New Or Noteworthy For This Year

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Utah's 2024 mule deer breakdown

UTAH'S 2024 MULE DEER APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Note: The application timeframe for all Utah species is March 21 to April 25, 2024 at 11 p.m. MT. Applicants wishing to purchase preference and/or bonus points can do so prior to the April 25 deadline or, if they miss that deadline, they can apply for points only during the antlerless application timeframe from June 5 to 19, 2024. You may apply online here.

Insider Features

HUNT PLANNER

To aid in your research and planning efforts, we created a brand new tool for Insiders called Hunt Planner. This tool will help you be more efficient at planning for hunts and also keeps all your research data organized. No more notepads getting lost or headaches when trying to remember what units caught your eye during your research! Everything you need is always in one place at GOHUNT.

What can you do in Hunt Planner?

POINT TRACKER

Point Tracker allows you to enter the number of points you have for each state and species and, as you research through Filtering and Draw Odds, your point total will automatically be highlighted.

State Information

To view important information and an overview of Utah’s rules/regulations, the draw system and bonus points, tag and license fees and an interactive boundary line map, check out our State Profile. You can also view the Utah Deer Profiles to access historical and statistical data to help you find trophy areas.

IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION

There is no waiting period for general season deer. 

Note: Applicants need to buy either a hunting license or combination hunting/fishing license to apply. Applicants will not be charged the cost of the permit unless they are successful in the draw.

The Utah Draw System

HUNTING LICENSE TO APPLY

Every applicant will need to have a valid hunting license to apply for hunts or even bonus and preference points only. That hunting license is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Applicants can buy one hunting license every two years and apply if they time it correctly. For example, if you purchase a hunting license and apply on the last day of this application period and then apply early in next year's application period, you could apply for two years on one hunting license. You do not need a valid hunting license to actually hunt; you only need it to apply in the draw.

The permit split offers 90% to residents and 10% to nonresidents.

Recommend permits for the three weapon types based on the following percentages: 20% archery, 20% muzzleloader and 60% any weapon. On some units, these percentages may be altered to help achieve buck-to-doe ratio objectives.

LIMITED ENTRY DEER HUNTS BONUS POINT SYSTEM 

Utah has a hybrid draw system for limited entry deer permits. Limited entry deer permits are: premium limited entry deer, limited entry deer, management and cactus buck deer, and handgun, archery, muzzleloader and shotgun (HAMS) hunts. Those are not separate species/hunts that you can apply for. You can only apply for one.

Premium limited entry deer hunts

These units/hunts are managed for higher buck:doe ratios (45-55:100) and a higher quality hunt. The Henry Mountains, Paunsaugunt and Antelope Island hunts fall under this category. There are archery, muzzleloader, rifle and multi-season hunts available for the Henry Mountains and the Paunsaugunt. Antelope Island only offers a rifle permit.

Limited entry deer hunts

Limited entry units are managed for a slightly lower buck:doe ratio (25-30:100) than the premium units. These units offer good hunts, but quality is not typically on par with the premium units. There are archery, muzzleloader, rifle and multi-season hunts for these units and the odds of drawing these hunts are better than the premium units. There are also late season muzzleloader limited entry hunts that occur on general season units. These hunts run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7. Be aware that the late muzzleloader hunts on general season units are limited entry hunts and utilize the bonus point hybrid draw system. If you draw one of these permits, you will lose any accumulated bonus points.

Cactus buck and management buck hunts

The Paunsaugunt unit will have archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunts for management (bucks with three points or less on at least one antler) and cactus (bucks with velvet covering at least 50% of its antlers during the season dates). The management and cactus buck hunts are limited entry hunts and successful applicants will lose any accumulated bonus points should they draw.

HAMS limited entry deer hunts 

HAMS hunts will occur on the Book Cliffs/Floy Canyon, Kaiparowits and East Canyon and run from Nov. 9 to 24. The dates are ideal for a rutting mule deer hunt, but weapons are restricted to handguns, archery, muzzleloader (no scope) and shotgun. If you draw one of these permits, you will lose any accumulated bonus points.

The limited entry deer hunts listed above utilize a hybrid bonus point system. UDWR allocates 50% of the permits for each hunt to the applicants with the most bonus points and 50% are randomly allocated. The random draw takes into consideration the number of points each applicant has, meaning you get more chances in the random draw with each point you have. For example, if I have no points, I get one chance. If I have 12 points, I get 13 chances (one for each point I have and one for this year’s application). If there is an odd number of permits available, the bulk go to high point holders. The remaining permits will be randomly allocated. If there is one permit only, it will be randomly allocated.

Bonus points are given for each year an applicant applies for a limited entry hunt and is unsuccessful in the draw. Bonus points are species specific, meaning you cannot apply bonus points for limited entry elk toward a limited entry deer hunt. We highly recommend that applicants apply for limited entry hunts and not for bonus points only. With Utah offering half of their permits through a random draw, applicants should apply for hunts. They will receive a bonus point if they are unsuccessful in the draw. 

