The Utah Division of Wildlife has recently announced several recommendations for changes to the big game rules in 2021 as well as proposed season dates. These changes range from new hunts to quota changes along with the normal litany of boundary changes.
The DWR is seeking public comment on the proposals that are to be discussed at RAC board meetings in the coming months. The public comment period opens on November 3rd for each of the five regional meetings.
Public comments can be submitted through an online form.
Central Utah RAC meeting: Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. (Public comments must be submitted by Nov. 7 at 11:59 p.m.)
Northern Utah RAC meeting: Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. (Public comments must be submitted by Nov. 9 at 11:59 p.m.)
Southern Utah RAC meeting: Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. (Public comments must be submitted by Nov. 14 at 11:59 p.m.)
Southeastern Utah RAC meeting: Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. (Public comments must be submitted by Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m.)
Northeastern Utah RAC meeting: Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. (Public comments must be submitted by Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m.)
Utah Wildlife Board meeting: Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. (Public comments must be submitted by Nov. 26 at 11:59 p.m.)
You can read about all of the proposed changes and view video presentations on each proposal here.
Proposed Changes for Deer
For 2021 the DWR has proposed one new general-season any legal weapon hunt with the most notable changes being in the deer management plan. Several proposed changes have been recommended that would ultimately decrease the statewide deer population objective from 454,100 to 403,800 animals. These large decreases in the number of units may cause a drop in available permits but this will not be fully known until the total tag numbers are released after the drawing deadline.
Recommended new hunts
Hunt name | North Slope |
|---|---|
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
2021 dates | Oct 13 - Oct 17 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Season type | 2021 dates | NR permits available |
|---|---|---|---|
North Slope | Any Legal Weapon | Oct 13 - Oct 17 | Yes |
Recommended hunts to discontinue
Hunt name | Henry Mtns |
|---|---|
Season type | Any Legal Weapon(Management) |
Hunt code | DB1009 |
Hunt name | Henry Mtns |
Season type | Archery(Management) |
Hunt code | DB1051 |
Hunt name | Henry Mtns |
Season type | Muzzleloader(Management) |
Hunt code | DB1052 |
Hunt name | North Slope, Summit |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | DB1021 |
Hunt name | Season type | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|
Henry Mtns | Any Legal Weapon(Management) | DB1009 |
Henry Mtns | Archery(Management) | DB1051 |
Henry Mtns | Muzzleloader(Management) | DB1052 |
North Slope, Summit | Any Legal Weapon | DB1021 |
2021 proposed deer management changes
Unit | Box Elder |
|---|---|
Current objective | 20,000 |
New objective | 20,000 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Cache |
Current objective | 25,000 |
New objective | 25,000 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Ogden |
Current objective | 11,000 |
New objective | 11,000 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Morgan-South Rich |
Current objective | 18,000 |
New objective | 16,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | East Canyon |
Current objective | 13,500 |
New objective | 13,500 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Chalk Creek |
Current objective | 10,500 |
New objective | 12,000 |
Objective change | Higher |
Unit | Kamas |
Current objective | 8,000 |
New objective | 8,000 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | North Slope |
Current objective | 10,000 |
New objective | 10,000 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | South Slope, Yellowstone |
Current objective | 13,000 |
New objective | 11,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | South Slope, Diamond Mtn/Vernal |
Current objective | 15,000 |
New objective | 13,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Book Cliffs |
Current objective | 15,000 |
New objective | 9,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Nine Mile |
Current objective | 8,500 |
New objective | 8,500 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | San Rafael |
Current objective | 1,000 |
New objective | No objective |
Objective change | NA |
Unit | La Sal, La Sal Mtns |
Current objective | 13,000 |
New objective | 8,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | La Sal, Dolores Triangle |
Current objective | 5,100 |
