Available Utah Mule Deer Hunts --- Search HF Aventures
Utah has two separate categories for issuing deer permits throughout the state – limited-entry and general season. Both are on a draw basis, but they use separate point systems and draws to issue them. You may not have more than one mule deer buck permit in a given year. If you draw a limited-entry buck deer permit, you cannot be awarded a general buck deer permit. The limited-entry hunts are managed for higher buck to doe ratios, and within those, they are broken down into premium limited-entry and limited-entry. Both the Paunsaugunt and Henry Mountains are managed under premium limited-entry and are managed for a 40-55 to 100 buck to doe ratio. Obviously, these two units have the best trophy potential, but in recent years, the Fillmore, Oak Creek unit has been producing some of the best bucks in the state and is managed as a limited-entry unit. The limited-entry units are managed for a 23-35 to 100 buck to doe ratio. All of these limited-entry units have the ability to produce trophy bucks, but bucks of a trophy caliber are going to be harder to find.
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The rest of the limited-entry units in Utah are very similar in trophy quality, but they start to differ when it comes to habitat and population. The San Juan unit is slightly ahead for trophy quality but is dead last in population. The Book Cliffs unit appears to be producing better quality every year, but it’s still a tough hunt for anything in the 170-180"+ category. Pay close attention to the individual limited-entry unit profiles for any changes to quality or habitat that may have happened the last few years.
The winter of 2022/2023 was most likely harder on deer than originally thought by the time all the dust settled and hunters took to the field and got a look at the inventory. Across the far north units, we had a pretty good idea they got hammered and lost a fair amount of fawns and some of the adult population, but it was the southern units that caught most of us off guard. Not to the extent of elevated winter mortality, but going into that winter, deer were thought to be in great shape and we were anticipating a great year for antler growth with the amount of precipitation over the winter months. That was not the case as deer did not have the fat reserves across the southern part of the state and the winter was just bad enough that it held them back going into the spring from really putting it on. Consequently, the older age class that was present on the landscape didn’t live up to their fullest potential.
This year, however, deer look to be in great shape and have even stayed higher on the mountain later to take advantage of the quality feed that was still remaining. At this stage of the year, 2024 is definitely looking good for antler growth. Having some good moisture years along with starting to whittle down the overwhelming mountain lion population in the state is putting Utah’s mule deer population on a bright path for the future. If you are not putting in for general season deer points, this might be a great time to start. The biggest mule deer populations in the state are in these general units and stand to be the biggest benefactor of getting control of the out of control predator populations. The limited-entry units will undoubtedly benefit as well but not to the point that will positively affect point creep as there are just not enough tags that could ever be issued to offset the number of applicants.
Utah has other hunts that qualify as limited-entry in order to help disperse hunter applications and weed more hunters out of the limited-entry deer point system. They have a few management hunts that are conducted on the Paunsaugunt. Archery, muzzleloader, and rifle hunts allow the permit holder to harvest an antlered deer with no more than 3 points (not including eyeguards) on one side. These can be very enjoyable hunts with plenty of game and opportunity at some mature bucks. The other is a cactus buck hunt, which allows the permit holder to harvest an antlered deer that has at least 50% of his antlers covered in velvet during the season. This hunt was instituted to address a growing number of cactus bucks on the landscape within the Paunsaugunt unit. This was a good hunt in the beginning when there were ample cactus bucks on the landscape, but now the number of bucks has been brought down to the point that there are not many cactus bucks at all and it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack to find one that actually has a decent rack.
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Utah offers late limited-entry muzzleloader hunts on all general season units. Utah started this program in 2015 on a limited number of general season units, and since then, they have added and subtracted to this list of units. This program has been successful in the fact that it has created additional limited-entry hunt options for applicants to use their points on and clear a few more applicants out of the limited-entry pool. Due to the later dates, these hunts can be effective in finding more mature bucks moving into closer proximity to does, but they can be hit and miss for rut activity. Some great bucks have been taken on these hunts, but for the most part, that is the exception and not the rule. An important note to remember if you are applying for these hunts is that these units are managed for lower buck to doe ratios than Utah's limited-entry hunts, and as such, it can be difficult to find bucks in excess of 18011• It would be wise to look at our top general season units if you want a little better chance at finding an older age class buck. Pay attention to the current three-year average of buck to doe ratios listed in the table as this will give you an idea of units that could have a better chance of finding an older age class buck as well.
