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Field Guide  /  State Hunting Guide

The Guide to the Utah Hunting Seasons 2025

8 Minute Read

Utah, quite simply, has some of the best hunting you'll find in the U.S. You'll find a wide range of species to hunt — from deer to elk, cougar, black bear, and waterfowl.

Plus, the state offers plenty of resources to help you plan your hunt, follow the rules, stay safe, and bring home the large or small game you're after.

So, what do you need to know to plan your Utah hunting seasons? We've compiled an overview of the state's season dates, hunting license information, bag limits, and more. HuntWise can also help you find the best public hunt areas (or private land) and plan a successful hunt!

A map of the United States featuring the State of Utah.

Why Do Hunters Hunt in Utah?

Hunters in Utah appreciate the range of game available to hunt, from turkeys to elk, deer, black bears, and more. The state also offers once-in-a-lifetime hunts for bison, bighorn sheep, bull moose, and mountain goats — so if you're hoping for a trophy hunt, consider a hunt in Utah!

Plus, it's a beautiful place to hunt and enjoy the outdoors. Depending on what and when you hunt, you could trek through snow-covered mountain peaks to woods, salt lakes, deserts, or plateaus.

The state offers about 23 million acres of public land for hunting, so you have plenty of places to explore and track animals in the Beehive State.

Where Should I Hunt?

In addition to the millions of acres of public-access land, Utah also partners with landowners through the Walk-in Access program. You'll need to work with the Department of Wildlife to get an authorization number for access to these lands, but it can be worth it to find lower-pressure areas for hunting.

Just make sure you understand the rules of hunting land (private and public) before planning your hunt.

No matter which type of land you hunt or where, HuntWise helps you scout to find the best hunt areas for every hunt. The app shows land boundary lines and landowner contact information. You can also use various map layers (including LiDAR) to visualize hunt areas and mark things of interest with in-app markers.

 

A bull elk bugles on a mountainside, Utah elk hunting season concept.

When Can I Hunt in Utah?

When is the deer hunt in Utah? Let's take a look at the season dates so you can plan your year!

Note that the season information we provide here is the latest available from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). As the state publishes new dates, we'll also update this guide.

We also recommend confirming the latest season dates, bag limits, and other details on the state's website to catch information that might have changed before heading out for a hunt.

Deer Season in Utah

Youth Hunts

  • Archery: August 17 – September 13
  • Muzzleloader: September 25 – October 3
  • Early Any Legal Weapon: October 9 – 13
  • Any Legal Weapon Season: October 19 – 27


General Hunts (Buck Deer)

  • Archery:
    • General Season: August 17 – September 13
    • Extended: September 14 – October 15
    • Extended Either-sex (Specific Units Only): September 14 – November 30
  • Muzzleloader:
    • General: September 25 – October 3
    • Late Season: October 30 – November 7
  • General:
    • Early (Specific Units Only): October 9 – 13
    • Any Legal Weapon (Rifle): October 19 – 27
  • HAMSS (Handgun-ARchery-Muzzleloader-Shotgun-Straight Walled Rifle):
    • Book Cliffs & Floy Canyon: November 9 – 24
    • East Canyon: November 9 – 24
    • KaiparowitsL November 9 – 30


Utah also offers limited antlerless deer hunts. Check with the UDWR for dates and regulations.

Turkey

Youth Hunt: April 25 – 27, 2025

Spring Seasons:

