Utah Draw Odds
Utah's limited-entry bull elk, buck deer and buck pronghorn permits are drawn in two passes: half of each hunt's permits (per residency pool) go to the applicants with the most bonus points, the rest by a random draw in which every applicant holds one draw number plus one per bonus point. Roughly 10% of each limited-entry hunt's permits are set aside for nonresidents (many small hunts have 0 or 1 nonresident permit), while general-season buck deer uses a straight preference-point draw with about 10% nonresident permits and 20% of permits reserved for youth.
You need a Utah hunting or combination license ($144 nonresident) to apply, pay a $21 nonresident ($10 resident) application fee per species, and the permit fee ($1,950 NR limited-entry elk, $1,070 NR limited-entry deer, $571 NR pronghorn, $599 NR general deer) is charged only if you draw. The 2026 application ran March 19 - April 23 with results by May 31; bonus/preference points can also be bought during the June antlerless application period.
Sources: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources documents, last verified August 31, 2026. · 21 sources
Odds by Species
Deer
349 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 162
- Applicants per Tag
- 145.7
Elk
240 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 325
- Applicants per Tag
- 56.5
Antelope (Pronghorn)
99 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 177
- Applicants per Tag
- 36.5
The Rules, Side by Side
Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.
Deer
Nonresident
Nonresident
Resident
- System
- Pref 4
- Choices
- —
- Lower Choice Burns Points
- Yes
- Point-Only
- Yes
- Points Expire
- No
- Party Averages
- Yes
- NR Share
- —
Resident
- System
- Split 4
- Choices
- —
- Lower Choice Burns Points
- Yes
- Point-Only
- Yes
- Points Expire
- No
- Party Averages
- Yes
- NR Share
- —
| Species | Who | System | Choices | Lower Choice Burns Points | Point-Only | Points Expire | Party Averages | NR Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Nonresident | Preference points 4 | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10% 1 |
| Nonresident | Split: points + random 4 | — | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 10% 1 | |
| Resident | Preference points 4 | — | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | — | |
| Resident | Split: points + random 4 | — | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | — | |
| Elk | Nonresident | Split: points + random 4 | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10% 3 |
| Resident | Split: points + random 4 | — | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | — | |
| Pronghorn | Nonresident | Split: points + random 4 | — | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 10% 2 |
| Resident | Split: points + random 4 | — | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | — |
NR Share
- Elk
- 10% Roughly a tenth of each limited-entry bull hunt's permits, rounded to whole permits, so the smallest hunts have none.
- Deer
- 10% Roughly a tenth of the limited-entry buck permits and 8% of the general-season quota, rounded hunt by hunt.
- Pronghorn
- 10% Roughly a tenth of each limited-entry buck hunt's permits, rounded hunt by hunt, so a few hunts have none.
Points Expire
- Deer
- Forfeited when any general buck deer permit is obtained, in the draw or over the counter (R657-62-9(4)); youth archery deer permits excepted.
- Elk
- Bonus points are forfeited only when a permit for that species is obtained through the drawing or after it (R657-62-8(6)); no time expiry; surrendering a permit 30+ days before the season restores prior points.
How These Draws Work, With an Example
Preference points: Tags go to the applicants with the most preference points, one level at a time. If the last level that draws has more applicants than tags remaining, those applicants are chosen at random. Everyone below that level misses and earns a point.
Split: points + random: 50% of the tags go to the applicants with the most points; the other 50% are drawn at random with points + 1 entries per applicant, so points still help but never guarantee a tag.
Buying Points
A nonresident can buy a point in Utah without applying for a tag. Choose the species' bonus-point code - or GDR for general-season buck deer - on your application in the March 19 to April 23 window, or in the June 9 to 23 antlerless window.
Taking any permit for that species spends the points you built. Points do not expire.