Most of Utah’s deer hunting comes from the general deer units. These units are managed for lower overall buck to doe ratios (15-17:100 and 18-20:100). Every year, some of the biggest bucks in the state are harvested from general season units. Much of this success can be attributed to the high number of hunters in the field and the law of averages kicking in. All general units have an archery, muzzleloader, and late October rifle season, but there are now 11 units that also have a five-day early October rifle season. The increase in these early rifle hunts came from splitting the old Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich units into their own hunts. Permit distribution for most of these general units is 20% archery, 20% muzzleloader, and 60% rifle. On the 11 units with two rifle seasons, 20% of the 60% of rifle permits go to the early October season.
Most units will not take many preference points to draw. If you have accumulated too many points, consider splitting them on a group application with a buddy. You will enter the draw with an average of everyone’s points in the party. Keep in mind, you can apply for your limited-entry deer choice and apply for a general season deer hunt every year. Think of the two deer draws as completely separate species. If you draw a limited-entry deer permit, your general deer application will be invalid, but you will still receive a preference point. We have provided a table that includes our top picks for general season deer as well as the draw odds and harvest statistics for every unit and season. Our top picks are based on buck to doe ratios, harvest statistics, amount of public land, and boots-on-the-ground knowledge. We feel these units provide hunters the best chance at a successful hunt for a mature buck.
Utah has a Dedicated Hunter program for general season deer units. You must apply and draw into the program. If you are drawn into the program, you may hunt all seasons (archery, muzzleloader, and all available rifle) and harvest two bucks in a three-year period. The permit is guaranteed for all three years, but only two bucks may be harvested. You can apply and build points for both Dedicated Hunter and general season deer. If you draw into the program, you will be enrolled for a three-year period in the unit you drew. As a Dedicated Hunter, you must take an online conservation and ethics course, complete 32 service hours on a Division-approved conservation project, and pay a permit fee of $1,047. You can buy out all or a portion of your 32 service hours at a rate of $25 per hour for the first 16 hours, then $40 per hour for the remaining 16. If you have the time to hunt, this a great opportunity to harvest a good buck because you can hunt all seasons and the same unit for multiple years.
If you drew an archery deer or elk permit in any unit or are enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter program, you may also hunt the extended archery season in the extended archery areas. There will be a total of 10 deer areas and 3 elk areas. Most of these extended areas have private land issues, with some being entirely private land. The elk areas are all located along the Wasatch Front and North and Northeast Utah and run August 19-December 15. The deer areas are starting to be scattered all throughout the state, with the bulk of them located in North and Northeast Utah and run September 16-October 15 or November 30th. The extended season is better later when bucks are rutting and migrate into middle and lower elevations. There can be high hunting pressure and success rates are low, but it can extend your season if you were previously unsuccessful in filling your permit. For a full list of units, boundary descriptions, and season dates, go to www.wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery or view units on the UDNR Hunt Planner at https://dwrapps.utah.gov/huntboundary/hbstart.
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Those applying for a buck deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, desert bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, or bison tag will need to apply between January 27 and March 3. Those applying for bonus and/or preference points can apply between March 4 and 17.
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Up-Front Fees |
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| Non-Resident Hunting License | $72 |
| Youth (17 and younger) Non-Resident Hunting License | $29 |
| Application Fee per Species | $15 |
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| Desert Bighorn Sheep | $2,200 |
| Rocky Bighorn Sheep | $2,200 |
| Moose | $2,200 |
| Rocky Mountain Goat | $2,200 |
| Bison | $2,200 |
| Limited-Entry Elk | $1,000 |
| Multi-Season Limited-Entry Elk | $1,805 |
| Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer | $768 |
| Multi-Season Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer | $1,330 |
| Limited-Entry and Limited-Entry Management Buck Deer | $650 |
| Multi-Season Limited-Entry Buck Deer | $1,100 |
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| Dedicated Hunter Deer Program | $1,047 |
| Antelope | $337 |
Utah Deer Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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