New objective | 3,100 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | San Juan, Abajo |
Current objective | 13,500 |
New objective | 13,500 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | San Juan, Elk Ridge |
Current objective | 5,600 |
New objective | 1,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Henry Mtns |
Current objective | 2,700 |
New objective | 2,700 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Central Mtns, Manti |
Current objective | 38,000 |
New objective | 28,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Central Mtns, Nebo |
Current objective | 22,600 |
New objective | 14,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Wasatch Mtns, West |
Current objective | 22,600 |
New objective | 22,600 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Wasatch Mtns, Currant Creek |
Current objective | 20,000 |
New objective | 17,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Wasatch Mtns, Avintaquin |
Current objective | 5,000 |
New objective | 4,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Oquirrh-Stansbury |
Current objective | 11,600 |
New objective | 11,600 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | West Desert |
Current objective | 11,200 |
New objective | 11,200 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Southwest Desert |
Current objective | 4,000 |
New objective | 3,500 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Fillmore, Pahvant |
Current objective | 12,000 |
New objective | 7,600 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Fillmore, Oak Creek |
Current objective | 2,500 |
New objective | 2,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Beaver |
Current objective | 13,000 |
New objective | 14,000 |
Objective change | Higher |
Unit | Monroe |
Current objective | 7,500 |
New objective | 7,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Mt. Dutton |
Current objective | 2,700 |
New objective | 3,200 |
Objective change | Higher |
Unit | Plateau, Fishlake |
Current objective | 10,000 |
New objective | 7,000 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Plateau, Thousand Lakes |
Current objective | 3,000 |
New objective | 1,400 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Plateau, Boulder/Kaiparowtis |
Current objective | 12,000 |
New objective | 8,500 |
Objective change | Lower |
Unit | Paunsaugunt |
Current objective | 6,500 |
New objective | 6,500 |
Objective change | Same |
Unit | Panguitch Lake |
Current objective | 10,000 |
New objective | 11,000 |
Objective change | Higher |
Unit | Zion |
Current objective | 15,500 |
New objective | 19,100 |
Objective change | Higher |
Unit | Pine Valley |
Current objective | 16,000 |
New objective | 19,500 |
Objective change | Higher |
Unit | Total |
Current objective | 454,100 |
New objective | 403,800 |
Objective change |
|
Unit | Current objective | New objective | Objective change |
|---|---|---|---|
Box Elder | 20,000 | 20,000 | Same |
Cache | 25,000 | 25,000 | Same |
Ogden | 11,000 | 11,000 | Same |
Morgan-South Rich | 18,000 | 16,000 | Lower |
East Canyon | 13,500 | 13,500 | Same |
Chalk Creek | 10,500 | 12,000 | Higher |
Kamas | 8,000 | 8,000 | Same |
North Slope | 10,000 | 10,000 | Same |
South Slope, Yellowstone | 13,000 | 11,000 | Lower |
South Slope, Diamond Mtn/Vernal | 15,000 | 13,000 | Lower |
Book Cliffs | 15,000 | 9,000 | Lower |
Nine Mile | 8,500 | 8,500 | Same |
San Rafael | 1,000 | No objective | NA |
La Sal, La Sal Mtns | 13,000 | 8,000 | Lower |
La Sal, Dolores Triangle | 5,100 | 3,100 | Lower |
San Juan, Abajo | 13,500 | 13,500 | Same |
San Juan, Elk Ridge | 5,600 | 1,000 | Lower |
Henry Mtns | 2,700 | 2,700 | Same |
Central Mtns, Manti | 38,000 | 28,000 | Lower |
Central Mtns, Nebo | 22,600 | 14,000 | Lower |
Wasatch Mtns, West | 22,600 | 22,600 | Same |
Wasatch Mtns, Currant Creek | 20,000 | 17,000 | Lower |
Wasatch Mtns, Avintaquin | 5,000 | 4,000 | Lower |
Oquirrh-Stansbury | 11,600 | 11,600 | Same |
West Desert | 11,200 | 11,200 | Same |
Southwest Desert | 4,000 | 3,500 | Lower |
Fillmore, Pahvant | 12,000 | 7,600 | Lower |
Fillmore, Oak Creek | 2,500 | 2,000 | Lower |
Beaver | 13,000 | 14,000 | Higher |
Monroe | 7,500 | 7,000 | Lower |
Mt. Dutton | 2,700 | 3,200 | Higher |
Plateau, Fishlake | 10,000 | 7,000 | Lower |
Plateau, Thousand Lakes | 3,000 | 1,400 | Lower |
Plateau, Boulder/Kaiparowtis | 12,000 | 8,500 | Lower |
Paunsaugunt | 6,500 | 6,500 | Same |
Panguitch Lake | 10,000 | 11,000 | Higher |
Zion | 15,500 | 19,100 | Higher |
Pine Valley | 16,000 | 19,500 | Higher |
Total | 454,100 | 403,800 |
|
The proposals from the DWR can be found here.
Proposed Changes for Elk
Several proposed changes are on deck for elk one of which includes a proposal to modify the current elk management plan to allow for an unlimited number of any-bull elk permits.
