Utah Unit Fillmore, Oak Creek LE Mule Deer Hunting Guide

Hunters researching Utah's Fillmore, Oak Creek LE unit for mule deer are looking at one of the state's limited-entry draws, where controlled tag numbers and consistently high harvest success have made this a unit worth understanding in detail before committing points or an application. Spanning 222,896 acres with an elevation range of 4,727 to 9,692 feet, this west-central Utah unit offers a mix of lower desert benches and higher timbered country that supports mule deer through multiple seasonal ranges.

With 71% of the unit in public ownership and zero designated wilderness, Fillmore, Oak Creek LE gives hunters real access without the added logistical and legal complications that wilderness boundaries can create in other states. That combination of solid public access, limited-entry tag control, and a multi-year track record of strong harvest numbers puts this unit on the radar for both Utah residents and nonresidents willing to navigate the state's point system.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Fillmore, Oak Creek LE Worth Applying For?

The harvest numbers here tell a straightforward story. Success rates over the last four seasons of available data have run consistently high: 90% in 2025, 89% in 2024, 81% in 2023, and 91% in 2022. That's an unusually stable pattern for a limited-entry mule deer unit, and it reflects the core benefit of controlled-tag management — fewer hunters in the field translates directly into a higher percentage of tag holders connecting on a buck. Hunter numbers have also crept upward, from 54 hunters in 2022 to 71 in 2025, while harvest success has held in the high 80s to low 90s for three of those four years, with 2023 being the outlier at 81%.

That kind of consistency is exactly what hunters should want to see before investing points in a limited-entry application. A single good year can be a fluke; four years of 80%+ success is a trend. For hunters trying to decide whether Fillmore, Oak Creek LE deserves a spot on their Utah application list, the harvest data alone makes a strong case — this is a unit where drawing the tag is genuinely the hard part, not filling it once you're in the field.

Trophy potential adds another layer worth weighing. The counties overlapping this unit carry a moderate history of trophy-class mule deer entries in the record books. That doesn't put Fillmore, Oak Creek LE in the same conversation as Utah's most decorated limited-entry units, but it does mean hunters have a realistic shot at a quality, mature buck rather than simply filling a tag on the first legal animal seen. Given the county-level nature of record-book attribution, it's worth noting that these entries are shared with any other units overlapping the same counties — they aren't proof of bucks taken specifically within Fillmore, Oak Creek LE's boundaries, but they do reflect the genetic and habitat quality of the broader area.

Combined with 71% public land, hunters aren't fighting for scraps on a handful of access points — there's real country to hunt without needing to lease or negotiate private ground, though the remaining 29% is still worth noting for hunters who want to check land ownership boundaries carefully before setting up camp or glassing points.

Harvest Success Rates

Fillmore, Oak Creek LE has posted some of the more reliable harvest numbers among Utah's limited-entry mule deer units in recent seasons:

• 2025: 71 hunters, 64 harvested — 90% success
• 2024: 63 hunters, 56 harvested — 89% success
• 2023: 59 hunters, 48 harvested — 81% success
• 2022: 54 hunters, 49 harvested — 91% success

Three of the last four years show success rates at or above 89%, with 2023 dipping to 81% — still a strong number by most Western mule deer standards, but a reminder that even well-managed limited-entry units see year-to-year variability tied to weather, animal movement, and hunting conditions. The overall trend, however, is unmistakably positive: both hunter participation and total harvest have grown together, without success rates collapsing under increased pressure. That's the signature of a unit being managed for quality rather than volume.

Trophy Quality

Trophy history for the counties overlapping the Fillmore, Oak Creek LE unit reflects moderate potential — there's a documented history of quality bucks coming from this general area, though it isn't among Utah's elite trophy producers. Hunters should treat this as a realistic expectation-setter: this isn't a unit where record-caliber bucks show up with regularity, but the genetics and habitat here have produced trophy-class animals historically, and mature bucks are attainable for hunters willing to put in scouting time and hold out for the right animal.

Given the county-based nature of trophy record attribution, it's important to understand that these records are shared across every unit that overlaps the same counties — they speak to the broader region's potential rather than pinpointing exact harvest locations within Fillmore, Oak Creek LE specifically. Hunters chasing a specific trophy class should treat this as one data point among several, not a guarantee.

