Utah Unit Cache, South Elk Hunting Guide

Hunters researching Utah Unit Cache, South elk hunting will find a unit that balances solid public access with the kind of northern Utah country that consistently produces bulls for hunters willing to put in the legwork. Located in the northern part of the state, Cache, South spans 276,200 acres with an elevation range of 4,487 to 9,687 feet, offering everything from valley-floor benches to high alpine ridgelines within a single hunt area.

With 81% of the unit in public ownership and zero wilderness acreage, Cache, South is genuinely accessible to do-it-yourself hunters. There are no outfitter-guide mandates tied to wilderness designation here, and the terrain diversity — from lower-elevation foothills to timbered high country pushing nearly 9,700 feet — gives elk plenty of room to move seasonally while still leaving huntable ground within reach of most hunters willing to hike or run side-by-sides into the backcountry.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Cache, South Worth Applying For?

The honest answer is that Cache, South is a solid, workable option rather than a marquee trophy destination — and the data backs that up. Harvest success has been trending in the right direction. In the 2025 season, 42 hunters harvested 29 elk for a 69% success rate, a significant jump from 2024, when the same number of hunters (42) harvested only 17 animals for a 40% success rate. In 2023, 31 hunters harvested 15 elk, a 48% success rate. That three-year swing — 48% to 40% to 69% — shows some real year-to-year volatility, which is common on units with fluctuating weather, elk distribution, and hunter effort, but the most recent season's numbers are a strong signal that conditions and elk availability lined up well for hunters in 2025.

The public land access at 81% is a genuine strength. Hunters aren't fighting through a patchwork of private inholdings to reach huntable terrain, and the elevation spread means elk have both summer range and lower-elevation escape terrain within the same general unit boundary. That said, hunters should know this is not a wilderness unit — there's no backcountry pack-string mystique here, and access is generally more road- and trail-accessible than deep wilderness units elsewhere in the state.

Trophy potential is where hunters need to set realistic expectations. The counties overlapping Cache, South carry a moderate history of trophy-class elk records. This isn't a unit defined by consistent record-book production, but it also isn't devoid of trophy history — hunters have taken quality bulls from the broader county area over time. As with any unit where trophy records are attributed at the county level rather than the unit level, that history is shared with neighboring units, so hunters shouldn't assume every mature bull taken in those counties came specifically from Cache, South's boundaries. For hunters whose primary goal is a genuine shot at a record-class bull, this unit should be viewed as a solid opportunity rather than a top-tier trophy destination. For hunters who want a good chance at connecting on a bull and appreciate accessible public ground with real terrain variety, the recent harvest trend makes Cache, South worth serious consideration.

Harvest Success Rates

Cache, South's harvest data over the past three seasons tells a story of an improving trend with some year-to-year noise built in:

• 2025: 42 hunters, 29 harvested — 69% success
• 2024: 42 hunters, 17 harvested — 40% success
• 2023: 31 hunters, 15 harvested — 48% success

The jump from 40% in 2024 to 69% in 2025 with an identical hunter count (42 both years) stands out. That's not a change driven by fewer hunters diluting the harvest pool — the same number of hunters nearly doubled their harvest total year over year. It suggests either improved elk distribution, better weather timing, or simply a stronger year for hunters afield. Hunters should treat 2025 as an encouraging data point but not assume a 69% success rate is now the baseline going forward — the three-year average sits closer to the middle, and conditions can shift. Still, even the lower end of this range (40-48%) reflects a unit where hunters have a realistic, better-than-coin-flip chance of tagging out, which is respectable for elk hunting in general.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for Cache, South points to moderate trophy potential. The counties overlapping this unit carry a trophy history, meaning quality bulls have come from the broader area over time, but this isn't a unit with a deep or consistent pedigree of record-class production. Hunters chasing a genuine shot at a top-tier bull should treat Cache, South as a "possible, but not probable" proposition — the kind of unit where a mature bull is achievable with scouting and patience, but where hunters shouldn't build an entire hunt plan around drawing a record-book animal. Given that trophy records are logged by county rather than by unit, some of that history may reflect animals taken in neighboring units sharing the same county lines, so hunters should calibrate expectations accordingly rather than assuming Cache, South itself is a trophy factory.

