Hunting Seasons and Dates

When Can I Hunt in Utah?

Wondering when deer season begins in Utah? Knowing the season dates is the first step to planning a successful year of hunting.

The information provided here reflects the most recent updates from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). As new dates are released, we’ll update this guide to keep you informed.

Before heading out, we also recommend checking the official UDWR website to confirm the latest season dates, bag limits, and regulations, as these details can change throughout the year.

Deer

Youth Hunts

• Archery: August 16 – September 12, 2025
• Muzzleloader: September 24 – October 2, 2025
• Early Any Legal Weapon: October 8 – 12, 2025
• Any Legal Weapon Season: October 18 – 26, 2025

General Hunts (Buck Deer)

• Archery:
  • General Season: August 16 – September 12, 2025
  • Extended Either-Sex (Nine Mile, Green River Valley, Sanpete Valley, South Wasatch): September 13 – October 15, 2025
  • Extended Either-sex (Box Elder, West Bear River,Herriman South Valley, Ogden, Uintah Basin, Utah Lake, Wasatch Front, West Cache): September 13 – November 30, 2025
• Muzzleloader:
  • General: September 24 – October 2, 2025
  • Late: November 8 – November 23, 2025 or December 24 – December 2, 2025
• General:
  • Early (Specific Units Only): October 8 – 12, 2025
  • Any Legal Weapon (Rifle): October 18 – 26, 2025
• HAMSS (Handgun-Archery-Muzzleloader-Shotgun-Straight Walled Rifle): November 8 – 30, 2025

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

Turkey

Youth Hunt: May 1 – 3, 2026

Spring Seasons:

• Limited Entry: April 11 – 30, 2026
• General: May 4 – 31, 2026

Fall: October 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026

Upland Game and Migratory Birds

• Sharp-tailed Grouse: September 27 – October 19, 2025
• White-tailed Ptarmigan: September 1 – October 31, 2025
• Partridge (Chukar & Hungarian):
  • General: September 27, 2025 – February 15, 2026
  • Youth Hunt: September 20 – 22, 2025
• Ring-necked Pheasant:
  • General: November 1 – December 7, 2025
  • Youth Hunt: October 25 – 30, 2025
• Quail (California & Gambel's Only):
  • General: November 1 – December 31, 2025
  • Youth Hunt: October 25 – 27, 2025
• Sandhill Crane:
  • Cache & Rich Counties: September 6 – 15, 2025
  • East Box Elder County: September 6 – November 4, 2025
  • Uintah Basin: September 27 – October 16, 2025, October 17 – November 5, 2025, and November 6 – 25, 2025
• Rabbit:
  • Cottontail: September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
  • Jackrabbit: Open year-round
  • Snowshoe Hare: September 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026
• Pigeon: September 1 – 14, 2025
• Collared Dove: Open year-round
• Mourning & White-winged Dove: September 1 – October 30, 2025

Elk

Youth Hunts

• Archery (Any Bull Units): August 16 – September 17, 2025
• Archery (Spike-Only Units): August 16 – September 5, 2025
• Any Legal Weapon/Hunter's Choice (Any Bull Units): September 3 – 13, 2025
• Early Any Legal Weapon (Any Bull Units): October 4 – 10, 2025
• Late Any Legal Weapon (Any Bull Units): October 11 – 17, 2025
• Any Legal Weapon (Spike-Only Units): October 4 – 16, 2025
• Muzzleloader (Any Bull & Spike-Only Units):October 29 – November 6, 2025

General (Bull)

• Archery:
  • General (any bull elk): August 16 – September 17, 2025
  • General (any spike elk): August 16 – September 5, 2025
  • Extended (Specific Units Only): August 17 – December 15
• Any Legal Weapon (Rifle)
  • Early: October 4 – 10, 2025
  • Late: October 11 – 17, 2025
• Muzzleloader: October 29 – November 6, 2025
• HAMSS (Limited Units Only): November 8 – 30, 2025 and December 20 – 28, 2025 (East Canyon)

