, Licenses, and Regulations Guide Plan your 2025–26 Utah hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from mule deer to elk to ducks. Whether you’re glassing a rutting buck in Wasatch foothills, slipping into high‑country aspens for bull elk, or running decoys for teal over flooded marshes, Utah’s mountains, plateaus, and wetlands deliver premier big game and small game under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Utah? Utah supports a legendary variety of game: Big Game: Mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, moose (Unit 1 draw), bighorn sheep & mountain goat (draw), black bear, cougar Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, gray squirrel, ruffed grouse, chukar, Hungarian partridge Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wigeon), geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, fox, bobcat, beaver, muskrat From desert canyons to alpine basins, Utah’s diverse habitats sustain healthy state animal populations. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Utah? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may take unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, ground squirrel, beaver, and nutria with no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator control and fur harvest. Public Wildlife Management Units enforce posted season dates and method restrictions. Utah Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Mule Deer Archery: Sept 1 – Oct 15, 2025 (Units vary) General Rifle: Nov 1 – Dec 31, 2025 (Unit dates differ) Muzzleloader: Dec 1 – Dec 10, 2025 (selected units) Youth (any legal method): Sept 20–21, 2025 Tags via draw or limited over‑the‑counter; bag limit one buck per tag. Elk Archery: Aug 20 – Sept 20, 2025 (selected units) General Rifle: Oct 1 – Oct 31 & Nov 15 – Nov 30, 2025 Muzzleloader: Nov 1 – Nov 10, 2025 Hunts A–L: Draw only; dates vary by unit Elk tags manage herd density in forests; one bull or cow per tag. Pronghorn Antelope General Rifle & Bow: Sept 15 – Sept 30, 2025 (Units 1–6 OTC) Limited–Entry (draw): Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2025 (Units 7–8) One buck per tag; antelope thrive on sagebrush flats. Moose, Sheep & Goat Draw Hunts Only: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (vary by species & unit) Trophy species require long‑term preference points; one animal per permit. Black Bear & Cougar Black Bear: Apr 15 – July 15 & Aug 15 – Sept 30, 2025 (Units vary) Cougar: Feb 1 – Mar 15 & Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2025 (quota permits) Seasons stagger to manage populations; bait and hounds allowed per unit rules. Utah Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025-26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Rabbit & Hare: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (8/day each) Gray Squirrel: Year‑round (10/day) Ruffed Grouse & Chukar: Oct 1 – Nov 30, 2025 (8/day combined) Hungarian Partridge: Nov 1 – Jan 31, 2026 (4/day) Shotguns with non‑toxic shot required; upland dogs permitted on public lands per WMU. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 6 – Sept 26, 2025 Duck & Goose: Oct 18 – Dec 13, 2025; Jan 9 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Youth Waterfowl Weekend: Oct 4–5, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 20, 2025 (15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl permit required Wetland impoundments and marshes host Pacific Flyway migrations; daily duck bag is six with sub‑limits. Bag Limits by Species Mule Deer: 1 buck per season Elk: 1 bull or cow per tag Pronghorn: 1 buck per tag Moose/Sheep/Goat: 1 per permit Black Bear: 1 per season (combined spring/fall) Ducks: 6/day; species sub‑limits apply Geese: 5/day Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Upland Birds: See daily limits above Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits ensure sustainable harvests of big game, small game, and waterfowl. License & Tags Information for Utah Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid Utah Division of Wildlife Resources license and appropriate tags: Resident Combination License: $33; Nonresident: $164 Deer & Elk Tags: $23–$393 (draw or OTC) Antelope Tags: $23–$267 (draw or OTC) Waterfowl Stamp & HIP: $15; Federal Duck Stamp required Furbearer License: $17; includes coyote, beaver Special Permits: Moose, sheep, goat, cougar draw fees vary Licenses fund habitat conservation, wildlife research, and enforcement; apply early for draw hunts. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader UDWR authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (in archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during rifle seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms in designated windows Dogs & Bait: Allowed for waterfowl retrievers; predator control dogs on private lands Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements. Regulations & Resources UDWR regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (small game to legal sunset) WMU Maps & Boundaries: Online GIS for all units and zones Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for big game via Wildlife Express within 48 hrs Special Areas: Wildlife management areas, refuge wetlands, and CWD management regions Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR): https://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/main-hunting-page.html With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license systems, Utah delivers world‑class hunts for mule deer, elk, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and explore Utah’s wild landscapes on your 2025–26 hunt.