21 years later, though, in 1963, the still small herd grew tired of the desert and abandoned it altogether for the higher, more verdant snow-fed meadows of the nearby Henry Mountains. The Henry Mountains are also notable for the free-roaming herd of bison that lives here, one of only three in the country. The Henry Mountains herd has used grassland flats at just over 5000 feet in elevation on Blue Bench, pinyon-juniper woodlands and chainings from 5000 feet at Swap Mesa to over 8000 feet at McMillian Springs. The HM bison herd is a closed population that was established in 1941 with 18 bison (3 bulls and 15 cows) from YNP. On the Henry Mountains, bison have been very adaptable and utilized a wide variety of habitat types. The range is one of the few places in the country where a bison herd roams freely, but even if you don't see a bison, you'll be satisfied … Latitude/Longitude:-110.807245, 38.016124. The herd stopped here for a while, enjoying their newfound buffet atop the Aquarius Plateau. The Henry Mountains bison herd is truly a national treasure, as one of the few free-ranging, disease free herds in the wild. This has created the potential for con. Descendants of animals transplanted to the area from Yellowstone in 1941, the Henry Mountains herd is thought to be one of the few remaining genetically pure groups of the species. Utah’s Henry Mountain bison herd is one of the only wild herds left in the Lower 48. The Bison herd on the Henry Mountains is unique in that it is one of the few herds in the United States that are genetically pure, free-ranging, and brucelocis-free. The population is stable and thriving, though is not natural, having been established in 1941 after relocation of 18 individuals from Yellowstone National Park. The Henry Mountains bison herd can frequently be spotted along the South Summit Ridge of Mt. Generally, summer is a good time for bison watching in all the locations as it's when the calves are born and roam around. The Henry Mountains are within the historical range of bison. Read more Bison Bellows here. Bison also use sub-alpine meadows Bison … Find hotels and airbnbs near . A mecca for outdoor recreation, the Henry Mountain range is an ideal destination for hiking, camping, off-roading, photography, hunting and wildlife viewing. ict between cattle ranchers on one hand and sportsmen on the other who consider the Henry Mountains prime bison hunting country. An additional 5 bulls were released in 1942 when some or all of the original bulls dispersed away the from herd [10,11].The HM bison herd grew rapidly, reaching an all-time high in 2007 [], and now numbers ~350 adults.The bison range over an area of ~125,000 ha. The range is home to one of only four pure bison herds–and the only huntable herd of free-roaming bison–on public lands in North America. Ellen during the summer months. Recently, the bison herd has increased to more than 400 head, and is now competing with livestock for summer range forage. Bison were introduced into the area in the mid-1940s. However, the range probably did not sustain high population densities due to a lack of water. The hunting is hard, and drawing a permit is even harder. Drawing happens only once in a hunter’s lifetime—and that’s if you’re lucky. Here, the herd thrived and quickly swelled in numbers. Buffalo in that unit roam across some of the most rugged territory on earth. Henry Mountains Field Station 380 South 100 West Hanksville , UT 84734. Living in this rugged terrain is the continental United State’s only free-roaming, huntable herd of American bison, a prized trophy animal for sportsmen. Did you know?