East Canyon Wildlife Management Area gains more acreage
Oct 1, 2024, 4:00 PM
Sage grouse are one species that lives in the newly expanded East Canyon Wildlife Management Area. (Phil Douglass/Deseret News)
(Phil Douglass/Deseret News)
HENEFER, Utah — East Canyon Wildlife Management Area has added 2,600 more acres through a recent land purchase. The area now encompasses 6,200 acres.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation helped the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources with the purchase. The foundation said the original landowner planned to re-zone the area for residential development.
“The subsequent project conserves the wildlife values of the land and enhances hunting, fishing, camping, and other recreational activities,” members of the RMEF said on its website.
RMEF said that the area lies within a critical migration corridor for mule deer. The Secretary of the Interior identified the site in Secretarial Order 3362.
The order was meant to improve winter range qualities used by big game, as well as their migrational corridors.
The RMEF said that over 20,000 mule deer and 2,900 elk live in the newly expanded East Canyon area. Additionally, moose, greater sage-grouse, wild turkey, and mountain lions are on the list of species that call the area home.
East Canyon Wildlife Management Area for conservation and recreation
Per the Utah DWR, the wildlife management area will be opened to the public for hunting and other types of recreation. A portion of the land is just north of the main entrance to East Canyon State Park.
Alongside the DWR and RMEF, the Utah Division of State Parks and the Utah legislature worked to help with the acquisition of the land.
DWR Director J. Shirley expressed gratitude to local hunters and partners who helped fund the land purchase.
“Most of Morgan County is private property, so obtaining this property will be a great benefit to wildlife in the area and will provide additional access for hunters in northern Utah,” said Shirley.
The DWR said the new area will be open to the public this fall. However, visitors will need to follow some rules.
First, the wildlife management area expansion will only be open to foot and horseback traffic. The rule protects wildlife.
Officials will not allow e-bikes, ATVs, or similar vehicles on the new property.
Similar to other Utah wildlife management areas, the new area will be closed between January 1, 2025, and the second April of the new year. The closure is intended to protect wildlife using the area during the winter months.
Finally, the DWR said no parking will be available in the new area.
According to DWR Northern Region Habitat Manager Daniel Olson, there are two other parking areas on the original parts of the wildlife management area.
“We obtained the additional property in July and have not been able to develop a parking area for it yet,” said Olson.
The DWR did not say when or if they will develop a new parking area.
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