Utah’s fall season-deer and elk archery hunts start Saturday, August 19

Mule deer populations have been affected by years of drought followed by a record-breaking snowfall last winter. As people gear up for deer and elk hunting in Utah this fall, here are some important things to know. Photo: Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

UTAH —In certain parts of the state, mule deer populations have been affected by years of drought followed by a record-breaking snowfall last winter. As people gear up for deer and elk hunting in Utah this fall, here are some important things to know from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 

Kicking off Utah’s fall season are the general-season buck deer archery hunt and the general spike and any-bull elk archery hunts, all starting on Saturday, August 19. This year introduces a split for the general-season any-bull elk hunt, giving hunters two opportunities to participate.

The early-season hunt is scheduled for October 7–13, followed by the late-season hunt on October 14–20. Additionally, the general-season buck deer hunt (with any legal weapon) spans from October 21–29, while the general-season muzzleloader elk hunt takes place from November 1–9.

“There are a few things that can negatively impact deer populations in Utah,” Rusty Robinson, DWR Once in a Lifetime coordinator, said on the Utah DNR website. “Those include poor or limited habitat and extreme weather — either ongoing drought or really heavy snowfall, like we had last winter. The most important factors that drive deer population numbers are the survival rates of doe deer (since bucks don’t have babies), fawn production and fawn survival after the winter.”

Deer Hunt– Utah’s deer management plan aims to achieve a target population of 404,000 deer, with the 2022 postseason estimate at 335,000 deer state-wide. Although hunting bucks doesn’t affect overall population growth, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been reducing hunting permits in recent years to align with population declines and ensure effective management of buck-to-doe ratios specified in the management plans. This strategy aims to enhance the balance and sustainability of Utah’s deer populations.

Elk Hunt- To manage elk populations, Utah aims to maintain 80,000 elk statewide. The 2022 postseason population estimate stands at 82,960. If you’re looking for an opportunity to hunt elk in Utah, archery antlerless elk permits are still available. These permits allow you to harvest a cow elk using archery equipment during the general-season archery elk hunt. They are tailored for hunters who:

1. Hold an archery deer permit and are eager to hunt a cow elk if they come across one. (Note: Archery elk and deer season dates are similar but not identical.)
2. Possess a general-season archery elk permit and want to harvest a cow while still having the chance to pursue a bull and obtain meat from both animals.
3. Consistently spot cow elk when holding a bull permit.

Hunters should take note of this year’s abundance of water sources; as a result, deer and elk are expected to be more dispersed across the landscape, making them harder to locate and track. Therefore, hunting near water sources may not be as effective as usual. Before venturing into the field, visiting the Utah Hunt Planner, an online resource offering insights from biologists managing hunting units statewide, is highly recommended. The planner provides valuable information about the units, safety tips, weather updates, and even notes on the number of bucks and does within each unit. Additionally, you’ll find maps that delineate unit boundaries, identify public and private lands, and highlight different types of deer habitats within the unit.