CWMU program

Heaston East

Operator information

  • Name: Terry Thacher
  • Phone: 801-599-9133
  • Email: tlthach1@comcast.net

CWMU description

Except for the north part, all of the Heaston Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) is located on the eastside of the Tooele - Salt Lake County boundary on the eastside of the Oquirrh Mountains, west of south Salt Lake City. The Unit includes the Bingham Copper Mine. The high point of the Unit is Nelson Peak at 9300 feet. Nelson Peak drops in elevation in the north to 7700 feet, to 9000 feet on West Mountain on the Unit. Butterfield Canyon forms the south boundary of the Unit ranging from 8200 feet to 6000 feet elevation. Of course Bingham Canyon melts into the cooper mine. Harkers canyon cuts the Unit ranging from 4800 feet to 7900 feet. Farther north Little Valley Wash cuts the Unit ranging from 4300 feet to 6200 feet elevation. On the north part, Black Rock Canyon, 4300 feet to 7400 feet is the major canyon. The most common elevation is 5200 feet but ranges from 4300 feet to 9300 feet with an elevation difference of 5000 feet. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the CWMU elevation ranges between 5000 feet and 6400 feet an elevation difference of 1400 feet.

The Heaston Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) is dominated by Rocky Mountain Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland (41), but about the same amount is taken up in the south end of the Unit by Recently Mined or Quarried (117). Another major land cover on the north end and east edge is Great Basin Pinyon-Juniper Woodland (37). Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland (48) also contributes to the land cover on the east side. There are large patches of Developed, Open Space - Low Intensity land cover on the northeast and scattered throughout the Unit.

One of the Heaston East Cooperative Wildlife Mangement Unit (CWMU) nearest weather stations, GARFIELD (423097), is on the north edge of the CWMU. GARFIELD has one hundred fifteen (115) years of records, 1893 - 2008. During the FALL (September, October and November) the average precipitation is 4.79 inches, but it can be as high as 9.01 inches or as low as 2.07 inches. During the 91-day FALL period, 19 days will experience greater than or equal to 0.01 inch of precipitation, 11 days of greater than or equal to 0.10 inch, or 3 days of the greater than or equal to 0.50 inch of precipitation. There is also 1 day where precipitation can be greater than or equal to 1.00 inch. Snowfall during the FALL averages 3.0 inches but can be as high as 13.8 inches. FALL temperature at GARFIELD averages 64.0 degrees F. but can be as high as 98.0 degrees F. or as low as 3.0 degrees F. During the FALL, 13 days will be below freezing (32 degrees F.) and 4 day above 90 degrees F.

Location

  • Counties: Salt Lake
  • Wildlife management unit(s): Oquirrh-Stansbury

Access contact

  • Name: Terry Thatcher
  • Phone: 801-599-9133
  • Best time to contact: Daytime

Property size

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

Acres
Private 70000
Public 0
Total 70000

Drawing odds

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

Drawing odds
Deer drawing odds 1 in 30.5
Elk drawing odds 1 in 37.5
Moose drawing odds n/a
Pronghorn drawing odds n/a

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 5 4.5
Doe deer 4.4 N/A
Bull elk 5 5
Cow elk 4.6 N/A
Bull moose N/A N/A
Cow moose N/A N/A
Buck pronghorn N/A 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 78.6
Doe deer 100 N/A
Bull elk 100 100
Cow elk 100 N/A
Bull moose N/A N/A
Cow moose N/A N/A
Buck pronghorn N/A 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 7 years
Bull elk 6 years
Bull moose N/A

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 70000 7 10/22-10/28
Bull elk 70000 7 9/17-09/23 or 10/01-10/07
Bull moose 0 0 n/a
Buck pronghorn 0 0 n/a
Doe deer 0 0 n/a
Cow elk 70000 6 9/01-01/31
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 2 22
Buck deer (management) 0 0
Bull elk 3 20
Bull moose 0 0
Buck pronghorn 0 0
Doe deer 0 0
Cow elk 30 10
Cow moose 0 0
Doe pronghorn 0 0

Common questions

Question Answer
Can I bring a guest? Yes. 2 plus hunter, no children under hunting age
Can I hunt on Sunday? Yes.
Can I scout the CWMU before the season? No.
Are horses allowed? Yes.
Are ATV's allowed? Yes. ATVs must have factory installed seat-belts, helme
Is a guide service available? Yes. All escorted
Do you offer a packing service? Yes. At hunters cost
Is lodging or food available? No.
Can I camp on the CWMU? No.
Is the CWMU handicapped accessible? Yes.
Are maps available? Yes.
Are any other activities offered on the CWMU? No.
Are there any closed areas on the property? Yes.

Rules of conduct

  • No hunting can interfere or endanger the KUCC mining operation
  • Portion of the 70,000 acres may be closed at times
  • No pre-scouting
  • No overnight camping
  • Request all hunters use non-lead projectiles
  • No fires
  • Seat belts must be worn at all times in moving vehicles
  • ATV on established roads only
  • All hunters must be escorted at all times
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.