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

Cougar

Open year-round

Pronghorn

Limited Entry Buck

• Archery: August 16 – September 12, 2025
• Any Legal Weapon (Rifle): September 13 – 21, 2025

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, 2025
• Any Legal Weapon (No Dogs): May 26 – June 29, 2025

Fall Limited-Entry Hunts

• Any Legal Weapon (No Bait): August 1 – 31, 2025 and November 3 – 9, 2025
• Spot-and-Stalk: September 1 – November 9, 2025
• Multiseason Limited-Entry (Any Legal Weapon): All Open Seasons

Restricted Pursuit Limited-Entry Units:

• Spring Season: March 29 – May 26, 2025
• Early Summer Season: July 5 – 16, 2025
• Late Summer Season: July 19 – 31, 2025
• Fall Season: August 1 – 31, 2025 and November 3 – 9, 2025

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

Waterfowl

• Ducks, Mergansers, & Coots:
  • Northern Zone: October 4, 2025 – January 17, 2026
  • Southern Zone: October 11, 2025 – January 24, 2026
• Scaup:
  • Northern Zone: October 4 – December 28, 2025
  • Southern Zone: October 31, 2025 – January 24, 2026
• Dark Geese:
  • Eastern Box Elder Goose Area: October 4, 2025 – January 17, 2026
  • Northern Goose Area: October 4 – 11, 2025 and October 27, 2025 – January 31, 2026
  • Southern Goose Area: October 11, 2025 – January 24, 2026
  • Wasatch Front Goose Area: October 4 – 11, 2025 and November 10, 2025 – February 15, 2026
• White-fronted Geese:
  • Eastern Box Elder Goose Area: October 4, 2025 – January 17, 2026
  • Northern Goose Area: October 4 – 11, 2025 and October 27, 2025 – January 31, 2026
  • Southern Goose Area: October 11, 2025 – January 24, 2026
  • Wasatch Front Goose Area: October 4 – 11, 2025 and November 10, 2025 – February 15, 2026
• Light Geese:
  • Eastern Box Elder, Northern, and Wasatch: October 15 – December 22, 2025 and February 2 – March 10, 2026
  • Southern Goose Area: October 25 – December 15, 2025 and January 15 – March 10, 2026
• Rails: No open season
• Snipe:
  • Northern Zone: October 4, 2025 – January 17, 2026
  • Southern Zone: October 11, 2025 – January 24, 2026
• Tundra Swan: October 4 – December 14, 2025

Youth Waterfowl Hunts:

• Northern Zone: September 20, 2025
• Southern Zone: September 27, 2025

Once-In-a-Lifetime Hunts

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

• Moose: September 13 – October 31, 2025
• Bison:
  • Any Legal Weapon: Dates vary by hunt name starting September 13, 2025 and running through January 31, 2026
  • Any Legal Weapon (Bull only): December 1 – 3, 2025
  • Any Legal Weapon (Cow Only): Dates vary by hunt name October 18, 2025 through January 13, 2026
  • Archery: August 16 – September 12, 2025 and January 14 – 31, 2026
• Desert Bighorn Sheep:
  • Any Legal Weapon: September 13 – November 10, 2025 or October 25 – December 26, 2025
  • Archery: November 11 – December 17, 2025
• Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep:
  • Any Legal Weapon: Dates vary by hunt name September 14 – November 30, 3035
  • Archery: November 15 – December 7, 2025
• Mountain Goat:
  • Any Legal Weapon: Dates vary based on hunt name September 6 – November 26, 2025
  • Archery: November 15 – 24, 2025 or September 17 – 26, 2025

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

Sportsman and Statewide Conservation Permit Hunts

Open only to Utah residents.

• Deer, Elk, Pronghorn (Archery): August 16 – 31, 2025
• Deer and Elk (Any Legal Weapon): September 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
• Pronghorn (Any Legal Weapon): September 1 – November 15, 2025
• Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat (Any Legal Weapon): September 1 ≠ December 31, 2025
• Bison (Any Legal Weapon): August 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
• Moose (Any Legal Weapon): September 1 – November 15, 2025
• Turkey: April 1 – May 31, 2025
• Black Bear: See open season dates