Single Party Big Game Hunter Campsite

What is the single party, big game hunt campsite?

The big game hunt campsite (BGH campsite) is a primitive campsite located at the center of the field station, restricted to a single hunting party each night. A single party is limited to three individuals (one licensed hunter and two individuals assisting with the hunt). The BGH campsite is only available by special permit and reservation to Range Creek season pass holders. The BGH campsite will open July 30th and close November 30th each season. Use of the BGH campsite is restricted to individuals in possession of a valid big game permit (issued by the Division of Wildlife Resources). There is no vehicular access, including bicycle or e-bike. Access to the BGH campsite will be by foot and horse only, from the north entrance of the Range Creek Field Station. Reservations for the campsite will be awarded via a pre-season permit lottery. If you are awarded a reservation during the lottery, a day permit will be provided to each member of the hunting party for each day of the campsite reservation. See below for details and the lottery application which will be open for entries May 7, 2024. Thank you for being patient with us as we explore the best way to manage this new access opportunity.

BGH Campsite Location

• Cherry Meadows: ~7.4 miles from the entrance (center of the Field Station) MAP

Dates

• Campsite open July 30-Nov. 30^th
• Reservation limited to 5 consecutive nights
• The Range Creek Field Station closes for the season Nov. 30^th

Primitive Campsite Accommodations

• Vegetation cut back with tractor/mower
• Hitching posts
• Chemical toilets
• No fire rings - fires not permitted
• Close proximity to Range Creek (*water not always flowing during drought years)

Regulations for use of the campsite

• Season pass required to enter the lottery and reserve the campsite
• Valid big game permit (from DWR) required to stay at the campsite
• No more than 3 occupants per night (1 licensed hunter and up to 2 non-licensed assistants)
• No more than 5 consecutive nights
• Check-in after 12:00 pm the 1st day of the reservation
• Check-out before 12:00 pm the last day of reservation
• Access by foot or horseback only, from the north entrance gate. No motorized vehicles.
• Each visitor is allowed one riding animal and one pack animal (horse or mule). No more than 6 animals total at the campsite
• No hitching animals to trees or other structures (natural or man-made) besides hitching posts
• Only certified weed-free feed permitted
• No transferring reservations between individuals
• No collecting artifacts or disturbing archaeological sites
• No recreational discharge of firearms or sighting in targets
• Portable, fuel canister gas stoves only
• No campfires, charcoal grills, charcoal cookstoves, or refillable liquid fuel cooking devices
• Please restrict smoking to cleared campsite area
• Leave no trace - pack out all trash
• No affixing devices (including trail cameras) to trees or any other natural or man-made feature
• Using or possessing glass containers outside of enclosed vehicles, tents, trailers, or recreational vehicles is prohibited
• No baiting
• No commercial use

Campsite permit lottery information and important dates

Permits are assigned using a pre-season lottery or must be reserved in advance after the lottery has ended if reservations are still available. Hunters must be 18 years or older to enter the lottery and reserve the campsite. A museum account must be created before purchasing a Season Pass for visiting the Range Creek Field Station in advance on this website before entering the permit lottery. Applicants will be randomly selected and assigned BGH campsite reservations for up to 5 consecutive nights, between July 30 through November 30. The reservation will include day permits for each member of the hunting party, for each day of the stay at the BGH campsite. Participation in this lottery will not affect other day permit reservations you may already have for visiting the field station. The public campground located at the north gate is still available to all Range Creek visitors.

• For the hunting season, July 30-November 30, reservations for the BGH campsite are allocated through a pre-season permit lottery due to the high level of visitor demand.
• Only one lottery application per individual 18 years or older may be submitted. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
• Lottery applications for campsite permits will be accepted May 7 through June 7 at 10:00 pm MDT.
• Lottery results will be announced by email on June 21. The email will come from rangecreekacpermits@nhmu.utah.edu. Be sure to check your junk mail folder.
• Successful applicants must accept their awarded campsite permit reservation by email before July 5, 2024, at 10:00 pm MDT.
• Unaccepted reservations and cancellations will be made available to other hunters starting Aug 5, 2024, at 10:00 am MDT.

Enter Campsite Permit Lottery

Step 1: Create a museum account or log in to your account here

Step 2: If you have not already done so, purchase a Season Pass for $1 for each person in your party. A single hunting party includes one licensed hunter with a valid big game permit and up to two non-licensed assistants.

Step 3: Fill out this application (2024 Lottery closed June 7th) to be entered for a chance to be awarded a reservation for 1-5 nights at the BGH campsite. To enter the lottery, you will need your Range Creek Season Pass number, your contact information (name, address, phone, birthdate, email address), your preferred reservation dates, and the names of up to two assistants in your hunting party. Confirmation of lottery entry will be sent by email.

Step 4: You will be notified of the results of the lottery by email on June 21 before 10:00 pm MDT.

Step 5: If your application was successful, accept your reservation award by email before July 5, at 10:00 pm MDT. If your application was not successful, check back for cancellations and unaccepted reservations after Aug 5th. See below for steps to reserve the campsite after Aug 5th.

Step 6: If you accept your awarded reservation, a day permit and campsite reservation confirmation will be sent to you by email by July 19, 10:00 pm MDT. Please carry the permit with you while visiting the field station. Field station security will be monitoring the campsite. 

Step 7: Please cancel your reservation by email if you find that your plans have changed.

* Permit, lottery, and campsite reservation information is subject to revision for future seasons*

How the lottery works

Each individual may enter the lottery one time using the online application above. Each entry is stored in a database. After the application deadline, individual entries will be randomly selected from the database. One campsite reservation will be assigned to each of the randomly selected individuals sequentially. We will assess the availability of each randomly selected hunter’s preferred dates in order and award the preferred dates if available. Lottery winners will be awarded between 1 and 5 consecutive nights depending on availability near their preferred dates. Successful lottery winners will be notified of their reservation dates by email. Hunters can confirm all or part of the reservation by email but the awarded dates cannot be changed. The reservation will be non-transferable. After confirmation, a BGH campsite reservation and day permits will be sent by email. 

How to check availability after the 2024 pre-season lottery

On August 5, 2024, at 10:00 am MDT, available nights at the campsite can be reserved. Please check the calendar below for campsite availability before requesting a reservation here. The reservation request does not guarantee a reservation. Reservations will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis. Please allow 48 hours for us to get back to you about your reservation. For questions, please contact us by email (rangecreekACpermits@nhmu.utah.edu) as we are in the field with limited access to internet and phone service.