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Another type of limited-entry hunt in Utah takes place on general-season units and is known as a HAMSS hunt, or a handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shotgun-straight walled rifle-only hunt. These hunts occur after the general season, typically in November. These HAMSS hunts are conducted in units with lower deer populations. Because of this, hunts are conducted in November to allow hunters a better opportunity at finding older age-class bucks.

We don’t provide specific comments on all of these hunts, as they tend to be a gamble in terms of hunt quality and harvest success. While the HAMSS hunts allow the use of various weapons within certain guidelines, there are different restrictions that hunters should review on page 113. Of the HAMSS hunts available, the Book Cliffs/Floy Canyon, Kaiparowits, and Mancos Mesa units offer the best potential for trophy bucks. These areas have lower deer populations and will present a tough challenge, but they’re home to a few bucks that may exceed the 180” mark.

Utah offers late limited-entry muzzleloader hunts on all general-season units. This program began in 2015 with a small number of units and has since expanded to every general-season unit. It has been successful in providing more limited-entry hunt opportunities for applicants to use their points, helping to clear out a few more hunters from the limited-entry pool.

These late season hunts can be good for finding mature bucks as they move closer to does, but rut activity can be unpredictable, making it a bit of a hit-or-miss situation. While some great bucks have been taken, those are the exception rather than the rule.

UDWR splits permits in most of Utah’s general-season deer units by weapon type, allocating roughly twenty percent to archery, another twenty percent to muzzleloader, and the remaining sixty percent to rifle hunters. In the twenty units that offer two rifle seasons, twenty percent of the rifle permits go to the early October hunt, while the remaining permits are reserved for the later rifle season. From a hunter’s standpoint, this structure means rifle pressure is spread out, but the late season still sees the bulk of participation.

Utah manages most general-season units for fifteen to seventeen bucks per one hundred does, with a handful of units managed slightly higher at eighteen to twenty bucks per one hundred does. UDWR determines these ratios based on population models and multiple data sources. Compared to many western states, these are low buck-to-doe ratios, which makes consistently finding mature bucks a real challenge. The upside is that general units typically hold the highest overall deer numbers, and, with that kind of population, a few bucks always manage to avoid harvest and reach older age classes.

Starting in 2025, Utah made notable changes to legal weapon methods in certain general deer units by introducing restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle hunts. The Beaver (West), Boulder/Kaiparowits, and Cache units are included in this new framework. Archery seasons in these units remain unchanged and follow statewide archery regulations. Hunters should review the “Weapon Restrictions” section of the regulations to understand what qualifies as a restricted muzzleloader or rifle. These changes were designed to balance ample opportunity with an overall reduction in harvest by limiting weapon technology.

If you’ve built up more points than are typically needed to draw, applying as a group with a hunting partner can be a smart move. Group applications are entered using the average preference points of everyone in the group. Keep in mind that you can apply for both a limited-entry deer permit and a general-season deer permit in the same year—they are treated as separate draws. If you draw the limited-entry tag, your general deer application is voided, but you’ll still gain a preference point. We’ve also put together a table highlighting our top general-season deer units, including draw odds and harvest data, based on buck-to-doe ratios, success rates, public land access, and firsthand field experience.

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 extended-archery areas. There will be a total of ten deer areas and three elk areas. Most of these extended areas have issues with private land issues, and some are entirely private land. The elk areas are all located along the Wasatch Front and Northeast Utah, and deer seasons run August 15 through December 15 and in each creek, August 15 through January 31. The deer areas are starting to become scattered all throughout the state, though the bulk of them are still located in North and Northeast Utah and run September 12 through October 15 or November 30. The extended season is best hunted later when the bucks are rutting and migrating 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 wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery or view units on the UDWR Hunt Planner at https://dwrapps.utah.gov/huntboundary/hsstart.

Utah also offers a Dedicated Hunter Program for general-season deer units. To participate, you must apply and be selected for the program. If drawn, you can hunt all seasons (archery, muzzleloader, and any available rifle) and can harvest up to two bucks over a three-year period. The permit is guaranteed for all three years, but you’re limited to harvesting two bucks during that time.

You may not apply for or build points in both the Dedicated Hunter draw and the general-season deer draw. You must name only one option in one draw at the time of application. If selected, you’ll be enrolled in the program for three years in the unit you were drawn for. As a Dedicated Hunter, you’ll need to complete an online conservation and ethics course, contribute thirty-two service hours on UDWR-approved conservation projects, and pay a permit fee of $1,275.46. Alternatively, you can buy out your service hours at $40 per hour.

If you have the time and commitment to hunt, this is a fantastic opportunity to harvest a quality buck as it allows you to hunt all seasons and the same unit for multiple years.