Utah is mule deer country. The state has no Coues or Columbia blacktail to speak of; its deer hunting is about mule deer, from high alpine basins in the north to the desert ranges and plateaus of the south. Herds have been trending upward in recent years, and Utah’s two premium units, the Henry Mountains and the Paunsaugunt, produce some of the biggest bucks in North America.
Unlike Utah elk, there is no over-the-counter buck deer permit. General-season deer permits are drawn by unit, using preference points, and the better hunts use bonus points. This guide explains how it all fits together. Start here, then use the links below to go deeper.
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Utah deer hunting at a glance
| Agency | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), wildlife.utah.gov; draw help line 855-883-7297 |
| Draw applications | March 19 – April 23, 2026 (11 p.m. MDT), at utahdraws.com |
| Draw results | By May 31, 2026 |
| General-season deer | Drawn by unit with preference points |
| Limited-entry and premium deer | Drawn with bonus points; five-year wait after drawing |
| Nonresident permits (2026) | General $599; limited-entry $1,070; premium limited-entry $1,398 |
| Resident permits (2026) | General $46; limited-entry $94; premium limited-entry $185 |
| License | Hunting license required to apply: $40 resident, $144 nonresident |
| Seasons | Archery August 15 – September 11, muzzleloader September 23 – October 1, rifle October 17–25 (2026 general season) |
Fees and dates are from the Utah DWR’s 2026 Big Game Application Guidebook. Always confirm with the current guidebook and Hunt Planner before you apply.
Step 1: Understand the three kinds of deer hunts
- General-season buck deer. Permits are issued by unit and weapon type through the spring draw. Each year you don’t draw, you get a preference point, and the applicants with the most points draw first. Odds vary a lot by unit and weapon, so check past results in the Hunt Planner. See how general-season permits work.
- Limited-entry and premium limited-entry. Fewer permits, older bucks, and bonus points. The Henry Mountains and Paunsaugunt are Utah’s premium units. Read our draw guide.
- CWMUs. Private ranches with their own buck permits. Nonresidents typically hunt them through an operator’s voucher, as a guided hunt.
Step 2: Pick your season
Archery opens in mid-August when bucks are in velvet and on summer range. Muzzleloader comes in late September, and the main rifle hunt runs in late October, when bucks are moving toward winter range ahead of the rut. See 2026 Utah deer season dates.
Step 3: Set a realistic budget
A nonresident who draws a general-season permit pays about $765 in license, application, and permit fees. Guided private-land and CWMU mule deer hunts commonly run $7,500 to $13,500, and at least one outfitter lists a trophy mule deer hunt at nearly $19,000. Break down the full cost of a Utah deer hunt.
Step 4: Choose guided or DIY
Utah’s general units have a lot of public land, and plenty of hunters fill tags on their own. Limited-entry and CWMU hunts are where guides make the biggest difference. Compare guided and DIY deer hunts.
Before you go: requirements every hunter needs
- Hunting license: Required to apply for permits or points.
- Hunter education: Required for anyone born after December 31, 1965.
- Minimum age: 12 to hunt big game (11-year-olds can apply).
- CWD sampling: Mandatory for 2026 Ogden general any-legal-weapon buck hunters and some limited-entry hunts.
- Harvest report: Due within 30 days after your hunting season ends, even if you didn’t harvest.
- E-tagging: Optional through the Utah Hunting and Fishing app; it also completes your harvest report.
Hunting elk too?
Utah sells general-season elk permits over the counter. See our Utah elk hunting guide.
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