Changes to hunting units
In December 2024, the Utah Wildlife Board approved some new hunting strategies on four deer hunting units as part of a multiyear research study. As a result, hunters should be aware of some important changes when applying for deer permits on the following units, beginning this year and remaining in effect until 2028:
- There will be restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle general-season buck deer hunts on the Beaver, West; Boulder/Kaiparowits and Cache hunting units. For restricted muzzleloader, the ignition system is limited to traditional flintlock, wheellock, matchlock, musket cap or percussion cap. (All other ignition systems, including 209 primers, are prohibited.) And it contains only open sights or peep sights. For restricted rifle, it contains only open sights or peep sights, and cannot be semiautomatic. Archery would not be restricted, and the restrictions would not apply to limited-entry late muzzleloader hunts.
- There will be restricted archery, restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle limited-entry buck deer hunts on the Thousand Lakes hunting unit. For restricted muzzleloader, the ignition system is limited to traditional flintlock, wheellock, matchlock, musket cap or percussion cap. (All other ignition systems, including 209 primers, are prohibited.) And it contains only open sights or peep sights. For restricted rifle, it contains only open sights or peep sights, and cannot be semiautomatic. For restricted archery, it must be a single stringed long bow or recurve bow with no cables, pulleys or cams, it has no sights, and it has a draw weight of 40 pounds or more.