Residents can apply for general season deer, dedicated hunter deer and one limited entry species: either premium/limited entry deer, limited entry elk or limited entry antelope. Residents can also apply for one once-in-a-lifetime species: moose, bighorn sheep, bison or mountain goat. Nonresidents can apply for every species they are interested in.

GENERAL SEASON DEER HUNTS PREFERENCE POINT SYSTEM

General season deer hunts are allocated in the state draw. There are no over-the-counter (OTC) deer options for residents or nonresidents. General season deer permits are allocated through a true preference point system. This means that the applicants with the most preference points for any given hunt receive the permits. Applicants can gain one preference point per year by applying for it as a first choice or by applying for a hunt and being unsuccessful in the draw. Applicants can include up to five hunt choices; however, applicants will lose their points if they draw any choice. Utah considers every applicant's first choice before moving to any applicant’s second choice. To draw a permit as a second choice, there must be a surplus of permits after every applicant’s first choice is considered. 

20% of the general season deer permits are allocated to youth applicants. Youth who apply for and draw a general season, any weapon permit can also hunt the archery, muzzleloader and rifle season(s). 

When considering general season deer hunts, the detailed draw odds pages are critical for the hunt(s) you are considering. Make sure you understand point creep and know how to read the draw trends.

DEDICATED HUNTER DEER HUNTS PREFERENCE POINT SYSTEM

The dedicated hunter program is offered on general season units. This program is a unique opportunity that allows a hunter to hunt all seasons (archery, muzzleloader, rifle) and harvest two bucks in a three-year period. The dedicated hunter program allocates permits using a true preference point system. The applicants with the most preference points who apply for any given hunt will be guaranteed the permit. If drawn, you will be enrolled in the program for three years. You may obtain a permit and hunt all three years, but you can only harvest two bucks in a three-year period. You can only hunt the unit you originally drew. In exchange for having a guaranteed permit and the opportunity to hunt all three seasons, a hunter must complete 32 service hours on UDWR approved conservation projects or you can purchase all or a portion of your hours at a cost of $40/per hour. 

If you can afford the cost and time to hunt multiple seasons, the dedicated hunter program is an excellent way to scout, hunt and harvest a big buck on a general season unit.

HUNT CHOICES

Applicants can select two hunt choices when applying for limited entry hunts. Every applicant’s first choice is considered before moving to anyone's second choice. It is extremely rare for a limited entry permit to be drawn as a second choice.

General season deer applicants can select up to five hunt choices. Be aware that if you draw any of your five choices, you will lose any accumulated preference points.

GROUP APPLICATIONS

Up to four applicants can apply for limited entry and general season deer hunts on one application. Group applications are not accepted for management buck hunts. Nonresidents and residents can apply together. Bonus points and preference points are averaged for a group application and rounded down to the nearest whole number. There must be enough permits to cover the number of applicants on your group application; otherwise it will be rejected. That goes for residents and nonresidents who apply together as a group. Nonresident permits will come out of the nonresident pool for that hunt — make sure there are enough permits if you apply in a group.

Draw order:

Utah’s draw goes in the following order from first to last:

Utah does not allow applicants to draw multiple limited entry tags in the same draw/year. Applicants also cannot draw both a limited entry deer and general season deer hunt in the same year. If you draw a limited entry deer permit, your general season deer application will not be considered in the draw, but you will receive a preference point. You also cannot draw a limited entry and a once-in-a-lifetime (moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat or bison) permit in the same year. Because of the order of the draw, if you draw a limited entry permit, your once-in-a-lifetime application will not be considered in the draw, but you will receive a bonus point(s).

Snowpack, drought, and habitat in Utah

2024

2023

2022

2021

Utah offers two different categories for allocating deer tags: limited entry hunts and general season hunts. As noted above, nonresidents can apply for all limited entry species, once-in-a-lifetime species and general season deer. Residents can also apply for one once-in-a-lifetime species, limited entry deer and general season deer, but, in this case, they would not be able to apply for limited entry elk or limited entry antelope. A resident must choose the limited entry species they want to apply for. As I have previously stated in other application strategies, Utah offers a lot of limited entry elk hunts and very few good OTC elk hunting options. Conversely, for deer, Utah has great general season opportunities, but far fewer great limited entry hunts. Basically, this means that residents should apply for limited entry elk and general season deer and only apply for limited entry deer or antelope when they are in waiting periods for elk. Both nonresidents and residents should utilize general season hunts to get into the field as often as possible and as means to justify the cost of buying a hunting license and applying for the species you are interested in. 

