Utah’s two general-season archery hunts for bull and buck mule deer start Saturday, August 15th and runs until September 11th. The general-season for any legal weapon for elk runs October 3rd to the 15th and for deer is from October 17th to the 25th. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists estimate that Utah’s deer populations have seen a decrease in the past year, primarily due to drought conditions in the spring, summer and fall of 2018, followed by a heavy winter in 2019. Elk populations are estimated to have a slightly decreasing trend, but are fairly stable. A few tips for hunters is to hunt away from the road as elk avoid roads. Do your research before heading out. The Division of Wildlife Resources offers a great resource called the Utah Hunt Planner. Be sure to bring binoculars to preserve your stealth. Be prepared for the weather as it changes quickly in the mountains and have supplies (water and first aid) for any emergencies. Look for rugged terrain as mature bucks and does are not together in August. Big Game Coordinator Covy Jones explains, “Bucks will gather in herds of little ‘bachelor groups,’ and they like more rugged mountain terrain. So, if you are looking for a bigger buck, look for terrain that is harder to access.”
