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Utah Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Utah, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunt units. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

Utah is known for its exceptional mule deer hunting opportunities with easy-to-access hunting lands and a healthy population of over 300,000 mule deer. Throw in trophy Rocky Mountain elk and other big game and Utah is a bucket-list hunting state for good reason.

Terrain

Utah has three geographically-significant areas, from the Rocky Mountains that run from northeastern Utah through its center to the Basin and Ridge Region and the Colorado Plateau. Utah’s landscape is dominated by deep twisting canyons, archaic delicate arches, sheer mountains, and ridges, spires, and buttes.

Utah Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Antelope
Aug 19, 2023 – Aug 31, 2023
Antelope – Sportsman Archery
Aug 19, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
Antelope
Aug 19, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Antelope – CWMU Archery
Aug 19, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Antelope
Sep 1, 2023 – Nov 15, 2023
Antelope – Sportsman Any Weapon
Sep 1, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Antelope
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Antelope – CWMU Any Legal Weapon
Sep 1, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Bear
Jul 5, 2023 – Aug 4, 2023
Bear – Summer Limited
Seasons and areas vary. See regulations.
Jul 5, 2023
Aug 4, 2023
Bear
Nov 2, 2023 – Nov 12, 2023
Bear – Fall Limited
Seasons and areas vary. See regulations.
Nov 2, 2023
Nov 12, 2023
Bison
Aug 1, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Bison – Sportsman Any Weapon
Aug 1, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Bobcat
Nov 18, 2022 – Mar 1, 2023
Bobcat
Statewide.
Nov 18, 2022
Mar 1, 2023
Coyote
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Coyote
Statewide. No limit.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Deer
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 15, 2023
Deer – General Archery
Statewide
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 15, 2023
Deer
Aug 19, 2023 – Aug 31, 2023
Deer – Archery Sportsman Hunt
Aug 19, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
Deer
Sep 1, 2023 – Jan 15, 2024
Deer – Any Legal Weapon Sportsman Hunt
Sep 1, 2023
Jan 15, 2024
Deer
Sep 16, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Deer – Extended Archery
Either Sex. Ninemile, Green River Valley, Sanpete Valley, and South Wasatch areas
Sep 16, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Deer
Sep 27, 2023 – Oct 5, 2023
Deer – General Muzzleloader
Sep 27, 2023
Oct 5, 2023
Deer
Oct 11, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Deer – Early General Rifle
For units: Chalk Creek, East Canyon, Morgan-South Rich, Fillmore, Kamas, Nine Mile, North Slope, Panguitch Lake, Pine Valley, Plateau, Fishlake, Zion
Oct 11, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Deer
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Deer – General Rifle
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Deer
Sep 16, 2923 – Nov 30, 2023
Deer – Extended Archery

Either-sex. • Box Elder, West Bear River, Herriman South Valley, Ogden, Pine Valley, New Harmony, Southwest Desert, Cedar Valley, Uintah Basin, Utah Lake, Wasatch Front, and West Cache areas.

