Utah Elk Hunting 2025

Despite Utah lowering their management age class levels in 2023, there is still some great hunting for mature trophy bulls across the state in most units. Most hunters figured that this move was the beginning of the end for trophy class bulls in the state, but somehow Utah is still holding solid for great bulls. A lot of this can be attributed to other management changes like moving the bulk of the tags to less opportune times for harvest, like the mid-season rifle hunts in October. This redirected tags from the early rifle hunt in September when bulls are at their most vulnerable state, and consequently, most of the units across the state do not have any preference tags awarded for those early rifle hunts.

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Utah Elk Season & Dates

Utah Elk Hunting Draws

Tags and opportunities have increased for limited elk hunting in Utah as a result of this change, which has been good, but there is still far more demand than tags available, so the draw odds and point creep continue to escalate. This makes Utah a very difficult state to recommend to any hunter out there as a short-term (20 years) strategy. Utah does, however, issue half the tags through a random draw that is filled with every applicant that was unsuccessful in the preference draw. These odds are lottery-type odds and are very difficult, but someone could draw a world-class hunt on the first year they apply. The best thing Utah has to offer with its elk hunts is that even the units managed for the lowest age class of bull are still better than most elk hunts in other states out west.

Most elk units in Utah have three rifle hunts consisting of an early rifle hunt in mid-September, a mid-season rifle hunt the first of October, and a late rifle hunt in mid-November. The early season is obviously the best hunt for prime rut activity and yields the best chance at a mature bull. The mid-season hunt overlaps with a general rifle spike-only elk hunt and has the most tags issued for it and is the hardest hunt to find a mature bull. The late season has fewer tags and can be the physically toughest hunt of the three, but if you can locate where the bulls are calling home, it can be productive for mature bulls.

Most units also have two archery seasons consisting of an early archery season that runs from mid-August to the second week of September and a late archery hunt in early December. The first part of the early archery hunt can be difficult without some scouting as most of the bulls at this time will still be in bachelor groups and not bugling. Towards the first of September, things will start to pick up with the rut and bulls become a lot more vocal. The late archery hunt was introduced in 2023 and has been a very difficult hunt when it comes to harvest success. The pro about this hunt is there are very few tags and most of the time is the only hunt going on at that time. The stalking is always going to be problematic with crunchy snow and groups of bulls together, but the odds are incredibly good to draw.

Most units also have one muzzleloader season the last week of September. This is one of the best hunts for elk because of the timing, and since Utah went back to open sight or 1 power scopes, the random draw odds have gotten a little better. The same issue exists for this hunt as the early rifle in that Utah issues very few tags for the muzzleloader season and most tags are only available in the random draw.

Utah has one other type of elk unit, HAMSS. HAMSS stands for Handgun, Archery, Muzzleloader, Shotgun, and Straight-walled cartridge. These have different seasons than the normal elk units that consist of an archery season that runs the entire month of September and a late HAMSS weapon season that runs most of the month of November. These units consist of low elk populations and/or predominantly private land. These units can produce some mature bulls but can be very difficult hunts and should be applied for with caution.

Although an elk draw for most applicants is most likely a long shot, if you are already applying for the state for an extra $16, the risk is absolutely worth the reward if successful.

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General Utah Elk Hunting

Utah has four options available for general elk permits — archery, muzzleloader, any weapon, and multi-season. The multi-season hunt is only available for the spike-only units, though. There is a 15,000 permit quota in place for the rifle and muzzleloader seasons for spike-only hunting, but there is a 4,500 permit cap on multi-season spike permits that can be sold. For general any bull units, there are two seven-day rifle seasons that take place at the beginning of October. These hunts will be back to back starting October 4th, and the second hunt concludes October 17th. The permits for these hunts are sold over-the-counter, but only the first hunt is subject to the 15,000 permit quota. The second hunt has an unlimited quota. The first rifle and muzzleloader hunts make up the 15,000 permit quota. The archery permit is still an either-sex tag and has an unlimited quota.

Beginning last year, Utah now has unlimited general youth elk tags. These allow youth to hunt in both spike-only and any bull general elk areas during all seasons until they harvest. We will cover the over-the-counter options for elk in Utah on a more in-depth level in our July issue.

Self Guided DIY Utah Elk Hunts

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Private Land, Semi-Guided, and Guided Elk Hunts in Utah

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Utah Elk Hunting Application Deadline

The Utah Big Game application period deadline is 11:00 p.m. MST on April 24, 2025. The bonus point/preference point application period will be open during the antlerless application period.

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Our magazine, which is available in print and online, has everything in one location application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning, and much more. If you would like access to all of our research, join today!

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