Utah Hunting 2026

The 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook is available online and at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) offices. You may apply in Utah by visiting utahdraws.com. You may also apply via telephone by calling any UDWR office. The application timeframe for all big game species is March 19 through April 23, 2026. Draw results will be emailed and posted by May 31.

Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today!

What's New For 2026

• Utah now has a voluntary e-tagging option for all big game.
• All non-resident fees were increased in 2025 after the big game application period. 2026 will be the first big game application period with the increased non-resident fees imposed in September of 2025.
• Utah implemented mandatory harvest reporting for all general-season hunts beginning in 2025, but there was no late fee the first year. You still have to complete your report to be eligible for 2026 applications. Starting in 2026, there will be a $50 late fee for anyone that does not submit their harvest report within thirty days of the last day of the season printed on their license. If you fail to report, you will be ineligible to apply for big game and antlerless hunts for one year.
• Henry Mountain bison hunt dates have been slightly modified to fit in a new cow hunt in 2026. This hunt will not be available for non-residents.
• Utah has a new application vendor for the 2026 big game draw. The website will look and feel a little different, so applicants are encouraged to apply early and make sure they can log in to their account.

Big Game Applications | Utah Hunting 

Non-residents can apply for all species, including limited-entry deer and general-season deer. However, you may not apply for a permit and a bonus point for the same species.

Up to four hunters can apply as a group for limited-entry deer, elk, and antelope hunts and general-season deer hunts. Group applications are not permitted for management buck or once-in-a-lifetime species. Non-residents and residents can apply together in a group, but if there are no non-resident permits available for your selected hunts, the application will not be considered.

You must have a valid Utah hunting license to apply, but you can purchase one at the time you apply. Hunting licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. If you time your applications correctly, you could purchase one license and apply for two years. While you need a current hunting license to apply, you do not need a current hunting license to hunt if you draw a permit. If you wish to modify your application, you may do so online prior to the deadline. If you plan to apply for bonus or preference points only, the period to do so will be June 9 through 23 during the antlerless application period.

Details of the Draw | Utah Hunting

Although Utah allows multiple choices for once-in-a-lifetime, limited-entry, and general-season hunts, an applicant’s first choice is only one that counts in the draw for once-in-a-lifetime, limited-entry, and ninety-eight percent of all general deer tags.

Utah issues fifty percent of limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime permits to applicants with the most bonus points. The other fifty percent are awarded randomly to applicants who did not receive one of these “bonus” permits. Applicants in the random draw will have an extra chance in the draw for each bonus point they’ve accumulated over the years. If there is an odd number of permits available in the draw, the majority of permits will be awarded in the bonus draw to the maximum point holders. For example, if five permits are available, three of those permits will be issued in the bonus draw to the applicants with the most points, and the remaining two permits will be issued in the random draw. Utah issues ten percent of their draw permits to non-residents.

Our Memberships Include The Most Accurate Draw Odds Available, Join Now!

General deer is a preference draw in which permits are awarded to the max preference point-holders among those who applied. The draw is conducted in the following sequence: limited-entry deer, limited-entry elk, limited-entry antelope, once-in-a-lifetime species (sheep, moose, mountain goat, and bison), youth general-season deer, general-season deer, and youth any bull elk. Understanding the order of the draw is critical. Due to the order in which permits are drawn, you won’t be included in the drawing for a once-in-a-lifetime permit if you draw any of the following: limited-entry buck deer, limited-entry bull elk, or limited-entry buck antelope. The reason for this is that Utah does not allow you to possess two limited-entry draw tags during the same year. Additionally, you cannot draw both a limited-entry deer tag and a general-season deer tag. If you draw a limited-entry deer tag, your general-season deer application will not be considered, but you will still receive a preference point.

The waiting period for successful applicants for limited-entry deer and elk is five years. The waiting period for successful applicants for limited-entry antelope is two years. Bighorn sheep, bull moose, mountain goat, and bison are once-in-a-lifetime permits, regardless of harvest success.

Draw results will be emailed out on or before May 31, 2026. You can also find your draw results by logging into your account at utahdraws.com where you applied or by calling 855-883-7297.

Utah Hunting Big Game Fees

Non-resident adults must purchase a $147 non-resident hunting license to apply. The youth license is $45. The application fees, which are also non-refundable, are $21 per species. There is a new 2.2% processing fee that will be added to all transactions. We include this fee in the prices listed in the 2026 Utah Non-Resident Fees table. You will not be charged the full cost of the permit unless you are successful in the draw. Utah accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit or debit cards.

