First time Mule Deer Hunting in Utah

[High Elevation Hunter]

Hello fellow mule deer hunters-

I am new to Utah mule deer hunting and have accumulated 6 points for General Season deer and 5 points for Limited Entry deer. Over many years I have hunted California and Nevada but never Utah.
I was wondering what would be a good zone to apply this year since I never hunted Utah before.
A less crowded zone with high elevation would be preferred and I am not afraid to put in the effort in order to harvest a nice mule deer during rifle season.
Any recommendations or feedback would be appreciated .

Thank you and Good Hunting!

 

[Dcrafton]

Southern Utah


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[Calbuck]

Seems with Utah when you say "general season" that equals crowds..I'm in the same boat, having been to Utah before but trying a different zone this time around. 7 general points here.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

Less crowded lol. Antelope island is a decent unit to get away from crowds

 

[MuleyFever]

Northern Utah for sure.

 

[wmr89]

Utah Hunt Planner -- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Utah Hunt Planner is an interactive map designed to help hunters research hunting units. The Utah Hunt Planner also provides the legal hunting boundaries approved by the Utah Wildlife Board. Research hunts and units before you apply in the big game...

dwrapps.utah.gov

Big game drawing odds and points report

Download all reports in PDF format.

wildlife.utah.gov

These are good resources to start your research

 

[LONE HUNTER]

Pay a hundred bucks and call the guys at epic, they will talk your ear off about all the lovely opportunities Utah general season has to offer.

 

[KineKilla]

Utah gets crowded on EVERY unit during general season. I know, I'm a resident hunter.

That being said, if you hunt mid-week instead of the weekend (especially opening weekend) you can usually find space and occasionally deer within that space.

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[Like2hunt]

Utah gets crowded on EVERY unit during general season. I know, I'm a resident hunter.

That being said, if you hunt mid-week instead of the weekend (especially opening weekend) you can usually find space and occasionally deer within that space.

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Yep this is true. Me and some friends miss school and go up during the week and still see people. Definitely less people then the weekends but pretty much any general unit will have lots of people. Oh and you’ve got to love the smell of burning breaks from the city slickers who have no idea how to pull a trailer taking their massive toy haulers down the canyon. But whatever unit you draw do your best to scout!! Going up every weekend and week day we could payed off for us this year.

 

[PathFinder]

Since you asked this question...there's no amount of information that can help you. Utah DWR thanks you for your donation.

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[Centralcoastca]

I called the dfg biologist for the area I was most interested in prior to my elk hunt there and he was pretty helpful with the info. It’d be worth figuring out a few likely areas you’d be able to draw and make some calls to them and see what they have to say before putting in for a unit.

 

[LONE HUNTER]

Yep this is true. Me and some friends miss school and go up during the week and still see people. Definitely less people then the weekends but pretty much any general unit will have lots of people. Oh and you’ve got to love the smell of burning breaks from the city slickers who have no idea how to pull a trailer taking their massive toy haulers down the canyon. But whatever unit you draw do your best to scout!! Going up every weekend and week day we could payed off for us this year.

This is exactly how it is for me. I've been hunting Utard for 18 years, and I will try and choose 3rd week of archery when everyone has given up, hunt the weekdays, still run into other dudes in the hills. Guys here get after it. I blame it on 50% of the population not drinking and having no other outlet.

 

[Desperatehills]

I drew a popular unit a few years ago. The roads were crowded but if you hiked over a ridge it was not bad at all. Our hunt was the early season that was only 5 days so skipping opening weekend was not practical. The crowds did get smaller through out the hunt.

 

[WasatchRanger]

OP are you wanting to hunt rifle, archery, muzzleloader, etc? Are you hoping for more of a desert hunt, or a timber/aspens hunt?

 

[CamoPirate]

Sounds like he wants to give you the details so you can plan his hunt for him.

 

[southLA]

"I'm not afraid to put in the effort in order to harvest a nice mule deer during rifle season."

Right up there with "I'm not looking for any honey holes."

 

[ahansel]

For general deer with the amount of points you have, consider the South Slope - Bonanza/Vernal unit.