In recent years, Utah has regained some of its former mule deer glory. Many record-class specimens have been taken, especially in limited-entry areas where hunting pressure is controlled to allow bucks to grow old. Many private ranches also have improved under a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit program that limits tags but allows hunting when mature bucks are vulnerable in early September and early November.
License Costs
|
Resident |
Nonresident |
General season |
$46 |
$418 |
Limited entry |
$94 |
$670 |
Multi-season limited entry |
$170 |
$1,130 |
Premium limited entry |
$185 |
$798 |
Multi-season premium limited entry |
$336 |
$1,330 |
Management buck deer |
$94 |
$670 |
Dedicated hunter |
$215 |
$1,067 |
| Resident | Nonresident |
General season | $46 | $418 |
Limited entry | $94 | $670 |
Multi-season limited entry | $170 | $1,130 |
Premium limited entry | $185 | $798 |
Multi-season premium limited entry | $336 | $1,330 |
Management buck deer | $94 | $670 |
Dedicated hunter | $215 | $1,067 |
News, notes and alerts
Applications are submitted online
Hunters must buy an annual hunting license
Hunting licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase
Buying a landowner voucher does not affect preference or bonus points
Premium tags allow hunters to hunt all seasons until they harvest a buck
Highlights
General rifle seasons are in October when most mature bucks are in heavy cover
Most archery seasons take place in August and early September
Muzzleloader season starts in late September, when big bucks move into cover
Some units are mostly private or private-access public land
Hunters can enjoy wilderness hunting in several units
Most large private ranches offer guided hunts or lease to outfitters who do so
Many general season units are crowded with hunters and offer low hunter success
Boone and Crockett entries: Typical
** Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county.
County |
Entries |
Units within county |
Kane |
34 |
25C/26 Plateau-Boulder/Kaiparowits / 27 Paunsaugunt / 28 Panguitch Lake / 29 Zion |
Garfield |
22 |
12/16B/16C Central Mtns-Manti/San Rafael / 15 Henry Mtns / 22 Beaver / 24 Mt Dutton / 25C/26 Plateau-Boulder/Kaiparowits / 28 Panguitch Lake |
Summit |
16 |
4/5/6 Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich / 7 Kamas / 8 North Slope / 17B/17C Wasatch Mtns-Avintaquin/Currant Creek |
Morgan |
13 |
3 Ogden / 4/5/6 Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich |
San Juan |
12 |
13A La Sal-La Sal Mtns / 14A San Juan-Abajo Mtns / 14B San Juan-Elk Ridge |
County | Entries | Units within county |
Kane | 34 | 25C/26 Plateau-Boulder/Kaiparowits / 27 Paunsaugunt / 28 Panguitch Lake / 29 Zion |
Garfield | 22 | 12/16B/16C Central Mtns-Manti/San Rafael / 15 Henry Mtns / 22 Beaver / 24 Mt Dutton / 25C/26 Plateau-Boulder/Kaiparowits / 28 Panguitch Lake |
Summit | 16 | 4/5/6 Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich / 7 Kamas / 8 North Slope / 17B/17C Wasatch Mtns-Avintaquin/Currant Creek |
Morgan | 13 | 3 Ogden / 4/5/6 Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich |
San Juan | 12 | 13A La Sal-La Sal Mtns / 14A San Juan-Abajo Mtns / 14B San Juan-Elk Ridge |
Boone and Crockett entries: Nontypical
** Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county.
County |
Entries |
Units within county |
Utah |
11 |
12/16B/16C Central Mtns-Manti/San Rafael / 16A Central Mtns/Nebo / 17A Wasatch Mtns/West / 18 Oquirrh-Stansbury / 19C West Desert/Tintic |
Cache |
10 |
Iron |
9 |
20 Southwest Desert / 22 Beaver / 28 Panguitch Lake / 29 Zion / 30 Pine Valley |
Kane |
9 |
25C/26 Plateau-Boulder/Kaiparowits / 27 Paunsaugunt / 28 Panguitch Lake / 29 Zion |
Morgan |
8 |
3 Ogden / 4/5/6 Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich |
San Juan |
6 |
13A La Sal-La Sal Mtns / 14A San Juan-Abajo Mtns / 14B San Juan-Elk Ridge |
County | Entries | Units within county |
Utah | 11 | 12/16B/16C Central Mtns-Manti/San Rafael / 16A Central Mtns/Nebo / 17A Wasatch Mtns/West / 18 Oquirrh-Stansbury / 19C West Desert/Tintic |
Cache | 10 | |
Iron | 9 | 20 Southwest Desert / 22 Beaver / 28 Panguitch Lake / 29 Zion / 30 Pine Valley |
Kane | 9 | 25C/26 Plateau-Boulder/Kaiparowits / 27 Paunsaugunt / 28 Panguitch Lake / 29 Zion |
Morgan | 8 | 3 Ogden / 4/5/6 Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich |
San Juan | 6 | 13A La Sal-La Sal Mtns / 14A San Juan-Abajo Mtns / 14B San Juan-Elk Ridge |
Dedicated Hunter Program
The Dedicated Hunter program is designed to give hunters a unique opportunity to hunt all three general deer seasons (archery, muzzleloader, and rifle). 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 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. Residents may buy out 24 of their 32 hours at a rate of $20 per hour. Nonresidents may buy out all 32 of their service hours at the same rate.
When you apply to join the Dedicated Hunter program, you'll be charged a nonrefundable $10 application fee. If you are successful in the drawing, you will be charged one of the following fees:
Residents
Category |
Price |
Adult |
$195 |
Youth (age 12 to 17) |
$120 |
Category | Price |
Adult | $195 |
Youth (age 12 to 17) | $120 |
Nonresidents
Adult |
$1,047 |
Youth |
$814 |
Adult | $1,047 |
Youth | $814 |
Lifetime license holders
Adult |
$75 |
Adult | $75 |
* The program fee includes your certificate of registration and your annual deer permit fees for all three years. It also includes a $5 fee for the Predator Control Program.
Because you can hunt all three hunts, being in the Dedicated Hunter program gives you the ability to find a great buck and really focus on harvesting him. Some great bucks are taken every year by dedicated hunters on general season units. You will have to decide if the cost in time and money is worth it. You may apply for the Dedicated Hunter program and a general season deer tag, if you are drawn into the Dedicated Hunter program, then your general season deer application will be removed from the system.
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