DWR changes camping times and places near and around Hardware Ranch

Hardware Ranch is 16 miles east of Hyrum up Blacksmith Fork Canyon from Hyrum.

HYRUM —The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is implementing a new camping policy on Hardware Wildlife Management Area. Until now, they let people camp wherever and whenever they wanted in the WMA.

A file photo of Mule deer captured near Hardware Ranch and evaluated to see how they can cope in the winter. Photo courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Because the 14,000-acre Hardware WMA provides critical winter habitat for elk and other big game animals in the area they would like to decrease damage done by campers and increase the quality of the habitat to better serve the wildlife that uses it.

Hardware Ranch is located at the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon east of Hyrum.

Camping is now limited to five campgrounds: Wapiti, Baxter-Rock Creek, Baxter-Rock Creek Livestock and Hardware Flats.

A fifth area can be used for small hunting-season areas along state Route 101 which will also be open to camping.

Camping will be open on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 26, this year until hunting season camps start on Aug. 1.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Hardware WMA Manager Brad Hunt said it takes time for habitat to dry to the point that vehicles can travel on it without leaving ruts and damaging the vegetation.

Waiting until Memorial Day weekend to start the camping season on three of the camp areas will give the ground a chance to dry out so it isn’t as susceptible to damage,” he said. “The fourth major camp area, Hardware Flats, is higher in elevation and takes even longer to dry out, which is why the camping season there doesn’t start until Aug. 1.”

There are 194 wildlife management areas and waterfowl management areas in Utah. The DWR started acquiring the areas in the late 1940s for several reasons:

  • To conserve critical habitats for wildlife
  • To help minimize and mitigate wildlife depredation on private property
  • To provide anglers and hunters — who provide funding for the WMAs through the purchase of a fishing or hunting license — a place to hunt and fish in Utah

“While we would like to provide recreational opportunities on our WMAs, these properties were purchased for the benefit of wildlife and wildlife habitat,” he said. “These properties are public land, but they are not multiple use like many other state and federally owned properties.”

A file photo of Marni Lee Hardware Ranch Utah Division of Wildlife Resources education coordinator said they generally have 20,000-30,000 visitors during the winter.

Restricting camping until the areas dry out and limiting camping to the established camping areas and time frames should allow visitors to have a good time camping without damaging the habitat the WMA was purchased to protect.

DWR conservation officers will increase their presence on the WMA to ensure compliance with the new camping regulations.

For more information about the WMA or the camping changes, call the Hardware WMA Education Center at 435-753-6206.

 

 

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1 Comment

  • Blacksmith fork closures March 31, 2023 at 7:29 am Reply

    There are some people that worked with the DWR to reopen some of the day use sites along the river.
    Our spokesman contacted Senator Wilson, State rep Snider who put us in contact with UtahDWR Northern regional director who we had very good interaction with then we worked with the ranch manager to open the sites along the river and enlarged the proposed reduction of area at Wapiti.
    When the snow melts volunteer’s will be working on fences and gravel areas to reduce erosion

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