Sep 16, 2923
Nov 30, 2023
Dove
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Dove – Collared
Statewide. No limit.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Dove
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 30, 2023
Dove – Mourning & White-winged
Statewide.
Sep 1, 2023
Oct 30, 2023
Duck
Sep 23, 2023 – Sep 23, 2023
Duck – Youth Northern
Northern zone.
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 23, 2023
Duck
Sep 30, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
Duck – Youth Southern
Southern zone.
Sep 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Duck
Oct 7, 2023 – Jan 20, 2024
Duck – Northern
Northern zone.
Oct 7, 2023
Jan 20, 2024
Duck
Oct 14, 2023 – Jan 27, 2024
Duck – Southern
Southern zone.
Oct 14, 2023
Jan 27, 2024
Elk
Aug 19, 2023 – Dec 15, 2023
Elk – Extended Archery
Either-sex. Uintah Basin, West Cache, and Wasatch Front areas.
Aug 19, 2023
Dec 15, 2023
Elk
Aug 19, 2023 – Aug 31, 2023
Elk – Sportsman Archery
Aug 19, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
Elk
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 8, 2023
Elk – General Archery – Spike Bull
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 8, 2023
Elk
Aug 19, 2023 – Sep 20, 2023
Elk – General Archery – Any Bull
Aug 19, 2023
Sep 20, 2023
Elk
Sep 1, 2023 – Jan 15, 2024
Elk – Sportsman Any Weapon
Sep 1, 2023
Jan 15, 2024
Elk
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Elk – General Youth – Any Bull
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Elk
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 20, 2023
Elk – General Rifle – Any Bull/Spike
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 20, 2023
Elk
Nov 1, 2023 – Nov 9, 2023
Elk – General Muzzleloader
Nov 1, 2023
Nov 9, 2023
Fox
Sep 18, 2022 – Mar 1, 2023
Gray Fox
Statewide. No bag limit.
Sep 18, 2022
Mar 1, 2023
Fox
Sep 18, 2022 – Mar 1, 2023
Kit Fox
Statewide. No bag limit.
Sep 18, 2022
Mar 1, 2023
Fox
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Red Fox
Statewide. No bag limit.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Goat
Sep 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Mountain Goat – Sportsman Any Weapon
Sep 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Goose
Sep 23, 2023 – Sep 23, 2023
Goose – Northern Dark – Youth
Northern area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 23, 2023
Goose
Sep 30, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
Goose – Southern Dark – Youth
Southern area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Sep 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Goose
Oct 7, 2023 – Jan 20, 2024
Goose – Eastern Dark
Eastern area Box Elder dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Oct 7, 2023
Jan 20, 2024
Goose
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 14, 2023
Goose – Northern Dark (1st Season)
Northern area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 14, 2023
Goose
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 14, 2023
Goose – Wasatch Dark (Early)
Wasatch area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 14, 2023
Goose
Oct 14, 2023 – Jan 27, 2024
Goose – Southern Dark
Southern area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Oct 14, 2023
Jan 27, 2024
Goose
Oct 16, 2023 – Dec 22, 2023
Goose – Light (Early)
Statewide light goose (snow, blue, ross’).
Oct 16, 2023
Dec 22, 2023
Goose
Oct 26, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Goose – Northern Dark (Season 2)
Northern area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Oct 26, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Goose
Nov 10, 2023 – Feb 15, 2024
Goose – Wasatch Dark (Late)
Wasatch area dark goose (cackling, canada, white-fronted, brant).
Nov 10, 2023
Feb 15, 2024
Goose
Feb 1, 2024 – Mar 10, 2024
Goose – Light (Late)
Statewide light goose (snow, blue, ross’).
Feb 1, 2024
Mar 10, 2024
Grouse
Sep 1, 0223 – Dec 31, 2023
Grouse – Dusky & Ruffed
Statewide.
Sep 1, 0223
Dec 31, 2023
Grouse
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Grouse – Sharp-tailed
Open in certain areas. See regulations.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Grouse
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Grouse – Greater Sage
Open in certain areas. See regulations.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Moose
Sep 1, 2023 – Nov 15, 2023
Moose – Sportsman Any Weapon
Sep 1, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Mountain Lion
Mar 31, 2023 – Nov 2, 2023
Mountain lion – Pursuit

LaSal; San Juan, Mountains; and Book Cliffs, East units


No Dogs Allowed

Mar 31, 2023
Nov 2, 2023
Mountain Lion
May 3, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Mountain loin – Pursuit

Year round (beginning May 3, 2023)

