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Utah will offer five Desert bighorn sheep hunts for non-residents again this year, due in part to the split of the Escalante unit into Escalante (East) and Escalante (West). Only Escalante (East) will have a non-resident permit available in the draw and it is worth noting that this unit is considerably more rugged and physically demanding than its western counterpart. The Kaiparowits (West) unit is seeing permit reductions as a result of lower numbers and quality compared to previous years. The Kaiparowits (East) unit has seen increases in population that may be due, in part, to drought conditions in the western unit pushing sheep east. For now, there are more mature rams in Kaiparowits (East) than in Kaiparowits (West). For hunters seeking above-average rams, the top units to consider are Kaiparowits (East), Escalante (East), and Kaiparowits (West). The San Rafael (Dirty Devil) and San Rafael (South) units still offer excellent hunt quality but typically produce rams in the 150 to 160” class.

It’s important to note that Utah manages its any-weapon sheep hunts with the goal of 100% harvest success. Any sheep tag drawn in the state offers a high-quality experience, with huntable populations and mature rams available. While draw odds are long, as reflected in the tables, adding a sheep application costs just $21 if you’re already applying for another Utah species, making it an affordable chance at a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. This discussion focuses on non-resident units, but if you have questions about resident-only opportunities, feel free to give us a call; we research most of the other sheep units across Utah.