Access & Terrain

Fillmore, Oak Creek LE spans a wide elevation gradient — from 4,727 feet up to 9,692 feet — which gives mule deer plenty of room to move seasonally between lower desert-fringe country and higher timbered elevations as conditions and forage change through the season. That elevation spread also means hunters should be prepared for genuinely different terrain types within the same unit, from lower sagebrush and juniper benches to steeper, more timbered high country near the top of the range.

With 71% of the unit's 222,896 acres in public ownership, DIY hunters have a solid base of accessible ground to work with. There's no designated wilderness in this unit, which simplifies access logistics considerably — hunters can use motorized access on approved routes without navigating wilderness-boundary restrictions that complicate scouting and retrieval in other units. That said, the remaining 29% of the unit is private land, and hunters should verify boundaries carefully, particularly in lower-elevation areas where private ranch and agricultural ground tends to concentrate in Utah's west-central units.

Forum accounts from hunters in this general region describe steep, thick country in places, with some drainages holding good deer numbers and genetics historically, though conditions can shift year to year based on winter severity — a factor worth watching heading into any season, since a hard winter can meaningfully affect buck numbers and age structure the following year.

For hunters planning scouting trips, especially nonresidents unable to make multiple pre-season visits, using HuntPilot's public land mapping tools to identify accessible blocks, water sources, and elevation bands ahead of time is a practical way to narrow down where to focus limited scouting days once boots are on the ground.

How to Apply

Fillmore, Oak Creek LE is part of Utah's limited-entry deer draw, and the state's application system requires attention to both dates and required fees well before hunters submit anything.

Fee structure differs significantly by residency:

That license requirement is critical and often overlooked — Utah requires hunters to hold a valid hunting license before they can apply for the limited-entry deer draw. This is a separate cost from the application fee and tag fee, and nonresidents in particular should budget for it as part of the true up-front cost of applying, even before knowing whether they'll draw.

Hunters can also check HuntPilot's Utah state page for the latest application windows and unit-specific information as each draw cycle approaches.

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 the terrain like in the Fillmore, Oak Creek LE unit? The unit covers a wide elevation range from 4,727 to 9,692 feet across 222,896 acres, meaning hunters encounter everything from lower sagebrush and juniper benches to steeper, more timbered high-elevation terrain. Forum reports describe some drainages as steep and thick with brush. With 71% public land and no designated wilderness, access is generally straightforward for DIY hunters, though private ground makes up nearly a third of the unit and should be identified carefully before scouting or setting up hunting areas.

What is harvest success like in the Fillmore, Oak Creek LE unit? Harvest success has been strong and consistent in recent years: 90% in 2025, 89% in 2024, 81% in 2023, and 91% in 2022. This places Fillmore, Oak Creek LE among the more reliable limited-entry mule deer units in terms of tag holders successfully filling their tags, which is typical of controlled-tag units where hunter numbers are capped relative to the deer population.

How big are the mule deer in the Fillmore, Oak Creek LE unit? Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping this unit show a moderate history of trophy-class mule deer, indicating the area has produced quality bucks over time without ranking among Utah's top trophy units. Hunters can reasonably expect a shot at a mature buck, particularly given the high harvest success rates, but should treat any specific trophy expectations with caution since record-book entries are attributed at the county level and shared with neighboring units.

Is the Fillmore, Oak Creek LE unit worth applying for? Based on the available data, yes — the combination of consistently high harvest success (80%+ across four straight years), 71% public land access, no wilderness restrictions complicating access, and a moderate trophy history makes this a solid limited-entry option for hunters who value a strong chance of filling their tag on a quality buck. Hunters should check HuntPilot's Utah unit page for current draw odds specific to their residency and point status before finalizing an application strategy.

Is there wilderness area to worry about in Fillmore, Oak Creek LE? No. This unit has 0% designated wilderness, which means hunters can use standard motorized access on approved routes throughout the unit without the additional restrictions or guide requirements that wilderness boundaries can trigger in other Western hunting units.