May 3, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Pheasant
Oct 28, 2023 – Nov 2, 2023
Pheasant – Youth
Statewide.
Oct 28, 2023
Nov 2, 2023
Pheasant
Nov 4, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Pheasant – General
Statewide.
Nov 4, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Quail Game Type
Oct 28, 2023 – Oct 30, 2023
Quail – Youth
Statewide.
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 30, 2023
Quail Game Type
Nov 4, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Quail – California & Gambel’s
Statewide.
Nov 4, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Rabbit
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Rabbit – Jackrabbit
Statewide. Open all year
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Rabbit
Sep 1, 2023 – Mar 15, 2024
Rabbit – Snowshoe Hare
Statewide.
Sep 1, 2023
Mar 15, 2024
Rabbit
Sep 1, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail
Statewide.
Sep 1, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Sandhill Crane Game Type
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Sandhill Crane
Cache and Rich Counties
Sep 2, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Sandhill Crane Game Type
Sep 2, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Sandhill Crane
East Box Elder County
Sep 2, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Sandhill Crane Game Type
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 26, 2023
Sandhill Crane (Early season)
Uintah County.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 26, 2023
Sandhill Crane Game Type
Oct 27, 2023 – Nov 15, 2023
Sandhill Crane (Middle season)
Uintah County.
Oct 27, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Sandhill Crane Game Type
Nov 16, 2023 – Dec 5, 2023
Sandhill Crane (Late season)
Uintah County.
Nov 16, 2023
Dec 5, 2023
Sheep
Sep 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Bighorn Sheep – Sportsman Any Weapon
Desert and Rocky Mountain
Sep 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Oct 2, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Turkey – Fall Northern
Northern region.
Oct 2, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Oct 2, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Turkey – Fall Southeastern
Southeastern region.
Oct 2, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Oct 2, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Turkey – Fall Central
Central region.
Oct 2, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Nov 2, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Turkey – Fall Southern
Southern region.
Nov 2, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 13, 2024 – Apr 25, 2024
Turkey – Spring Limited Entry
Central (TK1003), Northeastern (TK1004), Northern (TK1005), Southeastern (TK1006) and Southern (TK1007) regions.
Apr 13, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 26, 2024 – Apr 28, 2024
Turkey – Spring General Youth
All regions.
Apr 26, 2024
Apr 28, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 29, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Turkey – Spring General
All regions.
Apr 29, 2024
May 31, 2024
Upland Bird
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
American Crow
Statewide. Bag limit: 10 birds. Possession limit: 30 birds
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Upland Bird
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Sep 1, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
Upland Bird
Sep 23, 2023 – Sep 25, 2023
Gray Partridge – Youth
Statewide.
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 25, 2023
Upland Bird
Sep 23, 2023 – Sep 25, 2023
Chukar – Youth
Statewide.
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 25, 2023
Upland Bird
Sep 30, 2023 – Feb 15, 2024
Gray Partridge
Statewide.
Sep 30, 2023
Feb 15, 2024
Upland Bird
Sep 30, 2023 – Feb 15, 2024
Chukar
Statewide.
Sep 30, 2023
Feb 15, 2024
Upland Bird
Dec 1, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
American Crow (Late Season)
Statewide.
Dec 1, 2023
Feb 28, 2024

Research. Draw. Hunt.

Hunt Research Tools is designed to help hunters research, plan, and apply for hunts and tags every year.

  • Build a successful strategy with easy-to-understand, accurate data
  • Covers all 12 Western states and all major big game species
  • Simple and powerful filtering sorts answers quickly
  • Compare across states, species, weapons, dates, and hunt types
  • Free with onX Hunt

Utah Draw Specifics

UTAH – ALL SPECIES

Point System

  • For limited entry elk, deer, antelope and Once in a Lifetime moose, sheep and goats Utah uses a traditional Bonus Point system
  • Bonus Points are like raffle tickets – the more you have, the more “chances” you have in the draw
  • You get one chance for your current application, and then one additional chance for every Bonus Point you have (so with 3 points, you’d get 4 chances)
  • If you apply for a tag and are unsuccessful, you will be awarded a Bonus Point for that species that will apply to next year’s application
  • Or you can also choose to apply for a Bonus Point Only each year to accumulate Bonus Points
  • If you draw your 1st choice for a limited entry tag, your Bonus Points are purged back to 0
  • For General Deer tags they use a traditional Preference Point system
  • Preference Points are like a place in line – 1st in 1st out. The applicants with the most Preference Points draw before those with less
  • You can apply for Preference Points only and accumulate General Deer Preference Points
  • If you draw your 1st thru 5th choice for General Deer, your Preference Points are purged back to 0

Tag Allocation

  • Nonresidents are issued a maximum of 10% of the total tags for a given hunt code
  • For limited entry and Once in a Lifetime (OIL) tags, 50% of the total number of tags for that hunt will be awarded to the applicants with the most Bonus Points
  • The remaining 50% of tags for any given hunt code will be issued in the Random Draw
  • If the resident or nonresident total quota is an odd number, the extra tag will be issued in the Bonus Point Draw
  • But if there is only tag available in total, it will be issued in the Random Draw
  • Limited Entry or OIL Example:
    • Hunt Code X has 50 total tags
    • 90% will be issued to Residents (R): 45 tags
    • 10% will be issued to Nonresidents (NR): 5 tags
    • 50% will be issued to the applicants with the most Bonus Points: 23 R / 3 NR
    • 50% will be issued in the Random Draw: 22 R / 2 NR
  • 100% of the General Deer tags per hunt code are issued to the applicants with the most Preference Points
  • 20% of the total General Deer buck tags are allocated to the Youth drawing
  • You can apply for both a Limited Entry and a General Deer tag, but if you draw a Limited Entry deer tag your General Deer tag application will not be considered (but you will still get a Preference Point)
  • You can only hold one Limited Entry or OIL tag per year. The draw order is limited entry deer, elk, antelope, OIL species (sheep, moose, mountain goat, bison), youth General Deer and then General Deer