Credit cards used to apply in the big game draw must be valid through June 2026. To change the credit or debit card associated with your application, call 855-883-7297 or update your credit card information at https://www.utahdraws.com/internetsales.

Utah Hunting Big Game Hunter Requirements

Utah hunters can now electronically tag big game using the Utah Hunting and Fishing mobile app, which is legally the same as detaching and notching a paper tag. You may have both paper and digital copies, but you can only harvest one animal. If you harvest, the e-tag process automatically fulfills your mandatory harvest survey. If you do not harvest or do not use the e-tag feature, you must still complete the harvest survey within thirty days after your hunt ends.

Before hunting, download your permit to the app and ensure your device will have enough battery in the field to display your permit if asked. After harvesting, you must e-tag before moving the carcass or leaving the kill site by opening the app, selecting your permit, tapping “Submit E-Tag,” and completing the prompts, which include inputting your harvest location and four photos of the animal. Once submitted, you’ll receive an electronic harvest code that must be kept with you and will appear in the permit’s “Harvest Info” section. If you temporarily lack service, the app will save and submit when reopened. Anyone transporting e-tagged wildlife must carry proof of legal harvest, such as a screenshot of the e-tag with the code, access to the used permit in the app, or written permission from the permit holder with required details.

Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now!

If you were born after December 31, 1965, you must have completed a hunter education course before you can apply for or obtain a hunting license or a big game permit. Proof of certification is required in the field.

Utah’s Trial Hunting Program allows anyone over the age of twelve to try hunting for a few years while accompanied by a licensed hunter who is over the age of twenty-one before taking a hunter education course. The program applies to hunts for many different species, including general-season deer and elk. To sign up for the program or to learn more about it, visit https://wildlife.utah.gov/trial-hunting-program.

If you’re hunting in an area where a centerfire rifle hunt is occurring, you must wear at least one article of hunter orange from the following list: hat, shirt, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater. This does not apply to archery seasons, muzzleloader seasons, or bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goat, or bison hunts.

All successful mountain goat applicants must complete an online orientation course before they will receive their hunting permit. You can find the course at www.wildlife.utah.gov/biggame after the draw in May.

Utah Hunting Age Restrictions

In Utah, applicants must be twelve years old by December 31, 2026, to apply for hunts and must be at least twelve years old to hunt. If you meet the age and hunter education requirements, you can apply for any big game permits, including limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime permits. A person under sixteen years of age must be accompanied by a legal guardian or responsible person who is twenty-one or older.

Utah Big Game Point Structure

Utah has a bonus point system for limited-entry deer, elk, antelope, bison, mountain goat, moose, and both bighorn sheep species. Bonus points are species specific and are not transferable between species. The bonus point system is designed to increase the chances of drawing a permit. Every year that you apply and are unsuccessful, you will receive a bonus point for that species. You may also purchase points only. In essence, for each point you have, you are entered one additional time into the drawing.

Utah has a preference point system for general-season deer. You are awarded a point for every year you apply and are unsuccessful in the draw, or you may purchase points only. This is a true preference point system where the applicants with the most points get the permits. If you draw any of your hunt choices, first through fifth, you will lose your preference points. In addition, the Division will only evaluate the first choice of max point holders before moving to applicants with the next highest point levels and so on. After everyone’s first choice is considered, they will move to the second choice and will continue in this manner all the way through the fifth choice.

Group applicants will have their points totaled, averaged, and rounded down to the whole number. A group application will be evaluated as a single application in the drawing. It is imperative that you take notice of the number of tags available for a hunt and/or the bonus point minimums (the draw odds) before applying. If the draw has only one or two tags available, do not apply with three or four individuals, as you will have no chance of drawing.

The point totals listed for each draw are based on 2025 data. They include all applicants who participated in the 2025 draw or purchased a point for that species. We have subtracted all successful applicants from their respective point field and moved those who were unsuccessful and those who purchased a point up to the next point level to give Huntin’ Fool members an accurate account of how many applicants are at each point level going into the 2026 draw. This does not consider any successful applicants who turned their tag back in and had their points reinstated.

