Unit Nine Mile, Jack Creek

Major landmarks provide essential navigation and glassing references across this complex unit. The Roan Cliffs and Bad Land Cliffs mark prominent east-facing escarpments useful for distance spotting. Range Creek drainage serves as a major navigation corridor flowing southeast to the Green River.

The McPherson Range, Cherry Mesa, and Flat Iron Mesa offer high-ground perspectives. Tavaputs Plateau (both East and West sections) dominates the central terrain. Key geographic features like Bruin Point, Alger Pass, and Sand Pass provide route-finding landmarks.

The numerous benches—including Pariette, Three Fords, and Wild Horse Benches—offer vantage points for glassing the surrounding country.

Terrain rises from low-elevation desert basins around 4,200 feet to high alpine country exceeding 10,000 feet, creating distinct habitat zones. Lower elevations feature sagebrush plains and desert scrub along the river bottoms and benches, while mid-elevations transition into pinyon-juniper and scattered ponderosa forests. Upper elevations support dense conifer stands on the high ridges and plateaus.

The Tavaputs Plateau system dominates central portions, offering rolling terrain with moderate forest coverage. Elevation transitions are gradual in some areas, steep in others—canyons cut deeply through ridges, creating dramatic relief and diverse microclimates within short distances.

This unit presents a paradox: while roughly 2,850 miles of roads exist within the boundary, they're distributed across vast terrain, creating pockets of accessibility amid roadless country. The highway network (US-40, US-191, US-6, SR-123) provides excellent rim access and staging areas. Secondary roads branch into drainages like Range Creek and access some high plateaus, but many extend from private land or have seasonal restrictions.

The complexity score of 8.8 reflects terrain difficulty and navigation challenges despite fair road access. Most hunting pressure concentrates near roads and river corridors; the high plateaus and ridge systems away from main drainages see lighter use. Solitude is possible for hunters willing to foot it into remote basins.

Nine Mile, Jack Creek spans portions of Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, and Uintah counties across north-central Utah's rugged plateau country. The unit's boundaries are defined by major highways and natural features: US-40 and US-191 form the northwestern anchor near Myton and Duchesne, while US-6 and SR-123 define the southwestern edge through Sunnyside. The Green River forms the western boundary, with the Duchesne River and White River marking major drainages.

The unit excludes tribal trust lands and community wildlife management areas. Named populated places including Myton, Helper, Price, and Sunnyside provide reference points and potential access staging areas.

Water distribution is uneven but significant where present. The Green River and White River define the unit's western and southwestern boundaries, providing perennial flow year-round. Range Creek drainage is a major feature flowing south toward the Green River, generally reliable through the season.

Secondary streams including Gordon Creek, Coal Creek, and Fish Creek provide seasonal or moderate flows depending on snowmelt and timing. Numerous named springs—Dancehall, Marshall, Elbow, Johnson, and Indian Springs among others—are scattered throughout but shouldn't be relied upon without local knowledge. Reservoirs like Butte and Grassy Trail provide water in specific locations.

Water scarcity on the high plateaus requires strategic planning and knowledge of reliable sources.

This unit supports elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, desert sheep, moose, and black bear across its varied elevations. Lower desert benches and sagebrush flats hold pronghorn and mule deer, particularly in early season before heat stress drives them to higher elevations. Mid-elevation forests and plateaus are prime elk country, especially around Tavaputs Plateau where September rut hunting can be productive.

Higher ridges and escarpments hold bighorn and desert sheep, requiring glassing from distance and pack-in strategies. Range Creek and other major drainages funneling between elevations concentrate animal movement. Water sources dictate fall movement patterns—anticipate migration corridors around reliable springs and creeks.

Moose occupy willow-lined river bottoms and high-elevation park areas. The terrain's complexity demands pre-season scouting and detailed topographic study; success comes from understanding drainage systems and elevation transitions rather than covering distance.