"We're making this recommendation after in-depth discussions with the elk committee who wrote the statewide elk management plan. It's a way to expand hunting opportunities for families, strengthen ties to Utah's hunting heritage and provide a challenge for hunters since this is not an easy hunt," DWR Big Game Coordinator Covy Jones said.
Traditionally, the general-season any bull elk permits have been limited to a total of 15,000 permits statewide. This proposal would remove the limit on any bull permits but will not affect spike elk permits which will still be capped to 15,000 statewide.
Recommended new hunts
Hunt name | Box Elder, Pilot Mtn |
|---|---|
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Aug 21 - Sep 10 |
NR permits available | No |
Hunt name | Cache, North |
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Sep 1 - Sep 30 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury, West |
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Sep 1 - Sep 30 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits |
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Sep 1 - Sep 30 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Sep 1 - Sep 30 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Cache, North |
Season type | HAMS |
2021 dates | Oct 1 - Nov 15 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury, West |
Season type | HAMS |
2021 dates | Oct 1 - Nov 15 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits |
Season type | HAMS |
2021 dates | Oct 1 - Nov 15 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | HAMS |
2021 dates | Oct 1 - Nov 15 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Season type | 2021 dates | NR permits available |
|---|---|---|---|
Box Elder, Pilot Mtn | Archery | Aug 21 - Sep 10 | No |
Cache, North | Archery | Sep 1 - Sep 30 | Yes |
Oquirrh-Stansbury, West | Archery | Sep 1 - Sep 30 | Yes |
Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits | Archery | Sep 1 - Sep 30 | Yes |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Archery | Sep 1 - Sep 30 | Yes |
Cache, North | HAMS | Oct 1 - Nov 15 | Yes |
Oquirrh-Stansbury, West | HAMS | Oct 1 - Nov 15 | Yes |
Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits | HAMS | Oct 1 - Nov 15 | Yes |
West Desert, Deep Creek | HAMS | Oct 1 - Nov 15 | Yes |
Recommended hunts to discontinue
Hunt name | Cache, North |
|---|---|
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | EB3004 |
Hunt name | Nine Mile, Anthro |
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | EB3012 |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury |
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | EB3014 |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | EB3023 |
Hunt name | Cache, North |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3034 |
Hunt name | Nine Mile, Anthro |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3051 |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3054 |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3074 |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3075 |
Hunt name | Cache, North |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3035 |
Hunt name | Nine Mile, Anthro |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3052 |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3055 |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | EB3076 |
Hunt name | Cache, North |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
Hunt code | EB3082 |
Hunt name | Nine Mile, Anthro |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
Hunt code | EB3090 |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
Hunt code | EB3092 |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
Hunt code | EB3101 |
Hunt name | Cache, North |
Season type | Multi-Season |
Hunt code | EB3106 |
Hunt name | Nine Mile, Anthro |
Season type | Multi-Season |
Hunt code | EB3114 |
Hunt name | Oquirrh-Stansbury |
Season type | Multi-Season |
Hunt code | EB3116 |
Hunt name | West Desert, Deep Creek |
Season type | Multi-Season |
Hunt code | EB3125 |
Hunt name | Season type | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|
Cache, North | Archery | EB3004 |
Nine Mile, Anthro | Archery | EB3012 |
Oquirrh-Stansbury | Archery | EB3014 |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Archery | EB3023 |
Cache, North | Any Legal Weapon | EB3034 |
Nine Mile, Anthro | Any Legal Weapon | EB3051 |
Oquirrh-Stansbury | Any Legal Weapon | EB3054 |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Any Legal Weapon | EB3074 |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Any Legal Weapon | EB3075 |
Cache, North | Any Legal Weapon | EB3035 |
Nine Mile, Anthro | Any Legal Weapon | EB3052 |
Oquirrh-Stansbury | Any Legal Weapon | EB3055 |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Any Legal Weapon | EB3076 |
Cache, North | Muzzleloader | EB3082 |
Nine Mile, Anthro | Muzzleloader | EB3090 |
Oquirrh-Stansbury | Muzzleloader | EB3092 |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Muzzleloader | EB3101 |
Cache, North | Multi-Season | EB3106 |
Nine Mile, Anthro | Multi-Season | EB3114 |
Oquirrh-Stansbury | Multi-Season | EB3116 |
West Desert, Deep Creek | Multi-Season | EB3125 |
The proposals from the DWR can be found here.
