Utah Hunting License: Cost, Online Purchase, Draw Fees & NR Options (2026)

Utah raised non-resident hunting fees significantly in 2025. The NR base hunting license increased from $120 to $144. NR general season deer tags went from $418 to $599; general elk from $613 to $849; limited-entry elk from $1,050 to $1,950. These increases affect NR hunters applying in the 2026 season. Resident fees saw smaller adjustments. A 2.2% electronic transaction fee applies to all online purchases at wildlife.utah.gov. The base hunting license ($40 resident / $144 NR) is required before applying for any species-specific permit through the draw.

All big game species in Utah — deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and bison — require a separate permit through the draw system. There are no over-the-counter big game tags in Utah. The 2026 application window opens March 19 and closes April 23 at 11 PM MDT. Results are posted by May 31. Application fees are non-refundable: $10 resident / $21 NR per species. Hunters may apply for multiple species in the same year. A bonus point-only option is available for species where a hunter does not want to risk drawing a tag in a lower-quality unit — this allows point accumulation without accepting a tag.

Starting in 2026, Utah implemented mandatory harvest reporting for all big game permit holders, even those who did not hunt or harvest. Reports must be submitted within 30 days of season end. Failure to report blocks future applications for big game and antlerless permits. A $50 late fee can reinstate eligibility for those who miss the deadline. The Utah Hunting & Fishing app's e-tagging feature provides a streamlined way to submit harvest surveys at the time of kill. This reporting requirement is separate from the traditional 10-day harvest reporting obligation.

Utah separates deer permits into two tiers. General season buck permits ($46 res / $599 NR) use a preference point system — each unsuccessful application adds a preference point, and applicants with the most preference points are drawn first. When multiple hunters have the same points, remaining tags go to a weighted random draw. This system theoretically guarantees a tag after enough years of applying, though popular units can have very long odds. Limited-entry buck permits ($80 res / $1,070 NR) access premium units with larger, older deer and use a 50/50 split: 50% of tags go to the highest point holders; 50% go to a weighted random draw among all applicants. This mixed system means a first-year applicant has a chance at a limited-entry tag.

Elk permits follow the same two-tier structure. General season bull elk ($56 res / $849 NR) and limited-entry bull elk ($90 res / $1,950 NR). The limited-entry elk units include the premium Book Cliffs, Henry Mountains, and Wasatch units where bull quality is highest. Antlerless elk permits ($35 res / $200 NR) are used for population management and have different draw odds than bull permits. The archery elk season opens August 16; general rifle opens October 18. Both mule deer archery and general rifle seasons share the same opening dates, meaning hunters can pursue both species during overlapping periods if they hold both permits.

Utah's mule deer archery season (August 16–September 12) is an early-season hunt, while the general rifle season (October 18–26) is a shorter fall hunt. Youth hunters have a dedicated 2-day season (September 20–21) with any legal weapon before the standard seasons open. Antler point restrictions and buck definitions are not universal; they must be checked by hunt code and unit in the current Utah guidebook.

Utah's limited-entry mule deer units and general-season units should be planned as different products. Limited-entry applications use a separate point structure and usually have lower permit availability, while general-season buck deer permits use preference points and broader unit choices. Hunters comparing Paunsaugunt, Nebo, Henry Mountains, Book Cliffs, or general-season units should rely on current draw odds, access notes, and season rules instead of fixed wait-time claims.

Utah's pronghorn antelope season is managed similarly to deer, with draw permits in various units statewide. Central Utah's west desert units hold significant pronghorn numbers. Wild turkey hunting (Merriam's subspecies, $31 res / $67 NR) has a limited draw in spring and fall. Merriam's turkeys are found in the Dixie, Fishlake, and Manti-La Sal National Forests in central and southern Utah. Upland bird hunting (pheasant and chukar, November 1–December 31) requires only the base hunting license with no additional permit. Chukar hunting is particularly productive in the canyon country of eastern Utah near the Colorado and Green River drainages.

Utah's black bear season uses a limited permit system with separate spring (archery, April 1–June 30) and fall seasons. Bear baiting is legal in Utah. Non-resident bear permits are available through the draw. The state has a growing mountain lion population managed under a quota system by unit. Unit quotas are monitored in near-real-time and seasons close automatically when reached. Utah's beaver, bobcat, and coyote seasons are less regulated and provide year-round predator hunting opportunities that do not require draw applications.