Utah’s Deer hunting seasons for the years 2023-2024 promises to offer an exhilarating experience for hunters across the state. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has approved the season dates for big game hunts, including deer. In this article you shall find complete details on Utah Deer hunting dates, licenses and Regulations.
Utah Deer Hunt Season
Utah offers four general-season buck deer hunts: the archery hunt, the muzzleloader hunt, the early any legal weapon (rifle) hunt, and the any legal weapon (rifle) hunt. The archery hunt runs from Aug–Sept, and if a permit holder hasn’t taken a deer by the end of their archery buck hunt, they can continue their hunt in the extended archery areas from Sept–Nov, depending on the area. The muzzleloader hunt runs from Sept–Oct, and the early any legal weapon (rifle) hunt runs from Oct. The any legal weapon (rifle) hunt runs from Oct. Multi-season and handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shotgun-only (HAMS) buck deer hunts are also available.
Find below the latest deer hunting schedules
| Utah Deer Season | Hunting Start Date | Hunting End Date |
|---|---|---|
| General archery deer | 1-Aug-23 | 15-Sep-23 |
| General muzzleloader deer | 27-Sep-23 | 5-Oct-23 |
| General rifle deer | 21-Oct-23 | 29-Oct-23 |
| Extended archery deer (in specific areas) | 16-Sep-23 | 15-Oct-23 |
| Sportsman archery deer (on any open unit) | 19-Aug-23 | 31-Aug-23 |
| Sportsman rifle deer (on any open unit) | 1-Sep-23 | 15-Jan-24 |
Utah Elk Hunting Season
| Utah Elk Season | Hunting Start Date | Hunting End Date |
|---|---|---|
| General (season archery) | 19-Aug-23 | 15-Sep-23 |
| General (season archery spike bull) | 19-Aug-23 | 8-Sep-23 |
| General (season archery any bull) | 19-Aug-23 | 20-Sep-23 |
| General (season muzzleloader) | 1-Nov-23 | 9-Nov-23 |
| General (season any legal weapon spike bull) | 7-Oct-23 | 19-Oct-23 |
| General (season early any legal weapon any bull) | 7-Oct-23 | 13-Oct-23 |
| General (season late any legal weapon any bull) | 14-Oct-23 | 20-Oct-23 |
| Limited (entry elk archery) | 23-Aug-23 | 19-Sep-23 |
| Limited (entry late-season archery elk) | 2-Dec-23 | 17-Dec-23 |
| Limited (entry elk muzzleloader) | 25-Sep-23 | 6-Oct-23 |
| Limited (entry elk early any weapon) | 20-Sep-23 | 24-Sep-23 |
| Limited (entry elk HAMS/restricted weapons) | 11-Nov-23 | 30-Nov-23 |
| Limited (entry any legal weapon hunt on 14 units that didn't previously have a mid-season hunt) | 7-Oct-23 | 19-Oct-23 |
| Limited (entry late-season any legal weapon hunt on Diamond Mountain) | 11-Nov-23 | 19-Nov-23 |
Utah Mule Deer Hunting
Utah mule deer hunting season is August 19–November 9, 2023. The hunting area and pass type determine hunting days and limitations. Check recent guidebooks for season times and details. All big game animals, including mule deer, can apply from March 23 to April 27, 2023, and lottery results will be posted by May 31st. From February 7 to April 30, 2023, antlers and horns cannot be taken in Utah.
Deer Hunting Regulations in Utah
- 11-year-olds can file for permits to kill big game in Utah if they will be 12 by the end of the year. The Utah Hunter Training Program is for under-18s, and the Trial Hunting Program is for 12+. Under-16 hunts must be escorted by a parent, legal relative, or approved 21-year-old adult. The adult should take a hunter education course and keep near enough to help verbally. Electronics cannot replace human oversight.
- Except for Trial Hunting Program participants, you must finish a Division-approved hunter education course before applying for a Utah hunting license or big game pass if you were born after December 31, 1965. Blue cards or hunter education numbers show success. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation to get a hunter education enrollment credential and register online. You can apply for passes in the Division’s hunt lottery after your teacher verifies your course finish in the web system. All game rules apply to under-15s. Allow time for the mail-ordered hunter education pass if hunting out of state.
- Before purchasing a resident hunting pass, new Utah residents who have finished a hunter education course in another state, region, or nation must secure a Utah blue card. Show proof of Division-approved hunter schooling to get a blue card at any Division office.
- Utah big game permits, extra points, and preference points require a hunting or combo pass. Wildlife.utah.gov, license agents, and Division offices offer licenses. If your license is good when you apply, you don’t need a new one for the game. Hunting and combo permits last a year.
- There are several kinds of Utah big game hunting permits. Wildlife.utah.gov accepts applications for most big game permits between Jan. 27 and March 3, 2022. Page 18 of the Utah Admin details permit kinds and key dates.
- Big game permits must be carried when hunting and cannot be sold, moved, or lent.
- Depending on the permit, Utah gives deer, elk, pronghorn, bison, bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat hunts. Utah’s buck deer game requires hunter orange unless otherwise stated.
- Utah law prohibits handguns with scopes from buck deer hunting. The pistol can only have one back handgrip and one 15-inch barrel, including the chamber. The pistol cannot have a vertical foregrip, a fixed, removable, or foldable buttstock, or a device behind the rear grip to steady it while firing. The handgun’s total length cannot exceed 24 inches.
- Utah law requires legal buck deer hunting gear. Buck deer-legal hunting gear is required. Muzzleloaders and rifles cannot have sights. Handguns must have a 15-inch barrel, a single back handgrip without support, and a maximum length of 24 inches.
- After finishing an online course, non-harvesting limited-entry bow deer hunters can hunt in the expanded archery zones. Hunters must send a harvest report within 30 days of the end of their limited-entry season to join the expanded archery season. Extended archery season does not require a poll. See page 7 or wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery.
- Hunting is limited on private CWMUs. Buck deer hunting requires a CWMU-specific pass.
UT Deer License Fees
| Deer License Types | Resident Fees | Non-Resident Fees |
|---|---|---|
| General Season Deer Permit | $30 | $268 |
| Limited-Entry Deer Permit | $65 | $518 |
| Dedicated Hunter Permit | $30 | $268 |
| CWMU (Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit) | $30 | $268 |
| Youth General Season Deer Permit | $15 | $68 |
| Youth Any Legal Weapon Permit | $30 | $268 |
Note: For complete list of updated License fees you check the eregulations website.
FAQ related to Utah Deer Season
What are the general season types for deer hunting in Utah?
There are four different general deer shooting seasons available in Utah: archery, muzzleloader, early any legal weapon (rifle), and any legal weapon (rifle).
When does the general-season archery buck deer hunt start and end in Utah?
The third Saturday in August and the third Friday in September in Utah are the start and finish dates for the general-season bow whitetail deer chase.
What are the different types of deer permits issued in Utah?
There are two types of deer licenses available in Utah: limited-entry and open season. There is a limit of one mule deer buck pass per person per year, and both are issued through distinct point systems and lotteries.
How can I apply for a deer hunting permit in Utah?
Through the website of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, hunters can register for deer shooting licenses. Normally, the registration process begins in early January and lasts until the end of February.
Can non-residents hunt deer in Utah?
In Utah, it is legal for non-residents to shoot deer, but they must obtain a non-resident hunting pass and spend more money than locals.
Can I hunt deer on private land in Utah?
In Utah, the landowner must give approval before hunting on their property, and there may be other rules or limitations in place. Before shooting on private property, hunters should get in touch with the proprietor and study the Utah hunting laws.