UTAH Big Game Draw 2026 | How Non-Residents Apply for Elk, Mule Deer & Pronghorn

UTAH Big Game Draw 2026 | How Non-Residents Apply for Elk, Mule Deer & Pronghorn

How to Apply for Utah Big-Game Tags as a Non-Resident (2026 Guide)

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited. My name is Matt Hartsky. Today, we’re continuing our series on how to apply as a non-resident for big game in the most prominent western states. To the best of my knowledge, everything here is accurate — but as always, please do your own research because regulations change year to year. We’ll cover Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, and Utah in separate articles, so stay tuned for those.

In this article, we’re breaking down exactly how the Utah big-game application process works for non-residents applying for:

  • Limited-entry bull elk

  • Limited-entry buck pronghorn

  • General-season buck deer

We’re going deep into Utah’s bonus-point and preference-point systems, how the draw order unfolds, non-resident permit availability, when and how to buy or apply, and smart strategy if you’re building a multi-state fall plan. If Utah has been on your radar but the system feels confusing, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover:

  • When to apply

  • What license you must hold first

  • How to buy points if you skip a year

  • How the 50/50 bonus-point vs. random split works

  • How non-resident quotas shake out

  • How general-season buck deer differs

Everything here is laser-focused on non-residents and the three species that matter: bull elk, buck deer, and pronghorn.

Let’s jump in.

Limited Entry vs. General Season

Utah breaks big-game hunts into two buckets:

Limited-Entry Hunts

  • Premium, hard-to-draw hunts

  • Low permit numbers, high quality

  • Includes bull elk + buck pronghorn

General-Season Hunts

  • More opportunity

  • Still a draw for non-residents

  • Only applies to buck deer (for this discussion)

If you’re thinking elk, deer, and pronghorn in Utah, this is your world.

Next, let’s talk licensing, timing, and how applications actually happen.

License Requirements + Key Dates

To apply, non-residents must hold:
✅ A valid Utah hunting license OR a combo license
(Valid for 365 days)

That’s your entry ticket.
Without it, you cannot apply for big-game.

Main Application Window

  • Opens in spring (typically March)

  • Closes in April

During this window, you can:

  • Apply for permits

  • OR buy points only

After draw results, Utah has a thin June window where you can buy points if you did not apply earlier.

General-Season Elk OTC Sales

If you’re targeting:

  • Any-bull elk

  • Spike elk

Remaining tags go up for sale in July:

  • First-come, first-served

  • Not part of the draw

  • They sell out fast

So if you’re going this route, watch that date like a hawk.

Make sure:

  • Your profile is updated

  • Your payment method is valid
    A card failure can knock you out of the draw.

How to Apply — Species Options

As a non-resident, you can apply for:

  1. Limited-entry bull elk

  2. Limited-entry buck pronghorn

  3. General-season buck deer (archery, muzzleloader, or any legal weapon)

Important:

If you draw a limited-entry permit (elk, pronghorn, or deer), you cannot also obtain a general-season buck deer permit that same year.

If you choose to buy an OTC any-bull or spike elk tag in July instead of applying for LE, you’re still playing Utah — just through a different path.

Limited-Entry: Bonus Point System

Utah uses a bonus-point system for:

  • Limited-entry bull elk

  • Limited-entry deer

  • Limited-entry pronghorn

  • Once-in-a-lifetime species

Bonus points do not guarantee a tag.
They simply increase your odds through a squared-weight system.

Here’s how your draw “weight” is calculated:

Bonus Points² + 1

Example:
10 points → 10² = 100 + 1 = 101 entries
3 points → 3² = 9 + 1 = 10 entries

More points = more names in the hat.

But Utah splits limited-entry permits:

  • 50% go to maximum bonus-point holders

  • 50% are random, weighted by points

So:
✔ Veterans with lots of points still have a path
✔ New applicants always have a non-zero chance

This is why people apply every year — because you’re ALWAYS in the game.

You can earn bonus points:

  • By applying and not drawing

  • Or by buying a point instead of applying

General-Season Buck Deer: Preference Points

General-season buck deer uses preference points, not bonus points.