Utah Big Game Draw Odds

The draw odds we list are split into two categories: random (without respect to bonus points) and the number of points needed to be considered in the preference draw in 2025. The random odds we list are computed by subtracting tags given to people with the most points and then dividing the number of remaining applicants by the number of remaining permits. The “Number of Points Needed to Draw” column depicts the number of points it took last year to be considered in the preference draw. If there is only one permit available for a particular hunt, it will be issued randomly and there will not be a max point permit for that hunt. The random draw odds do not take into account how many bonus points any of the applicants have, thus they are not the odds of drawing. This is to give you a relative idea of how hard a unit will be to draw. Each individual’s odds of drawing will vary depending on their number of accumulated bonus points.

Youth Information

Eligible youth must turn twelve years old by December 31, 2026, and must be seventeen years of age or younger on July 31 to apply as a youth for all big game permits.

General-season elk permits (including any-legal-weapon, muzzleloader, and multi-season hunts) will be unlimited for youth hunters.

Twenty percent of Utah’s general-season buck deer permits are allocated to youth in the drawing. Youth who obtain a general-season, any-legal-weapon deer permit may also hunt during the archery and muzzleloader hunts. For youth hunters who are unsuccessful in the drawings, additional over-the-counter youth archery permits will be available at 8:00 a.m. on July 8 at www.wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents and UDWR offices.

Youth can apply for a youth any-bull permit. The youth any-bull hunt takes place September 12 through 22 on any bull units only. This season is prior to the general any-bull rifle hunt and is designed to give youth who draw a permit the chance to hunt with a rifle during the rut. Be aware that any-bull units may have lower elk numbers as well as limited access to and amounts of public land.

Up to four youth can apply together on a group application for youth any-bull elk permits and general-season deer permits. It’s important to note that if you want a youth to be eligible for the 20% of general-season deer tags set aside for youth, they cannot apply in a group with an adult.

Utah has a mentor program for youth ages twelve through seventeen that allows a qualifying adult to mentor a youth during a hunt by sharing a big game permit. The mentor can be a non-resident, but they must accompany the minor. Both may carry weapons into the field, but only one animal may be harvested. For more information regarding the mentor program for youth, go to wildlife.utah.gov/mentoring.html.

Utah Hunting Weapon Restrictions

Utah does not allow archers to attach electronic rangefinding devices to their bows to hunt big game. Archery equipment may be used during any big game hunt except muzzleloader hunts, provided that the minimum draw pull is thirty pounds at the peak of its draw. Broadheads must have two or more sharp edges that cannot pass through a 7/8” diameter ring. Expandable broadheads are legal; draw-lock devices and crossbows are not.

Utah no longer allows variable power scopes to be used on muzzleloaders. Muzzleloaders may be equipped with open sights, red dot, or a 1x power scope on muzzleloader-only hunts. Muzzleloaders may be used during any big game hunt, except during archery season. In-line muzzleloaders are legal, as is the use of sabots. Nothing less than a .40 caliber muzzleloader may be used on big game animals. Check the regulations for other restrictions, such as bullet weights.

HAMSS stands for handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shotgun-straight wall rifle-only hunts. Handguns must not have a barrel over 15 inches in length, be under 24 inches in overall length, and may not have a fixed, detachable, or collapsible buttstock. Muzzleloaders can use centerfire primers and loose or pelletized black powder or black powder substitute. Straight-wall cartridges must have bullet diameter of .35 caliber or larger and case length of at least 1.16 inches. Semi-automatic rifles, scopes or other optics, and electronics are not allowed. Scopes of any kind may not be attached to any weapon on a HAMSS hunt.

Utah created a few restricted-weapon-only hunts for mule deer in 2025. Beaver/West, Boulder/Kaiparowits, Cache, and Thousand Lakes will all be enrolled as restricted-weapon units. The archery definition limits archers to the use of a single-stringed longbow or recurve bow with no cables, pulleys, cams, or sights. Additionally, the bow must have a minimum draw weight of forty pounds. The muzzleloader definition removes the ability to use 209 primers (shotguns) and centerfire primers for ignition; only traditional flintlock, matchlock, wheelock, and percussion or musket caps are allowed. The ignition may be fully enclosed. There are no other restrictions on powder or projectile types. Similar to HAMSS, the rifle definition restricts the use of a mounted scope of any kind and bans semi-automatic rifles.