  • Limited Entry: April 12 – 24, 2025
  • General: April 28 – May 31, 2025


Fall: October 1 – February 28, 2025

Upland Game

  • Sharp-tailed Grouse: September 28 – October 20
  • White-tailed Ptarmigan: September 2 – October 31
  • Partridge (Chukar & Hungarian):
    • General: September 28 – February 15, 2025
    • Youth Hunt: September 21 – 23
  • Ring-necked Pheasant:
    • General: November 2 – December 1
    • Youth Hunt: October 26 – 31
  • Quail (California & Gambel's Only):
    • General: November 2 – December 31
    • Youth Hunt: October 26 – 28
  • Sandhill Crane:
    • Cache & Rich Counties: September 7 – 15
    • East Box Elder County: September 7 – November 5
    • Uintah Basin: September 28 – October 17, October 18 – November 6, and November 7 – 26
  • Rabbit:
    • Cottontail: September 2 – February 28, 2025
    • Jackrabbit: Open year-round
    • Snowshoe Hare: September 2 – March 15, 2025
  • Pigeon: September 2 – 14
  • Collared Dove: Open year-round
  • Mourning & White-winged Dove: September 2 – October 30

Elk

Youth Hunts

  • Archery (Any Bull Units): August 17 – September 18
  • Archery (Spike-Only Units): August 17 – September 6
  • Any Legal Weapon/Hunter's Choice (Any Bull Units): September 14 – 22
  • Early Any Legal Weapon (Any Bull Units): October 5 – 11
  • Late Any Legal Weapon (Any Bull Units): October 12 – 18
  • Any Legal Weapon (Spike-Only Units): October 5 – 17
  • Muzzleloader (Any Bull & Spike-Only Units): October 30 – November 7


General (Bull)

  • Archery:
    • Regular: August 17 – September 6
    • Extended (Specific Units Only): August 17 – December 15
  • Any Legal Weapon (Rifle)
    • Early: October 5 – 11
    • Late: October 12 – 18
  • Muzzleloader: October 30 – November 7
  • Multi-Generational Spike Bull Hunt:
    • Archery: August 17 – September 6 or August 17 – September 18
    • Any Legal Weapon: October 5 – 17
    • Muzzleloader: October 30 – November 7
  • HAMSS (Limited Units Only): November 9 – 30


Utah also offers limited antlerless elk hunts. Refer to the UDWR for dates and regulations.

Cougar

Open year-round

Pronghorn

Buck season dates TBD. These are archery-only hunts.

The state also offers limited doe pronghorn hunts. Check the UDWR website for dates and regulations.

Black Bear

Summer Limited-Entry Hunts

  • Any Legal Weapon (No Bait): March 29 – May 26
  • Any Legal Weapon (No Dogs): May 26 – June 29


Fall Limited-Entry Hunts

  • Any Legal Weapon (No Bait): August 1 – 31 and November 3 – 9
  • Spot-and-Stalk: September 1 – November 9
  • Multiseason Limited-Entry (Any Legal Weapon): All Open Seasons


Restricted Pursuit Limited-Entry Units:

  • Spring Season: March 29 – 26
  • Early Summer Season: July 5 – 16
  • Late Summer Season: July 19 – 31


Harvest-Objective Hunts: Dates vary based on the hunt unit

Waterfowl

  • Ducks, Mergansers, & Coots:
    • Northern Zone: October 5 – January 18, 2025
    • Southern Zone: October 12 – January 25, 2025
  • Scaup:
    • Northern Zone: October 5 – December 29
    • Southern Zone: November 1 – January 25, 2025
  • Dark Geese:
    • Eastern Box Elder Goose Area: October 5 – January 18, 2025
    • Northern Goose Area: October 5 – 12 and October 26 – January 31, 2025
    • Southern Goose Area: October 12 – January 25, 2025
    • Wasatch Front Goose Area: October 5 – 12 and November 11 – February 15, 2025
  • White-fronted Geese:
    • Eastern Box Elder Goose Area: October 5 – January 18, 2025
    • Northern Goose Area: October 5 – 12 and October 26 – January 31, 2025
    • Southern Goose Area: October 12 – January 25, 2025
    • Wasatch Front Goose Area: October 5 – 12 and November 11 – February 15, 2025
  • Light Geese:
    • Eastern Box Elder, Northern, and Wasatch: October 15 – December 22 and February 1, 2025 – March 10, 2025
    • Southern Goose Area: October 25 – December 25 and January 15 – March 10
  • Rails: No open season
  • Snipe:
    • Northern Zone: October 5 – January 18, 2025
    • Southern Zone: October 12 – January 25, 2025
  • Tundra Swan: October 5 – December 8


Youth Waterfowl Hunts:

  • Northern Zone: September 21
  • Southern Zone: September 28

Once-In-a-Lifetime Hunts

These hunts include Bison, Bull Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goats.

