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Utah Elk Mule Deer

Unit Preston Nutter Ranch (Preston Nutter Ranch)

Utah Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer

The Preston Nutter Ranch limited-entry elk hunt operates on a working cattle ranch in eastern Utah's Tavaputs Plateau country. The ranch is entirely private but participates in the state's Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) style framework, with a small number of public draw tags issued each year through UDWR. The hunt is managed intensively for mature bull quality, producing some of the best-scoring elk in Utah.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Elk Hunting in Unit Preston Nutter Ranch

The Preston Nutter Ranch limited-entry elk hunt operates on a working cattle ranch in eastern Utah's Tavaputs Plateau country. The ranch is entirely private but participates in the state's Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) style framework, with a small number of public draw tags issued each year through UDWR. The hunt is managed intensively for mature bull quality, producing some of the best-scoring elk in Utah.

Where to Find Elk on Preston Nutter Ranch

Preston Nutter is high plateau elk country — aspen-fir benches, piñon-juniper fingers, and big meadow systems. Ranch management concentrates mature bulls in predictable drainages.

Aspen-Fir Benches

The mid-elevation aspen and fir benches are the backbone bull habitat. Mature bulls shade up in these benches mid-day and drop into meadows at dawn and dusk.

Meadow Edges and Feed Corridors

Managed meadows on the ranch are magnets during the rut. Glass the meadow edges at first light and set up where a bull will pass through during his morning travel back to bedding.

Water Developments

The ranch maintains multiple water sources that bulls use year-round. In warm early archery weather, these water points produce.

How to Hunt Preston Nutter Ranch Elk

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Elk Success Rates

Rifle28%
Preston Nutter Ranch elk success is typically near 100% thanks to intensive ranch management, guided hunts, and controlled pressure. Bull quality is exceptional, with most harvested bulls scoring 320-360 B&C and regular 370+ bulls coming off the ranch.

Elk Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry21291.6% 15

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Utah UDWR uses a weighted bonus-point lottery for limited-entry elk: 50% of tags go to the max-points pool and 50% through a random weighted draw where each bonus point adds one more chance. With roughly 6 tags over the last 3 years against 332 applicants, overall odds sit near 1.8% per year. This is one of Utah's more competitive elk draws given the quality produced.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Preston Nutter Ranch elk hunt guided?
Most draw tag holders hunt with the ranch-affiliated outfitter. The ranch is entirely private and coordinates access carefully, so confirm guide and lodging arrangements as soon as you draw.
What are the draw odds for Preston Nutter Ranch elk?
With about 6 tags over the last 3 years against 332 applicants, overall odds sit near 1.8% per year. Utah's weighted bonus-point lottery means residents with high point totals draw reliably, while zero-point applicants rely on the random side of the draw.
What makes Preston Nutter Ranch unique?
Preston Nutter is one of Utah's largest and most historic ranch operations, covering extensive West Tavaputs Plateau country with a long-running CWMU that manages for quality mule deer.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

  1. Utah Big Game Application Guidebook — CWMU and Preston Nutter Ranch Tags — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Preston Nutter Ranch listed among Utah's premium limited-entry elk opportunities, Tags are awarded through UDWR's weighted bonus-point lottery · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. Utah Hunt Boundary Interactive Map — Preston Nutter Ranch — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources — Hunt Planner · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon for the Preston Nutter Ranch hunt area on the Tavaputs Plateau · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. Utah Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs) — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: CWMU and ranch-based hunts operate on private land with state-allocated public draw tags, Landowners manage access and typically provide guide services for draw tag holders · accessed 2026-04-17
  4. Utah CWMU Program — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Preston Nutter Ranch CWMU · accessed 2026-04-17