Understanding the Draw Odds

  • In Utah, we include 2 draw odds columns in our List View: Bonus Point Draw and Random Odds
  • Bonus Point Draw Odds: We show the minimum # of Bonus Points it took to draw in the Bonus Point Draw, and the % of applicants that were successful at that point level. So 25% @ 16 pts means that 25% of the applicants with 16 Bonus Points were successful. It also means that 100% of applicants with more than 16 Bonus Points were successful, and that 0% of applicants with less than 16 Bonus Points drew a tag. In this example there are more applicants at 16 points than tags left to issue in the Bonus Point quota, so they randomly select from the pool of 16 point applicants until the quota is reached (thus the 25%). Use this column to evaluate if you have any shot to draw a tag in the Bonus Point draw given your point total. It’s also a key indicator of demand for the hunt, and it’s implied quality.
  • Random Odds: All applicants are eligible to draw in the Random drawing, regardless of your point level. The more Bonus Points you have, the better your random odds to draw are. If you change the selected value in the “Your Points” dropdown, this value will recalculate. Unless you are chasing a tag in the Bonus Point draw, this is the important column to consider.If you have 10 Bonus Points, and a hunt could have been drawn in the Bonus Point Draw with less than 10, the random column will not show a value. This is because you would have drawn in the Bonus Point Draw and awarded a tag before the Random draw occurred.Everyone’s 1st Choice is considered before anyone’s 2nd Choice. There are very, very few (if any) limited entry and OIL tags drawn as a 2nd Choice so focus on Choice 1 for your application.

Other Tips

  • Point creep is really bad in Utah and each year these hunts get harder and harder to draw, especially as a nonresident. If you are only applying for the highest demand hunts you can realistically go a lifetime without ever drawing. At least consider the middle tier demand hunts as part of your long term Utah strategy.

Utah Licenses, Permits, and Regulations

Utah hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every Utah hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Utah hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Utah.

Hunt Units

Utah has 39 elk hunt units in the state and 29 deer hunt units. The restrictions vary from unit to unit. Of the 39 elk hunt units, 18 are designated as “Any Bull” and the other 21 are “Spike Only.” Click below to view Utah’s hunt units in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

UT Private Lands Preview

UT Private Lands

Over 1,000,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Utah. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

UT Gov Lands Preview

UT Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 43,000,000 acres in Utah. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

SUBLAYERS (20) Expand Sublayers
UT WMUs Preview

UT WMUs

Utah Hunt Units. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.

Includes 20 Sublayers

  • Deer General Hunt Units
  • Deer (Limited Entry) Hunt Units
  • Deer (Extended Archery) Hunt Units
  • Elk (Extended Archery) Hunt Units
  • Elk General Season- Any Bull Hunt Units
  • Elk (Limited Entry) Hunt Units
  • Elk General Season-Spike Hunt Units
  • Antlereless Elk Private Lands Only
  • Pronghorn Limited Entry Hunt Units
  • Fall Turkey Hunt Units
  • Spring Turkey Hunt Units
  • Cougar Hunt Units
  • Moose Hunt Units
  • Black Bear Hunt Units
  • Bison Hunt Units
  • Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunt Units
  • Rocky Mtn. Bighorn Sheep Hunt Units
  • Rocky Mtn. Goat Hunters Choice Units
  • Sage Grouse Hunt Units
  • Sharp tailed Grouse Hunt Units
UT Possible Access Preview

UT Possible Access

onX has mapped 21,000 acres of possible access lands in Utah including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

UT Walk In Areas Preview

UT Walk In Areas

The Utah Department of Natural Resources Walk In Areas. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.

UT CWMUs Preview

UT CWMUs

The Utah Department of Natural Resources Cooperative Wildlife Management Units. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program.

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