Big game animals

Information about hunting big game species in Utah

Big Game Application Guidebook

Download the Utah Big Game Application Guidebook to learn more about applying for a Utah big game permit.

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Previous editions

View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.

Corrections

Page 71: In the CWMU buck deer hunt table, the Plymouth Peak CWMU (DB1276) was listed in error. That property combined with Washakie CWMU (DB1306) last year.

The online edition of this guidebook has been updated to remove the reference to Plymouth Peak CWMU.

Page 50: In the limited-entry buck deer muzzleloader hunt table, the beginning date of the Cache, Crawford Mtn hunt (DB1026) was listed incorrectly as Nov. 9. The correct dates for this hunt are Nov. 8-23, 2025.

The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with the correct date.

Page 28: In the timeline of application dates, the "2nd chance to apply for big game bonus/preference points" date was listed as starting June 6. The actual dates are June 4-18, 2025, which align with the antlerless application period.

The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with the correct dates.

Page 67: In the Once-in-a-lifetime Mountain Goat Hunts table, the Wasatch Mtns, Timpanogos hunt (#GO6820) was printed in blue text. The hunt name and number has been corrected to black text, indicating that there is a nonresident permit available in this year's application.

The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with the correct text color.

Big Game Field Regulations

Download the Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook to learn more about the rules for hunting big game in Utah.

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Previous editions

View field regulation updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.

Updates

Pages 25-26: The italicized text below was removed from Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-11 in the past and was inadvertently included in the printed 2025-26 guidebook. The online edition of the guidebook has been updated to remove the following text:

You may not possess or be in control of a rifle, shotgun, airgun, muzzleloader, crossbow or draw-lock while in the field during an archery hunt. For the purposes of this section, "field" means a location where you are likely to find the species listed on your permit. (You are not considered to be in the field if you are in an established camping area or traveling in a fully enclosed automobile or truck.)

This restriction does not apply to the following people:

Hunters who are lawfully hunting upland game or waterfowl
Hunters who are licensed to hunt big game species, bear or cougar during rifle or muzzleloader hunts that coincide with the big game archery hunt
Livestock owners who are protecting their livestock
Individuals who are carrying a concealed weapon (You may not use your concealed firearm to hunt or take protected wildlife.)

Corrections

Page 38: The dates for the restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle deer hunts were interchanged in the printed edition of the guidebook. The correct dates are:

Restricted muzzleloader deer hunts: Sept. 24-Oct. 2, 2025
Restricted rifle deer hunts: Oct. 18-26, 2025

The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.

Antlerless Application

View online resources for the antlerless hunt to learn more about applying for a Utah antlerless permit.

Previous editions

Hunt planner

View online, interactive hunt unit maps for big game hunts. Read boundary descriptions, biologist notes, population and harvest statistics, management objectives and more.
Search for a hunt by species, weapon or number
Antlerless elk-control permits

Hunt drawing results and drawing odds

View your big game drawing results
View past big game drawing odds and point purchases (within the last three years)
View historical drawing odds and point results (more than three years ago)

Important dates

See our wildlife calendar for season dates and application deadlines.

Antler gathering ethics course

From Jan. 1 through May 31, shed antler and horn gatherers must possess an antler-gathering certificate. Learn more, take the online course, then print your completion certificate.

Landowner associations and permits

Depredation hunts

Dedicated Hunter Program

Requirements, projects and contact information

Bison orientation course

Management buck deer orientation course

Take the management buck deer online orientation course

Mountain goat orientation course

Extended archery seasons and ethics course

Bow hunters planning to hunt the extended hunts must complete an online course covering the special considerations of hunting in these high-use areas.