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.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 70: In the CWMU buck deer hunt table, one Little Red Creek (DB1258) public permit was listed in error. There is no public permit available on that CWMU for 2024, and that hunt has been deleted in the online edition of this guidebook.
Big Game Field Regulations
Download the Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook to learn more about the rules for hunting big game in Utah.
Previous editions
View field regulation updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Updates
Page 28: An update to the wildlife management and waterfowl management areas that will be closed to the general public (including big game hunting) for sponsored youth and beginner pheasant hunts was made after the printed guidebook was distributed.
The 2024 closures are:
- Oct. 26 — Huntington Game Farm (until 3 p.m.)
- Nov. 9 — Annabella, Pahvant, Pine Canyon (also known as Carr Fork) WMAs and part of the Ogden Bay WMA
The online edition of the guidebook has been edited to reflect this update.
Corrections
Page 19: The footnote in the "What seasons can youth hunt?" table indicated an incorrect page number for reference. The footnote has been updated to refer to page 38 (instead of page 43). The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Page 54: The Hunter Mentoring Program no longer requires participating youth to be Utah residents. The word "resident" has been deleted from the information box. The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Pages 3 and 24: In the description of the new muzzleloader regulations, the guidebook language as printed was unclear about how those rules apply to HAMSS hunts. Those descriptions have been edited to reiterate that no scopes of any kind are allowed on HAMSS hunts. The online edition of the guidebook has been edited to reflect these updates.
Page 32: Minor corrections were made to the section describing the use of trail cameras on private land to align more closely with Utah Code § 23A-5-307: A trail camera using internal data storage and not capable of transmitting data is permitted for use on private lands for the purposes of taking protected wildlife. The online edition of the guidebook has been edited to reflect these changes.
Page 43: An incorrect end date for the general-season archery elk hunt was printed in the guidebook. Utah's general season archery spike elk hunt runs from Aug. 17—Sept. 6, 2024 (not Sept. 5, as was indicated in the print edition). The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
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
Important dates
- See our wildlife calendar for season dates and application deadlines.
Antler gathering ethics course
- From Feb. 1 to April 15, shed antler and horn gathers must possess an antler-gathering certificate. Learn more, take the online course, then print your completion certificate.
Landowner associations and permits
- Read the DWR administrative rule
- Limited-entry landowner association list
- Application for limited-entry landowner association Certificate of Registration
- Download the general-season permit application (PDF)
- Download the limited-entry permit application (PDF)
- Download the 2024 landowner permit drawing odds (PDF)
Depredation hunts
- Apply for the deer, elk or pronghorn depredation hunter pool
- Information on the lawful use of depredation permits (PDF)
Dedicated Hunter Program
Bison orientation course
- Take the online Nine Mile bison education course
- Take the online cow bison orientation course
- Bison shot placement tips
Management buck deer 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.
Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs)
Chronic wasting disease
- Chronic wasting disease
- Deer check stations for chronic wasting disease
- Check chronic wasting disease test results
Currently available hunting permits
- Summary of Big Game Permits 2021
- Apply online for available hunt drawings
- Buy currently available fishing & hunting licenses online
Remaining permits
Report harvest information and see harvest data
- Read reporting requirements, report your harvest and see your bonus points
- See buck, bull & once-in-a-lifetime harvest data since 2010
Big game annual reports
Statewide big game management plans
- Statewide Mule Deer (PDF)
- Statewide Elk (PDF)
- Mountain goat (PDF)
- Moose (PDF)
- Bighorn sheep (PDF)
- Pronghorn (PDF)
- Bison: Henry Mountains and Book Cliffs (PDF)
Walk-In Access
Conservation Permit Program
Utah's Trial Hunting Program
Utah Hunter Mentoring Program
Other big game information
- Trail camera regulations
- Baiting big game
- Sportsman permits
- Accessible wildlife for people with disabilities
- Read what the DWR is doing to help Utah's deer
- Supplemental winter feeding of deer
- Utah's Predator Control Program
- Expo permit program FAQ
- Disease issues in Utah deer
- Minimizing browsing damage from deer
- Managing off-highway vehicles (PDF)
- Hunter Education
- Utah's big game range trend studies
- Trespass laws of specific interest to hunters