The 2026 application period for Utah antlerless is from June 9 to June 23, 2026, at 11 p.m. MT. Applications can be completed online here. Results are expected to be available on or before July 8, 2026.

State Information

View important information and an overview of the Utah rules/regulations, the draw system, tag and license fees on our State Profile.

We also have Draw Odds for all antlerless hunts in Utah, plus you can find all of these hunting opportunities on our Filtering research tool. And don't forget about our Unit Profiles, which are packed full of information on these hunts.

Important Dates and Information

The Breakdown

Hunting License Required

Before you can apply for a 2026 antlerless permit, you'll need a valid Utah hunting or combo license. No worries if you don’t have one yet—you can buy it when you apply. Licenses are good for 365 days from the day you get one, so if you time it right, you might be able to apply two years in a row with the same license. Just a heads-up: you only need the license to apply, not to actually go hunting. If you already purchased a license earlier to apply in the primary big game draw you may be good to go.

Bonus and Preference Points

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ewe and antlerless moose tags are drawn through the use of bonus points, while antlerless deer, antlerless elk, and doe antelope are drawn with preference points.

Under the bonus point system, 50% (rounded down) of the tags are made available to the highest point holders. Under the preference point system, the state looks at the highest-point holders first and considers their first-choice hunt. If a permit is available for the applicant's first choice, then a tag is awarded. If permits are not available, the application is skipped, and the first choice of the next person is considered. After all first choices have been considered at that preference point level, the drawing will look at the first choices of hunters at the next highest preference point level. Once all first-choice applicants from every point level have been considered, then the state will begin to look at second-choice applications.

Party Applications

Applicants also have the opportunity to apply for Utah antlerless hunts in parties or groups:

Points are averaged and rounded down when two or more applicants apply as a group. For example, if Applicant A has one point and Applicant B has four points, the group will average to 2.5 points, which will ultimately round down to two points for the draw.

Obtain up to Three Elk Permits in a Season

You may obtain up to three elk permits per year — as long as at least two of the permits are for antlerless elk — but you can only apply for or obtain one antlerless elk permit in the drawing.

Forfeit Preference Points for Purchasing Remaining Antlerless Permits

If you obtain a general season antlerless permit OTC after the antlerless drawing or a private lands only permit, you will lose any preference points you've previously accrued for that specific antlerless hunt. If you purchase an antlerless elk control permit, you will not lose your preference points.

Private Land Only Antlerless Elk Permit

This year, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will again offer private lands only antlerless elk permits. These permits are only valid on private lands on select hunting units. Do not purchase one of these permits without knowing the laws that regulate hunting on private lands.

Points only for all species during the Antlerless draw

If you missed the April 23 big game application deadline, you can still apply for big game bonus or preference points during the June 9–23 antlerless application period.