The Utah Wildlife Board has approved changes to the 2022 hunting permits, including a decrease in deer hunting permits. The objective is to have just over 400,000 deer across Utah with the current estimated at 305,700 deer. “We’ve had several years of drought and are still facing ongoing extreme drought conditions statewide, which has a significant impact on the survival rates of deer,” shares DWR Big Game Coordinator Covy Jones. “We currently have more demand for deer hunting in Utah than we have the supply for. While it is antlerless deer permits, not buck permits, that impact deer population numbers, we are recommending a decrease for both types of permits. We use the data and management plans to make proactive recommendations to achieve healthier herds.” This has led to a decrease in the number of general-season deer hunting permits to 73,075 this year. There is also a reduction in limited-entry deer, antlerless deer, antlerless elk, doe pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and mountain goat hunts. The wildlife board also approved one new antlerless deer hunt to address damage to agricultural areas caused by deer. Five new antlerless elk hunts were also approved, as well as a new doe pronghorn hunt.