For hunters prioritizing opportunity, general hunt quality, and a good chance at a mature bull rather than chasing record-book status, the unit's harvest trend is arguably more relevant than its trophy pedigree.

Access & Terrain

Cache, South offers a genuinely favorable access picture for a Utah elk unit. With 81% public land, hunters have room to roam without needing to negotiate private land access or lease arrangements for the bulk of their hunt. The absence of any wilderness acreage (0%) means there are no special access restrictions, and — importantly for out-of-state hunters — no Utah outfitter-guide requirement tied to wilderness status (that restriction only applies in designated wilderness areas in states like Wyoming, and doesn't apply here regardless).

The elevation range of 4,487 to 9,687 feet gives the unit real vertical diversity. Lower elevations tend toward sagebrush benches and foothill terrain, transitioning into timbered mid-elevation country and eventually high alpine ridgelines near the unit's upper elevation limit. That range means elk have multiple habitat zones to use depending on time of year, weather, and hunting pressure — and it gives hunters options for hunting style, whether that's glassing open benches from a distance or working timbered draws on foot.

Hunters covering ground with off-highway vehicles report being able to access a significant amount of country, which tracks with the high percentage of public land and the generally road- and trail-accessible nature of the terrain compared to a true wilderness unit. That said, hunters should expect to see other people afield — public land with strong access naturally draws hunting pressure, and the terrain isn't so remote that hunters can count on solitude. Scouting the full elevation gradient, rather than focusing on just one band, is likely to pay off given how much vertical variety the unit offers. Hunters planning their approach should use HuntPilot's map tools to overlay public land boundaries and identify specific access points and elevation bands worth glassing before setting boots on the ground.

How to Apply

Nonresidents should budget for the full stack of costs (license fee plus application fee plus, if drawn, the tag fee) when planning their Utah elk application.

For current draw odds specific to Cache, South and its available hunts, check HuntPilot's Utah unit pages or the state's published draw report — this article intentionally does not include year-specific draw percentages, since those figures shift annually as quotas and applicant pools change.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Utah page at /states/ut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is harvest success like in Utah Unit Cache, South for elk? Recent harvest success has ranged from 40% to 69% over the past three seasons. In 2025, 42 hunters harvested 29 elk (69% success), up significantly from 2024's 40% success rate with the same number of hunters. In 2023, 31 hunters harvested 15 elk for a 48% success rate. The trend suggests a unit where hunters have a realistic chance at connecting, though year-to-year variability is real.

What is the terrain like in Cache, South? The unit spans a wide elevation range from 4,487 feet up to 9,687 feet, offering sagebrush benches and foothill terrain at lower elevations transitioning into timbered mid-elevation country and high alpine ridgelines near the top of the range. With 81% public land and no wilderness acreage, much of the terrain is accessible by road and trail rather than requiring deep backcountry pack-in access.

How big are the elk in Cache, South? Trophy data indicates moderate trophy potential for the counties overlapping this unit. Quality bulls have come from the broader area historically, but this isn't a unit known for consistent record-book production. Hunters should view Cache, South as offering a realistic shot at a mature bull rather than a dedicated trophy destination, and should keep in mind that county-level trophy records are shared across neighboring units rather than being unit-exclusive.

Is Cache, South worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing accessible public land (81%) and solid harvest odds — especially given the strong 2025 season at 69% success — Cache, South is a reasonable unit to target. It's a better fit for hunters focused on opportunity and a good elk hunting experience than for those chasing a specific trophy-class bull. Check HuntPilot's Utah pages for current draw odds before deciding where to apply.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt elk in Cache, South? No. Cache, South has 0% wilderness acreage, so there is no Utah requirement for nonresidents to hire a guide or outfitter in this unit. This is different from Wyoming, where nonresident wilderness hunting mandates a licensed outfitter — that rule doesn't apply in Utah at all, and it's moot here regardless given the unit's lack of wilderness designation.