Hunting News

Apply for antlerless elk, deer hunts starting May 28

Apply for antlerless elk, deer hunts starting May 28

By Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

The permit application period for Utah's 2020 antlerless hunts opens May 28.

Depending on the age, a cow elk can provide between 120 to nearly 200 pounds of boneless meat. That meat can be eaten in a variety of ways, including hamburger, roasts, steaks, stews, stir-fry or in fajitas. A doe deer will provide approximately 40 pounds of boneless meat.

Beginning May 28 at 8 a.m. hunters can apply for a permit to hunt cow elk, cow moose, doe deer, doe pronghorn and, for the first time, ewe bighorn sheep, in Utah.

Hunters cannot apply for both a cow moose permit and an ewe bighorn sheep permit in the same year, but choose one or the other.

Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. June 18 to be included in the drawing for hunting permits. Before applying for a 2020 antlerless permit, bonus point or preference point, hunters must have a valid Utah hunting or combination license.

Hunters can buy a license by calling (800)221-0659, by visiting a license agent or through the DWR website online.

Details about the different units, including boundary descriptions, biologist notes, and population and harvest statistics can be found on the Utah Hunt Planner page online.

In December 2019, the Utah Wildlife Board approved several amendments to the hunt drawing process, several of which apply to the antlerless permits. If a hunter surrenders their permit(s) at least 30 days before the season opens, their previously acquired bonus/preference points will be reinstated and the waiting period will be waived, if applicable. However, if they surrender the permit(s) less than 30 days before the season opens, they will lose their bonus/preference points. Previously, it was difficult to reallocate those permits when there was less than 30 days' notice, so this change will help prevent lost hunting opportunities.

Another change to be aware of is that if a hunter obtains a general-season antlerless permit over the counter (after the antlerless drawing) or a private-lands-only permit, they will lose any preference points they've previously accrued for that specific antlerless hunt. If they purchase an antlerless elk control permit, they will not lose their preference points.

The drawing results will be available on or before July 9. If any antlerless permits remain after the drawing, hunters can purchase them beginning July 22.

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Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd