odds

Drawing odds are the odds of obtaining a permit for this CWMU.

Drawing odds
Deer drawing odds 1 in 33.3
Elk drawing odds 1 in 18.5
Moose drawing odds 1 in 61.5
Pronghorn drawing odds 1 in 6.0

Satisfaction index

The satisfaction index ranges from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. Hunters are asked how they rate their hunt and the satisfaction index is an average of those responses. This is a five-year average.

Public Private
Buck deer 4.5 4.7
Doe deer 4.4 N/A
Bull elk 5 4.1
Cow elk 3.7 N/A
Bull moose 3 5
Cow moose 4 N/A
Buck pronghorn 5 N/A
Doe pronghorn N/A N/A
Wild turkey N/A N/A

Hunter success

Hunter success is the percent of hunters who successfully harvested an animal, reported for years in which data is available.

Public Private
Buck deer 100 85.7
Doe deer N/A N/A
Bull elk 50 86.7
Cow elk 80.8 N/A
Bull moose N/A 100
Cow moose N/A N/A
Buck pronghorn 100 N/A
Doe pronghorn N/A N/A
Wild turkey N/A N/A

Average age

An estimate of average animal age

Age
Buck deer N/A
Bull elk 6 years
Bull moose 3 years

Hunting opportunities (acres, days and dates)

The opportunity to hunt on this CWMU depends on the type of animal hunted

Acres Days Dates
Buck deer 84609 5 Tue-Sat 3rd Week Oct or 11/1-11/5
Bull elk 84609 5 Tue-Sat 3rd Week Oct or 11/1-11/5
Bull moose 84609 5 Tue-Sat 3rd Week Oct
Buck pronghorn 84609 5 Tue-Sat 3rd Week Oct
Doe deer 0 0 n/a
Cow elk 84609 2 begin 11/21
Cow moose 0 0 n/a
Doe pronghorn 0 0 n/a

Available hunting permits

Private indicates that there are permits available for sale by the CWMU operator

Public Private
Buck deer 4 36
Buck deer (management) 0 0
Bull elk 4 21
Bull moose 1 2
Buck pronghorn 1 2
Doe deer 0 0
Cow elk 75 25
Cow moose 0 0
Doe pronghorn 0 0

Common questions

Question Answer
Can I bring a guest? Yes. One (1) non-hunting
Can I hunt on Sunday? Yes.
Can I scout the CWMU before the season? No.
Are horses allowed? No.
Are ATV's allowed? No.
Is a guide service available? Yes. For a fee
Do you offer a packing service? Yes. For a fee
Is lodging or food available? No.
Can I camp on the CWMU? Yes. With prior arrangement
Is the CWMU handicapped accessible? No.
Are maps available? Yes.
Are any other activities offered on the CWMU? No.
Are there any closed areas on the property? No.

Rules of conduct

  • Contact operator for ranch rules & polices
This map is provided for general reference only and does not constitute a legal hunt boundary. The Division does not guarantee access to any private or public land. Hunt unit boundaries may include private property or other excluded areas.