Utah Mule Deer

Unit San Juan, Elk Ridge (San Juan)

Utah Hunting Guide — Mule Deer

San Juan, Elk Ridge is a limited-entry mule deer hunt in Utah's San Juan unit, managed by UDWR through the weighted-random bonus-point draw. The San Juan complex has a strong reputation for mature bucks.

View Draw Odds Utah Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit San Juan, Elk Ridge

Where to Find Mule Deer on Elk Ridge

Confirm the Elk Ridge polygon on the UDWR Hunt Boundary Map. Deer move seasonally between higher summer range and lower winter range.

How to Hunt Elk Ridge

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle25%

Muzzleloader20%

Archery16%

UDWR publishes annual San Juan mule deer harvest and classification data on the Big Game Harvest Data page.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Limited Entry	2	126	1.6%	12
Muzzleloader— Limited Entry	13	302	4.3%	17
Archery— Limited Entry	13	551	2.4%	14

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Tags are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw. Points improve statistical weight but do not guarantee a tag.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

💧

Water

Seasonal surface water; pack drinking water.

🛣️

Road Conditions

Paved highway with forest and BLM roads; some high-clearance routes required.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous plateau and mountain terrain.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Low due to limited-entry caps.

🌦️

Weather

Snow is possible at elevation in later seasons.

📱

Cell Service

Spotty off main corridors.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Southeastern Utah services are limited; plan fuel and supplies.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full Elk Ridge logistics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Utah's mule deer draw work?

UDWR uses a weighted-random bonus-point draw. More points improve statistical weight but no total guarantees a tag.

Where are the official unit boundaries?

The UDWR Hunt Boundary Map is the authoritative source for Utah hunt polygons.

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Sources & Verification

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

UDWR Big Game Application Guidebook — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Utah big game permits are issued through UDWR's weighted-random bonus-point draw, Guidebook documents season structure, unit boundaries, and permit types · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Hunt Boundary Map — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Authoritative GIS polygon viewer for Utah hunt unit boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
UDWR Big Game Harvest Data — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · supports: Annual harvest statistics and post-season classification data for Utah big game units · accessed 2026-04-17