Hunts are permit only based on drawings. Check with the UDWR for application, drawing, season dates, and regulations for hunting these species.

 

For more information about season dates, check the various hunting guidebooks provided by the UDWR.

 

A female hunter smiles and sits with a downed buck and bow, deer season in Utah concept.

What Do I Need to Know About Hunting Laws in Utah?

If you were born after December 31, 1965, you must pass an approved hunter education course before getting your license. If you take an online course, you must also take an in-person field day to complete the education requirements.

Additionally, for some big game and tundra swan hunts, you must take an orientation course before your hunt.

With proof of your hunter education certification and any required orientation courses, you can get your hunting license through the state's online system. Costs vary based on different licenses and permits depending on what you hunt.

What are the Bag Limits?

How many deer, elk, or turkeys can you bring home this year? To comply with the rules for the Utah hunting seasons, make sure you understand the bag limits for every animal you hunt. 

 

Deer

1 buck (General-season Archery, Muzzleloader, Any Legal Weapon, HAMSS seasons)

1 either-sex (Extended Archery)

1 cactus buck (Cactus Buck season)

1 antlerless per permit

Turkey2 beardless, 1 either-sex (fall), 1 bearded (spring & CWMU hunt)
ElkBag limits vary based on the permit and Hunt UnitCottontail Rabbit10 (30 in possession)
Pronghorn1 per permitJackrabbitNo limits
Black Bear1 per permitSnowshoe Hare5 (15 in possession)
Sharp-Tailed Grouse2 birds of either-sex for the entire seasonPigeon2 (6 in possession)
Ptarmigan4 (12 in possession)Collared DoveNo limits
Partridge5 (15 in possession)Mourning & White-winged Dove15 (45 in possession)
Pheasant2 males (6 males in possession)Ducks, Mergansers, Scaup7 per day (3x daily in possession)
Quail5 (15 in possession) Coots25 per day (75 in possession)
Sandhill Crane1 either-sexDark Geese5 per day (15 in possession)
CougarNo limitsWhite-fronted Geese6 per day (18 in possession)
Tundra Swan1 per permitLight Geese20 per day (60 in possession)
Mountain Goat1 per permit/lifetimeSnipe8 per day (24 in possession)
Bighorn Sheep1 per permit/lifetimeMoose1 per permit/lifetime
  Bison1 per permit/lifetime

What Else Do I Need Before I Can Hunt?

Whether you're excited about the Utah elk hunting season or you're planning your annual turkey hunt with your buddies, you need the right gear! Successful hunts require the right clothing (whether you prefer to hunt in the early season or enjoy colder late-season hunts), a sharp hunting knife, and a good pair of binoculars or a scope for glassing.

As you gear up, remember that HuntWise Pro and Elite subscribers can save hundreds on the best gear! Use exclusive discounts from our partners to save on gear.

 

A pronghorn buck walks through a field, Utah hunting seasons concept.

Have Your Best Utah Hunting Seasons Yet with HuntWise

We hope the information we provided helps you plan your Utah hunting seasons this year! Make sure you also check the state's official resources for the latest information.

Ready to start planning? Download the HuntWise hunting app first! With forecasting features for weather animal movement and plenty of map layers and markers to scout and plan, you'll have the best advantage over other hunters and the game you hunt.

Plus, Pro and Elite subscribers get access to more tools — including up to 15 days of animal activity and weather forecasting and exclusive access to our FieldGuide+ video collections from the pros. 

Make this your most successful season to hunt! Download the HuntWise and start your free 7-day trial today.  

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