This is a true queue:

More points → draw first

No randomness.
If you sit out, you can still buy a preference point to stay in the game.

A smart non-resident strategy is:

  • Apply for limited-entry elk + pronghorn while building bonus points

  • Build preference points toward general buck deer as a predictable opportunity rotation

This layering keeps you hunting while working toward a great limited-entry tag.

Utah Draw Order — Why It Matters

Utah processes applications in this order:

  1. Limited-entry deer

  2. Limited-entry bull elk

  3. Limited-entry buck pronghorn

  4. Once-in-a-lifetime species

  5. General-season buck deer

Why does this matter?

If you draw a limited-entry permit for deer, elk, or pronghorn, you are DONE for the year — no other big-game tags.

So rank your priorities.

If you burn your LE slot on a pronghorn tag, you’re out of the running for LE elk that year.

50% of limited-entry permits go to:
✅ Max-point applicants

50% go to:
✅ Random draw weighted by points²

Your first choice matters most. Utah rarely reaches second or third choices because quotas are so low.

Non-Resident Tag Allocation

Utah allocates:

Up to 10% of permits in each hunt to non-residents

But pay attention:

  • Low-quota hunts may yield very few non-resident tags

  • Sometimes zero

If a hunt has only a few permits, there may not be a non-resident allocation at all.

So always confirm the hunt table before applying.
Don’t burn points on a hunt that doesn’t offer non-resident permits.

For limited-entry:

  • Non-resident LE tags are still split

    • 50% max bonus-point pool

    • 50% random

Some hunts may only have 1–2 non-resident tags, so odds are steep — but you always have a shot.

Group Applications

Non-residents can apply as a group (up to 4 people) for:

  • Limited-entry elk

  • Limited-entry deer

  • Limited-entry pronghorn

  • General-season buck deer

You can mix residents + non-residents.

BUT:
If the hunt has no non-resident permits, and your group includes a non-resident → your group cannot draw.

Group points = averaged
Rounded down

If not enough permits exist for the whole group → skipped.

Smaller groups have better odds than larger groups.

Building a Smart Utah Strategy

Utah is a long-term state for LE elk + pronghorn.

Approach:

  • Choose 1–2 LE units

  • Apply every year

  • Build bonus points

  • Take swings in the random

  • Stay patient

Meanwhile:

  • Build preference points for general buck deer

  • Hunt general-season opportunities to learn the ground

  • If you want elk sooner → try July OTC any-bull / spike

This keeps you:

  • Gaining experience

  • Learning terrain

  • Staying in the Utah system

If your calendar is heavy with other hunts, you can:

  • Buy bonus + preference points only

This keeps you moving without risking a tag you can’t hunt.

Costs, Timing + Practical Tips

Your hunting license lasts 365 days, so if you time it correctly you can:

  • Apply this year

  • Buy points next year
    → all under one license fee

Utah charges:

  • A non-refundable species fee to apply or buy points

  • Full permit fee only if you draw

Fees change regularly, so check current year pricing.

Credit card failure = kicked out of the draw
Confirm your card is valid through results release.

Key dates:

  • Mar–Apr: Apps + points

  • June: Points-only window

  • July: General-season elk sales

These days sell out FAST.
Be logged in early and ready.

Final Strategy

Utah rewards:

  • Consistency

  • Planning

  • Patience

Apply or buy points every year.
Don’t miss one — it sets you back.

Use general-season hunts to stay active while you build LE odds.

Long-term focus gives you the best chance to pull a dream tag in Utah.

TEAM BACKBONE

If you’re serious about taking this kind of knowledge deeper and actually putting it to work, that’s why I built TEAM BACKBONE. It’s more than a membership — it’s a way to sharpen your edge with exclusive tools, strategies, and a community of hunters who refuse to quit.

Inside, you get:

  • 20% off site-wide on all Backbone Unlimited gear

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  • Private TEAM BACKBONE Facebook group with direct access to me

  • Direct call, text, or email access for personalized help

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If you’re ready for an inner circle that pushes you forward, TEAM BACKBONE is waiting at backboneunlimited.com under the Membership tab.

Thanks for being here.
Train Harder, Hunt Smarter, and Never Settle.

— Matt Hartsky

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