Other Tag Opportunities

Utah has an extensive conservation permit program. Last year, over 300 conservation permits for a variety of species and hunts were auctioned off to the highest bidders by various conservation organizations. UDWR also offers Statewide Conservation Permit, otherwise known as a “Governor’s Tag,” for each of Utah’s game species. Conservation permits are available to residents and non-residents. It’s anticipated that a similar amount will be available this year. For details on which organizations will have what permits and where they will be auctioned, visit our website at www.huntinfool.com/resources/statewide-permits.

Utah raffled off Expo Permits at the Western Hunting Expo in Salt Lake City. There were 200 permits available this year. Raffle permits can be applied for by going to huntexpo.com/permits. Each hunt application costs $5 and in-person validation is required. The Expo dates for 2026 are February 11 through 14, 2027.

Utah has two systems through which they issue landowner tags. The first of these is the Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) program, which gives landowners deer, elk, antelope, and moose tags for their property only. Landowners are granted liberal seasons and can transfer these tags as desired. In exchange for these tags, landowners must let a certain number of resident hunters selected through the draw hunt on their land. In Utah’s regulations, there is a list of CWMU operators and their respective phone numbers. Residents and non-residents are eligible to purchase hunts from CWMU operators, but only residents may draw a tag on a CWMU. Check out www.huntfinder.com for several Endorsed Outfitters who offer CWMU hunts.

The second landowner tag system issues landowner permits to landowners that are good for the entire unit during the prescribed season. Similar to CWMU tags, these permits are transferable. To obtain information regarding landowner permits, visit our website at www.huntinfool.com/adventures/landowner.

Any remaining limited-entry, general-season, or youth archery deer permits will go on sale online or at any UDWR office at 8:00 a.m. MDT on July 7. Keep in mind that if you purchase any general-season buck deer permit, you will lose all accrued preference points for general-season buck deer.

If you turn in a poacher and the case goes to trial or leads to a conviction, you may receive a tag on that unit for that species the next year, depending on the case.

Refunds/Returns/Transfers

Successful applicants must surrender their permit thirty days prior to opening day of their hunt in order to have their points reinstated. However, applicants who surrender their permit will not earn a bonus or preference point for that year’s application. Utah will refund the cost of the limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime permit so long as it is turned in thirty days prior to the hunt. If you apply in a group and draw limited-entry permits, all members of the group must surrender their permits at least thirty days before season starts in order to have their bonus points reinstated. There are no refunds for general-season permit surrender. Hunting license and application fees are non-refundable.

Utah has a Hunter Mentoring Program which allows an adult to share (not transfer) big game permits with a minor.

Utah Harvest Reporting

For all big game hunts, regardless of how successful, you must submit a harvest survey within thirty days of the end of your hunt. If you fail to do so, you won’t be allowed to apply the following year. If you didn’t submit your 2025 harvest survey questionnaire by the deadline, you can restore your eligibility to apply for a 2026 permit by paying a $50 late fee and filing your report. For more information, call 800-221-0659.

Hunt Planning

Utah has an online Hunt Planner available at https://dwrapps.utah.gov/huntboundary/huntplanner. You can use the interactive map to add layers by species, unit, access type, landownership, and habitat.

At Huntin’ Fool, we all use onX Maps, the best mapping platform on the market today. You can access their tools by going to www.onxmaps.com. If you are not a member, you should be.

Access

Though the UDWR cannot guarantee access to any private land, it does lease private land to allow walk-in access for hunting or other limited forms of public recreation. For more information, go to https://wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/walk-in-access.html.

Non-residents bringing ATVs, off-highway motorcycles, or snowmobiles into Utah must obtain a non-resident permit for their machine. Some states offer reciprocity, meaning there is a mutual agreement between states to not charge non-residents fees. More information can be found at https://recreation.utah.gov/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-registration-and-permits/non-resident-ohv-permits/.

All OHV operators are required to pass a Utah Off-Highway Vehicle Education Course. This course is online at https://secure.utah.gov/utoutdoorrecreationdirectory/forms/Page/outdoorrecdirectory/outdoorrecdirectory. The course is free for adults 18 and over. For all youth under 18 years of age, there is a mandatory, $35 online youth safety course. Once passed, the adult course is valid for life.

Utah Wolf Update

Utah has a wolf management plan that doesn’t allow for wolf recovery within the state at the current time. To view this plan, visit https://wildlife.utah.gov/wolf/wolf_management_plan.pdf.

Additional Articles: