SALT LAKE CITY-The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will open their big game hunting permit application process on March 20, for those interested in harvesting deer, elk or other big game this fall.
Permits for Utah’s big game hunts will be held in March and April, so hunters can see the proposed permit numbers prior to applying. The application period runs until 11 p.m. MDT on April 24. To be included in the drawing for the hunts, apply online or over the phone by calling the nearest DWR regional office.
The results of the drawing will be released on May 15. Applicants will be notified by email, but you can also get the drawing results online or by calling 800-221-0659.
Big game hunts are held in Utah for the following species:
- Bighorn sheep (desert and Rocky Mountain)
- Bison
- Elk
- Moose
- Mountain goat
- Mule deer
- Pronghorn
“We don’t have the data from the winter big game captures, the previous fall hunt harvest rates, and other big game surveys until March each year,” DWR Wildlife Licensing Coordinator Lindy Varney said. “After we receive that data, we put together the permit recommendations for the upcoming fall big game hunting seasons. In 2023, due to public requests, we shifted the application dates from January to March so that hunters will have information about the proposed permit numbers prior to applying.
“Hunters can access the proposed permit numbers for each hunt unit beginning in April on the Utah Hunt Planner. The final permit numbers will be approved by the Utah Wildlife Board during their public board meeting on May 1.”
General-season bull elk hunts won’t be available until July. Permits for the general-season archery bull elk hunt go on sale July 8, any-bull elk permits go on sale July 10 and the spike bull elk permits go on sale July 17.
Changes to hunting units
In December 2024 the Utah Wildlife Board approved new hunting strategies on four deer hunting units as part of a multiyear study. Hunters should be aware of important changes when applying for deer permits on the following units, beginning this year and remaining in effect until 2028:
- There will be restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle general-season buck deer hunts on the Beaver, West; Boulder/Kaiparowits and Cache hunting units. For restricted muzzleloader, the ignition system is limited to traditional flintlock, wheellock, matchlock, musket cap or percussion cap. (All other ignition systems, including 209 primers, are prohibited.) And it contains only open sights or peep sights. For restricted rifle, it contains only open sights or peep sights, and cannot be semiautomatic. Archery would not be restricted, and the restrictions would not apply to limited-entry late muzzleloader hunts.
- There will be restricted archery, restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle limited-entry buck deer hunts on the Thousand Lakes hunting unit. For restricted muzzleloader, the ignition system is limited to traditional flintlock, wheellock, matchlock, musket cap or percussion cap. (All other ignition systems, including 209 primers, are prohibited.) And it contains only open sights or peep sights. For restricted rifle, it contains only open sights or peep sights, and cannot be semiautomatic. For restricted archery, it must be a single stringed long bow or recurve bow with no cables, pulleys or cams, it has no sights, and it has a draw weight of 40 pounds or more.
Visit the DWR website for more information about bonus and preference points.