Proposed Changes for Antelope
For 2021 several new hunts were proposed for antelope in Utah along with a few that were removed. No major changes have been proposed or made at this point.
Recommended new hunts
Hunt name | Plateau, Highlands |
|---|---|
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Aug 21 - Sep 17 |
NR permits available | No |
Hunt name | Fillmore, Oak Creek South |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
2021 dates | Sep 29 - Oct 7 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | North Slope, Three Corners/West Daggett |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
2021 dates | Sep 29 - Oct 7 |
NR permits available | Yes |
Hunt name | Plateau, Highlands |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
2021 dates | Sep 29 - Oct 7 |
NR permits available | No |
Hunt name | Plateau, Highlands |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
2021 dates | Sep 18 - Sep 2 |
NR permits available | No |
Hunt name | Season type | 2021 dates | NR permits available |
|---|---|---|---|
Plateau, Highlands | Archery | Aug 21 - Sep 17 | No |
Fillmore, Oak Creek South | Muzzleloader | Sep 29 - Oct 7 | Yes |
North Slope, Three Corners/West Daggett | Muzzleloader | Sep 29 - Oct 7 | Yes |
Plateau, Highlands | Muzzleloader | Sep 29 - Oct 7 | No |
Plateau, Highlands | Any Legal Weapon | Sep 18 - Sep 2 | No |
Recommended hunts to discontinue
Hunt name | Plateau, Parker Mtn |
|---|---|
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | PB5333 |
Hunt name | Plateau, Parker Mtn |
Season type | Muzzleloader |
Hunt code | PB5335 |
Hunt name | Plateau, Parker Mtn |
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | PB5334 |
Hunt name | Season type | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|
Plateau, Parker Mtn | Archery | PB5333 |
Plateau, Parker Mtn | Muzzleloader | PB5335 |
Plateau, Parker Mtn | Any Legal Weapon | PB5334 |
The proposals from the DWR can be found here.
Proposed Changes for Bighorn Sheep and Bison
Among the once-in-a-lifetime species there are both hunt changes and boundary changes being proposed for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Desert Bighorn Sheep, and Bison.
Recommended new hunts - Bison
Hunt name | Book Cliffs, Wild Horse Bench |
|---|---|
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
2021 dates | Aug 1, 2021 - Jan 31, 2022 |
NR permits available? | Yes |
Hunt name | Season type | 2021 dates | NR permits available? |
|---|---|---|---|
Book Cliffs, Wild Horse Bench | Any Legal Weapon | Aug 1, 2021 - Jan 31, 2022 | Yes |
Recommended hunts to discontinue - Bison
Hunt name | Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/South - Cow |
|---|---|
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | BI6522 |
Hunt name | Henry Mtns |
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | BI6509 |
Hunt name | Henry Mtns - Cow |
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | BI6515 |
Hunt name | Season type | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|
Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/South - Cow | Any Legal Weapon | BI6522 |
Henry Mtns | Archery | BI6509 |
Henry Mtns - Cow | Archery | BI6515 |
Recommended new hunts - Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Hunt name | Fillmore, Oak Creek |
|---|---|
Season type | Archery |
2021 dates | Nov 20 - Dec 12 |
NR permits available | No |
Hunt name | Season type | 2021 dates | NR permits available |
|---|---|---|---|
Fillmore, Oak Creek | Archery | Nov 20 - Dec 12 | No |
Recommended hunts to discontinue - Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Hunt name | Box Elder, Pilot Mtn |
|---|---|
Season type | Any Legal Weapon |
Hunt code | RS6702 |
Hunt name | Season type | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|
Box Elder, Pilot Mtn | Any Legal Weapon | RS6702 |
Recommended hunts to discontinue - Desert Bighorn Sheep
Hunt name | Zion |
|---|---|
Season type | Archery |
Hunt code | DS6619 |
Hunt name | Season type | Hunt code |
|---|---|---|
Zion | Archery | DS6619 |
The proposals from the DWR can be found here.
4 Comments
Connor Wickham
12/20/2020, 12:01:48 AM
If the new goal for deer numbers decreases, does this mean more hunters killing deer? Or rather, less hunter access?
Michael McConville
11/9/2020, 7:03:28 AM
Minor thing: it'd be useful to put the deer units with changed objectives in bold.
Brady Miller
12/4/2020, 7:16:03 PM
Hey Michael. Thanks for the suggestion. I just updated the table and made things bold and added a new column that shows if it was increased, decreased or stayed the same.