Utah Hunting Guide 2026
Complete Utah hunting guide for 2026: seasons, license costs, draw odds, GMU boundaries, bag limits, and regulations. Compare every game species at a glance.
Wildlife Agency
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
Draw Application Deadlines
| Species | Type | Opens | Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Mule Deer | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Moose | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Pronghorn | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Mountain Goat | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Bighorn Sheep | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
| Bison | Primary Draw | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | Late Apr |
Utah Hunting Seasons
Mule Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 21 | Nov 5 |
| Archery | Aug 19 | Sep 14 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 27 | Oct 5 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only for all buck deer permits. Bonus and preference point system. Utah manages for trophy quality.
Elk
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| Archery | Aug 19 | Sep 14 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 27 | Oct 5 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only. General season spike bull tags easier to draw. Limited entry bull permits very competitive. World-record class bulls.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Apr 20 | May 31 |
| Archery | Apr 20 | May 31 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 (spring)
Merriam's and Rio Grande turkeys. Over-the-counter tags. Growing populations. Fall season also available.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Apr 6 | Jun 7 |
| Archery | Aug 10 | Sep 14 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Spring and fall seasons by limited entry draw. Bait and hounds allowed. Growing black bear population.
Moose
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 30 | Oct 31 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Very limited once-in-a-lifetime draw. Shiras moose in northern Utah mountains.
Pronghorn
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 15 | Sep 20 |
| Rifle | Sep 25 | Oct 31 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Draw-only in most western states
Mountain Goat
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 15 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime
Once-in-a-lifetime draw. Extremely limited tags.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime (most states)
Extremely limited tags. Once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Mountain Lion
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall/Winter | Nov 1 | Mar 31 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Hound hunting legal in most western states. Quotas apply.
Bison
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Nov 1 | Jan 31 |
Typical season windows, not 2026 dates — this table carries no year and has not been verified against the agency for the current season. Confirm with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you plan around them.
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per draw
Henry Mtns and Antelope Island. Extremely limited.
Planning Tools
- Utah Draw Odds by Unit — success rates for every limited-entry hunt
- Utah Hunt Unit Guides — terrain, tactics, access, and logistics by unit
- Tag-to-Trail Planner — interactive map: public land, harvest records, water, burns
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Application Timeline — never miss an application deadline
- Preference Point Tracker — track points across all your states
Utah Hunting Guides
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Utah Black Bear Hunting: Draw Tags, Bait, and the Best Units
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Utah Book Cliffs Elk Hunting: High Desert Bulls on the Colorado Border
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Utah Book Cliffs Mule Deer: The Limited-Entry Unit Worth the Wait
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