deer hunting in utah
There are more mule deer in Utah than any other big game animal. And deer hunting in Utah is big business. Because? Because trophy mule deer is one of the most attractive game species in North America.
Few experiences will make your heart pound faster than seeing a monstrous muley, sporting a massive rack, up close in the wild. It’s happened to me every time I’ve had the privilege of seeing one. Maybe it’s because I’ve realized how hard it is to get close enough to see one.
And yes, there are still deer like this in Utah. But a number of factors make it harder to even see one let alone have a chance to hunt one. One thing to keep in mind. There are no whitetail deer in Utah. An occasional whitetail may wander in from a neighboring state, but such occurrences are rare.
Is deer hunting in Utah as good as it used to be?
One thing that goes without saying to anyone who has hunted mule deer in Utah for any extended period of time. The deer population here has been declining. Over the last 30 years to be exact.
Many factors can be blamed for the decline. But the main reason is becoming a common theme across the country. There is simply less land available for mule deer to thrive on. And the land that remains has deteriorated to the point that it is now detrimental to healthy numbers of mule deer.
Anytime a species like mule deer has less suitable habitat, disease and predation by other species is magnified. Favorable mule deer habitat in Utah is also shrinking due to a general climate trend in the state. A trend toward drier conditions. Drought has existed in much of the state for several years.
Deer hunting in Utah is permitted in most public areas of the state, except national parks, national monuments, and state parks. It is administered by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and proclamations are set annually. The best way to plan a hunting trip is to consult the latest Utah Big Game Proclamation. You can do it online at the DWR site.
Mule deer range throughout the state. Some of the best hunts are:
- in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains east of Salt Lake City.
- in all national forest areas along the Colorado Plateau.
- in the La Sal and Abajo mountains of southeastern Utah.
- in the Paunsagaunt Plateau area of southern Utah.
- along the Skyline Drive mountaintop highway of central Utah.
- throughout the national forests and in the vast mountainous areas of the state.
Nature takes its toll on Utah’s deer herd
Nature wreaked havoc on Utah’s mule deer after several years of drought and a bitter winter with record snowfall in 1992-1993. It became apparent that the Utah deer herd could no longer afford unlimited hunting. For the first time in history, buck permits were capped in 1994. Since 1994, 97,000 general season buck permits have been sold each year in five hunting regions.
However, this becomes a difficult process to monitor as the permits are sold over the counter. In some years, permits exceeded 97,000. Moving to a lottery in 2000, permit sales have remained very close to the 97,000 limit.
The severe drought in Utah has continued to wreak havoc on deer hunting in Utah. The number of permits was capped at 95,000 in 2005. And that same year, the state’s first deer management plan was approved. The plans for each unit are updated every few years.
One of the biggest obstacles preventing deer hunting in Utah is the maturation of the remaining plant community. Many of the most critical deer ranges are in the late stages of their life cycle. They are dominated by mature junipers, other conifers, and older shrubs such as mugwort. With pivotal winter deer ranges covered by older shrubs, there has been little regrowth of younger plants. Annual grasses like cheatgrass are taking over a lot of traditional mule deer habitat.
Some of the other factors that affect mule deer numbers in Utah and throughout the West are both natural and man-made. The main predators of mule deer in Utah are cougars, coyotes, and yes, even black bears. As anyone who enjoys the outdoors has probably noticed, the number of all-terrain vehicles (OHVs) has skyrocketed. Whether those promoting these machines want to admit it or not, they did great damage to mule deer habitat. From 1998 to 2006, OHV use tripled in Utah. And it has multiplied by 100 in the last 30 years!
Uncontrolled OHV use not only damages mule deer’s range, but also places undue stress on deer during critical periods of their life cycle, especially in winter, when energy conservation can be the difference between life and death.
While the use of OHVs on public land is a legitimate right, their uncontrolled and inappropriate use not only damages wildlife habitat, but can also kill wildlife. For this reason, there has been an increased demand for more areas to be designated as walking and riding areas only. Remote areas with fewer hunters and no OHV traffic. Biologically, limiting areas to travel by foot and horse can limit hunting pressure, reduce harvest, and increase the ratio of males to females.
A part of Utah life
Mule deer is Utah’s most important game animal. Thousands of families still plan their falls around deer hunting. Deer hunting in Utah is deeply entrenched in the social fabric. And many people in the state make a living serving people who love the great outdoors.
There are few people who do not like to see deer in the wild. Much time and money is spent each year in Utah observing and photographing mule deer. Areas that produce large bucks are attractive to both hunters and people who enjoy just seeing them.
And Utah has a lot of units that make a lot of money. Even “monster” trophy dollars. Head to the area south of the Paunsagaunt Plateau in southern Utah in late fall. Drive on some of the back roads east of Kanab with a camera and be careful not to let your jaw hit the steering wheel. I have been there and I have seen them.
The Future of the Mule Deer in Utah
The goal of Utah game managers is to increase the state’s mule deer population to a postseason size of 350,000 by 2013. That would mean another 50,000. Given that precipitation seems to be returning to normal, especially this year, 2009, it seems like a reasonable goal.
Another of their goals is to provide Utah residents and visitors with a wide range of high-quality hunting and viewing opportunities for mule deer throughout the state.
How to Plan a Deer Hunt in Utah
Both the Central and Northeastern Regions have improved dramatically in recent years. Herds in both regions average $16 per 100 females. This allows more permits to be issued in these areas. The Northern Region has not enjoyed the same rebound. The winter of 2007-2008 was not good for deer in this region. The two units, the Cache and Ogden units, reduced the ratio to $10 per 100 females.
If you’re looking for a shot at a Utah trophy, there are a couple of ways to go about it. Utah has a wide variety of professional outfitters ready and willing to help you go on the hunt of a lifetime. If you have the resources, hiring one of these providers is absolutely the best way to go. They have access to land that no one else has. They know where the deer are and you don’t have to worry about thousands of people invading your space. And once again, they have access to land across the state. Utah has some of the largest mule deer trophies on the planet and these folks will take you to where they live.
If you don’t have the resources or desire to hire a vendor, check out the big game proclamation on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website or contact them directly. It will give you the best overview of deer hunting in Utah. You can apply for one of the general permits or one of the lottery-type limited-entry hunts. If you’re applying for one of these, plan a year in advance.
License
Resident and non-resident permits for general hunting are available on a first-come, first-served basis at authorized dealers throughout the state, at DWR offices, and online. Permits for some of the special hunts are assigned by lottery. Check the proclamation for those.