With that, the winter of 2022/2023 was severe and, in the northern half of the state, it definitely took a toll on fawn and adult survival. The southern portion of the state fared much better and survival was generally quite good. I had thought that antler growth in 2023 was going to be great and, in some spots (southern half of the state), it was good; however, for the most part, antler growth did not meet expectations. That was due to bucks being in worse body condition than I thought coming out of the winter months and having to recoup prior to them putting effort into growing antlers. They never quite hit maximum potential. There were still some great bucks taken last fall, but I think the fall of 2024 will be what I thought 2023 might be. In talking with biologists, new data suggests that a perfect year for mule deer would mean cooler October temperatures, some moisture in December, a warmer and wet January and February, April rains and, then, monsoonal storms in July and August. If I look back on the weather Utah is having, it’s nearly perfect and, provided Utah continues to get summer rain, it will definitely be a year when you’ll want to have a buck tag. If you have the points to draw a limited entry permit, this will be a great year to burn those. If you have been saving preference points to draw a general season permit, I would use those this year and go hunting. If you are not buying general season deer points in Utah, you should start. Mother Nature is in control, but I believe Utah has weathered some tough drought and winter years and is once again emerging and moving towards growing populations and great antler growth.

The best limited entry units in the state are going to continue to be the Paunsagunt, Henry Mountains and, more recently, the Fillmore, Oak Creek. Any of those units will offer a chance at a true buck of a lifetime. The odds of drawing those hunts are slim, but those are the best trophy areas. The other limited entry deer areas offer good hunts, but 180”+ bucks are the exception rather than the norm. The Book Cliffs, San Juan and Vernon Units all offer the chance at a fun hunt and possibly a better buck, but it’s important to have reasonable expectations. 

The best opportunity and potential exists in the general season deer hunts. Many of these areas offer healthy deer populations, good buck:doe ratios — and the trophy potential and age class is improving. There will be some true giants taken this fall on general season units and these hunts are what I would consider the real hidden gems in the state. 

In the tables below, you will find breakdowns of the premium limited entry, limited entry and general season deer units. You can review populations, buck to doe ratios, trophy potential, harvest success rates and the number of points required to draw in 2024. I highly recommend researching these hunts and trying to acquire a general season deer permit in 2024. Many of those hunts require almost no preference points and offer a really fun hunt and the off chance at a true trophy buck.

General season deer hunts can be drawn with very few points. The general season units are managed for buck to doe ratios of either 15-17:100 or 18-20:100 depending on the unit. Hunting pressure is typically high and the trophy potential on general season hunts is lower. Most of the bucks available are of a younger age class — normally 2.5 to 3.5 year old bucks. In saying that, every year, some of the best bucks in the state are killed on general season units. Those bigger bucks are not numerous, but they are there for hunters willing to scout hard and who have several days to hunt.

Hit list units for trophy Utah mule deer in 2024

Late limited entry muzzleloader hunts on general season units 

These hunts occur on the general season units from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 and permit holders can only hunt with a muzzleloader. These hunts are limited entry, occurring on all general season units and, if you draw one, all of your bonus points will be utilized. It’s worth noting that these hunts will begin two days after the rifle general season hunts. The dates are also prior to the prime dates of the rut, which typically occur throughout the middle of November into December. They are not managed for high buck to doe ratios or trophy potential although some great bucks have been killed. The bonus points required to draw these tags is close or slightly less than the limited entry hunts. If you apply for one of these hunts, I would suggest taking as much of the hunt off as possible. Pre-season scouting can be beneficial, but with the rifle general season hunt going on just prior to it, it may not be as helpful as you would hope. If Utah were to get some early snow storms and cold weather in 2024, this can be a decent hunt, but I would suggest it’s more of an opportunity type of hunt than a hunt for a mature trophy caliber buck. Below are the better options for these limited entry hunts. There will be a handful of giant bucks killed this fall on these hunts, likely from areas with high buck to doe ratios and units that have had a fewer number of general season permits in more recent years.

Limited entry deer bonus points

2024 maximum bonus points for limited entry deer: 28

General season deer preference points

2024 maximum preference points for general season deer: 24

Conclusion

To explore the odds of hunts, log into your account, hover over the Insider header and then when the drop down appears, click on “Draw odds.” You can then select Utah as the state and then resident/nonresident or click the species “mule deer, limited entry.” That will allow you to see the odds for every limited entry deer hunt offered. You can do the same thing for general season hunts. I would suggest you also take a look at the detailed draw odds pages for each hunt you are considering in order to review five years of draw data and trends to help you predict what your chances will be this year.

As you review the number of people who have a significant number of preference points for the general season, you will see that there are many people packing points. If you are one of those applicants with over six points, you may consider applying as a party with a new hunter and going on a hunt. Many of the general season hunts can be drawn with very few points. If you have enough points to draw some of the better general season hunts, I would highly recommend burning those and going to Utah to hunt. Utah’s other limited entry species are tough to draw, so get some value out of the license you have to buy to apply every year and go on a general season deer hunt as often as you can!