Where do I buy a Utah hunting license?

Utah hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.

When is Utah hunting season?

Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Utah season dates change every year. Our Utah deer guide summarizes the 2025 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) regulations before you plan a hunt.

What can you hunt in Utah?

Besides mule deer, white-tailed deer, our species guides single out Utah for mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mountain lion, chukar partridge, canada goose. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.

Where is public hunting land in Utah?

Good starting points include Paunsaugunt Unit, Henry Mountains, La Sal Mountains. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.

Hunting · State by State

Utah Hunting Guide

What to hunt in Utah, what it costs, the laws that matter and where the public land is — with the official Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) links.

From general-season Wasatch units to bucket-list limited-entry draws, Utah offers some of the West's best mule deer hunting for those willing to plan ahead.

Terrain swings from red-rock canyon country and high desert plateaus in the south (Paunsaugunt, Henry Mountains) to timbered mountain slopes and alpine basins in the Wasatch, Uinta and La Sal ranges.

Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR)
Region: Mountain West
Deer rank: #36 of 50
Species guides: 10

Utah hunting license and tag costs

Deer license and tag prices as last reviewed. Other species' permits are listed in the agency fee schedule.

License / tag	Price
Nonresident general season buck deer permit	~$418
Nonresident limited-entry buck deer permit	~$418 plus draw application fee
Hunting/combination license (required in addition to permit)	~$65–$80
Bonus point (nonresident)	~$35
Resident general season buck deer permit	~$50

Utah hunting laws to know

Rules that catch hunters out most often. Not a substitute for the regulations book.

Topic	Rule
Blaze orange	Not legally required for archery or muzzleloader hunters, but strongly recommended; not mandated for general rifle deer hunters either, though many wear it for visibility.
Baiting	Baiting deer is illegal statewide except under limited circumstances not applicable to general hunters.
Crossbows	Legal for any hunter during archery season and any other season where archery equipment is legal; no disability permit required.
Sunday hunting	Allowed statewide, though hunting is prohibited on some private and church-owned lands by custom/access agreement.
Legal firearms	Centerfire rifles of legal caliber for general/limited-entry rifle seasons; muzzleloaders must be legal muzzle-loading design for muzzleloader seasons.
Tagging/reporting	Permit must be validated at the point of kill; hunters are required to complete a mandatory harvest survey after the season closes.
CWD carcass transport	Utah has confirmed CWD in some units; hunters harvesting deer in a CWD management unit should have the animal tested and follow debone/carcass disposal guidance before transporting meat out of the unit.
Hunter education	Required for anyone born after Dec. 31, 1965.

Utah deer season structure (2025)

Utah sets exact dates annually by unit and weapon type — always confirm current dates and boundaries in the current UDWR Big Game Guidebook before you hunt.

Season	Weapon	Typical window
Archery	Bow / crossbow (with permit)	Mid-Aug. – mid-Sept., statewide
General season rifle	Rifle/muzzleloader (varies)	Mid-to-late Oct., roughly 9 days
Muzzleloader	Muzzleloader	Late Sept.–early Oct., statewide or unit-specific
Limited-entry rifle	Rifle	Varies by unit, often Oct.

What you can hunt in Utah

Deer — Mule deer, White-tailed deer
Good · ranked #36 of 50 for deer.
Mule Deer
The best trophy potential in the West on desert and high-desert units
Access: Bonus-point systems; premium units realistically 10–20 years
Elk
Roosevelt elk in coastal rainforest and strong Rocky Mountain herds
Access: General and limited tags depending on unit and weapon
Moose
Small but stable Shiras and eastern herds
Access: Once-in-a-lifetime bonus-point draws with very low odds
Black Bear
Fall bears feeding hard in oak brush and berry patches
Access: Colorado is OTC in many units; Wyoming and Utah are quota-limited
Bighorn Sheep
Strong bighorn herds and some desert units in Utah
Access: Once-in-a-lifetime with preference or bonus points; decades-long realistic waits
Mountain Goat
Transplanted, well-managed herds with limited units
Access: Once-in-a-lifetime draw with preference or bonus points
Mountain Lion
Good populations with hound hunting legal
Access: License with unit-specific quotas; check current-year harvest limits before applying
Chukar Partridge
Good canyon habitat in the west desert and Wasatch foothills
Access: Over-the-counter combination license
Canada Goose
Underrated Pacific Flyway goose hunting over managed wetlands and fields
Access: Over-the-counter license plus duck stamp

Public hunting land in Utah

Utah's mix of national forest, BLM land and well-managed limited-entry units gives hunters a real choice between a manageable general-season hunt and a bucket-list draw for a genuine trophy unit.

Paunsaugunt Unit
Limited-entry unit · South-central Utah
One of the most famous trophy mule deer units in North America, known for high-scoring typical bucks; extremely difficult to draw.
Henry Mountains
Limited-entry unit / BLM & national forest · South-central Utah
Remote, high desert mountain range holding a small but exceptional mule deer herd alongside free-ranging bison.
La Sal Mountains
National forest / limited-entry unit · Southeast Utah
High alpine terrain near Moab producing consistently large-bodied, well-antlered mule deer.
Manti-La Sal National Forest
National forest · Central/southeast Utah
Extensive public timber and high-country basins across several deer units, including general season options.
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
National forest · Northern Utah
Large public land base near the Wasatch Front holding general-season mule deer, popular with resident hunters.
San Juan Unit
BLM & national forest · Southeast Utah
Rugged canyon and mesa country in the Four Corners region known for mature bucks and demanding terrain.

Official Utah links

Last reviewed 2026-09.

Nearby state hunting guides

Questions

Frequently asked

Where do I buy a Utah hunting license?: Utah hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.
When is Utah hunting season?: Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Utah season dates change every year. Our Utah deer guide summarizes the 2025 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) regulations before you plan a hunt.
What can you hunt in Utah?: Besides mule deer, white-tailed deer, our species guides single out Utah for mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mountain lion, chukar partridge, canada goose. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.
Where is public hunting land in Utah?: Good starting points include Paunsaugunt Unit, Henry Mountains, La Sal Mountains. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.