| Species | Resident | Nonresident | How | Points Lapse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer On The Application · never lapses 1 | $10 2 | $21 3 | On The Application | Never 1 |
| Elk On The Application · never lapses 4 | $10 2 | $21 3 | On The Application | Never 4 |
| Pronghorn On The Application · never lapses | $10 2 | $21 3 | On The Application | Never |
- 1.Forfeited when any general buck deer permit is obtained, in the draw or over the counter (R657-62-9(4)); youth archery deer permits excepted
- 2.Plus a current Utah hunting or combination licence - $40 for 365 days, $11 for youth 13 and under
- 3.Plus a current Utah hunting or combination licence - $144 for 365 days, $44 for youth 13 and under
- 4.Bonus points are forfeited only when a permit for that species is obtained through the drawing or after it (R657-62-8(6)); no time expiry; surrendering a permit 30+ days before the season restores prior points
Source: Preference point — wildlife.utah.gov
Fees
| 2026 Fee | Nonres. | Resident | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every Applicant | |||
| 365-day hunting license, age 18+ (required to apply; a drawn nonresident big game permit also acts as a 1-year fishing license) 10 To apply | $144 | $40 | To apply |
| Big game application fee, per species or point applied for (plus 2.2% card processing fee) 10 To apply | $21 | $10 | To apply |
| Bonus or preference point only (same as the application fee; no permit fee) 10 Point-only purchase | $21 | — | Point-only purchase |
| 365-day combination (hunt + fish) license, age 18+ (alternative to the hunting license) 10 If drawn | $190 | — | If drawn |
| Deer | |||
| General-season buck deer permit 10 If drawn | $599 | $46 | If drawn |
| Limited-entry buck deer permit (also management / cactus buck) 10 If drawn | $1,070 | $94 | If drawn |
| Multiseason limited-entry buck deer permit 10 If drawn | $2,130 | — | If drawn |
| Multiseason premium limited-entry buck deer permit 10 If drawn | $2,330 | — | If drawn |
| Premium limited-entry buck deer permit (Henry Mtns, Paunsaugunt, Antelope Island) 10 If drawn | $1,398 | — | If drawn |
| Elk | |||
| Limited-entry bull elk permit (charged only if drawn) 10 If drawn | $1,950 | $314 | If drawn |
| Multiseason limited-entry bull elk permit 10 If drawn | $2,655 | — | If drawn |
| Pronghorn | |||
| Limited-entry buck pronghorn permit 10 If drawn | $571 | $63 | If drawn |
| Cash to Apply, One Species | $165 | $50 | Kept if you miss |
Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.
Next Application Deadlines
-
Mar 18 – Apr 22, 2027 187 days expected
-
Elk 10
results about May 31
(Last cycle ran Mar 19 – Apr 23, 2026.) Deer, elk and pronghorn share one application. Applications close at 11 p.m. Mountain time, which is also the last chance to change or withdraw one. Points can also be bought alone in a second window in June. Buying a leftover limited-entry permit uses your points.
Mar 18 – Apr 22, 2027 187 days expected
Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.
Legal cartridges in Utah by species and weapon
Sources (21)
Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines
- 1. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah Draw System) · Utah Draw System DrawOddsData - Big Game 2026 - Limited-Entry Buck Deer (masterHuntTypeID 8)
- 2. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah Draw System) · Utah Draw System DrawOddsData - Big Game 2026 - Limited-Entry Buck Pronghorn (masterHuntTypeID 10)
- 3. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah Draw System) · Utah Draw System DrawOddsData - Big Game 2026 - Limited-Entry Bull Elk (masterHuntTypeID 9)
- 4. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah Office of Administrative Rules text) · Utah Admin. Code R657-62 Drawing Application Procedures · 2026
- 5. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Utah Wildlife Board · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook - 2021
- 6. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Utah Wildlife Board · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook - 2022
- 7. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Utah Wildlife Board · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook - 2023
- 8. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Utah Wildlife Board · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook - 2024
- 9. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Utah Wildlife Board · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook - 2025
- 10. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources / Utah Wildlife Board · Utah Big Game Application Guidebook - 2026 (published Feb 3, 2026)
Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2021–2026
2026 · 1 document
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Utah Draw System) · Utah Draw System DrawOddsData - Big Game 2026 - General-Season Buck Deer (masterHuntTypeID 5)
2025 · 2 documents
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2025 Draw 5, Big Game Bonus Point Draw Results (limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime), report date 06/04/2025
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2025 Draw 5, Big Game Draw Results - General Season Deer (preference-point draw)
2024 · 2 documents
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2024 Draw 5, Big Game Bonus Point Draw Results (limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime)
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2024 Draw 5, Big Game Draw Results - General Season Deer
2023 · 2 documents
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2023 Draw 5, Big Game Bonus Point Draw Results (limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime)
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2023 Draw 5, Big Game Draw Results - General Season Deer
2022 · 2 documents
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2022 Draw 5, Big Game Bonus Point Draw Results (limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime), 06/02/2022
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2022 Draw 5, Big Game Draw Results - General Season Deer
2021 · 2 documents
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2021 Draw 5, Big Game Bonus Point Draw Results (limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime), 06/15/2021
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · 2021 Draw 5, Big Game Draw Results - General Season Deer
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About These Numbers
Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from Utah Division of Wildlife Resources documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.