Utah Bighorn Sheep Hunting 2026

Application Deadlines Non-Resident Fees Resident Fees Big Game Season Dates Draw Result Dates State Contact Information

Black Bear: February 18, 2025
Big Game: April 24, 2025
Antlerless & Points Only: June 18, 2025
Swan & Grouse: Mid July, 2025
Youth & Archery General Elk Permits on Sale: July 8, 2025
Any-Bull General Elk Permits on Sale: July 10, 2025
Spike General Elk Permits Available: July 17, 2025
Private-lands Cow Elk Permits Available: July 29, 2025
Sportsman's Resident Raffle: November 6, 2025
Spring Turkey: December 27, 2025

UP-FRONT FEES
Non-Resident Hunting License	$147.17
Youth (<18) Non-Resident Hunting License	$44.97
Application Fee Per Species	$21.46
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)*
Desert Bighorn Sheep	$4,075.74
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep	$4,075.74
Moose	$3,564.74
Rocky Mountain Goat	$3,564.74
Bison	$4,946.48
Limited-Entry Elk	$1,992.90
Multiseason Limited-Entry Elk	$2,713.41
General Bull/Spike Elk (Adult or Youth)	$867.68
Multiseason General Spike Elk (Adult)	$1282.61
Youth Only General Elk	$765.48
Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer	$1,428.76
Multiseason Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer	$2,381.26
Limited-Entry and Limited-Entry Management Buck Deer	$1,093.54
Multiseason Limited-Entry Buck Deer	$2,309.72
General Deer	$612.18
General Deer Dedicated Hunter Program (Adult)	$1,275.46
General Deer Dedicated Hunter Program (Youth)	$935.13
General Deer Dedicated Hunter Program - Per Hour	$40.88
Antelope	$583.56
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ewe)	$2,146.20
Cow Moose	$2,248.40
Cow Elk	$663.28
Doe Deer	$241.19
Doe Antelope	$241.19
Black Bear	$613.20
Multiseason Black Bear	$908.56
Turkey	$178.85
All pricing includes the 2.2% processing fee. *Current as of September 2025

UP-FRONT FEES
Hunting License	$40.88
Youth Hunting License (< 18 Years Old)	$16.35
Application Fee Per Species	$10.22
POST DRAW FEES (IF SUCCESSFUL)*
Desert Bighorn Sheep	$576.41
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep	$576.41
Moose	$463.99
Mountain Goat	$463.99
Bison	$470.12
Limited-Entry Elk	$320.91
Multiseason Limited-Entry Elk	$574.41
General Bull/Spike Elk (Adult or Youth)	$57.23
Multiseason General Spike Elk (Adult)	$204.40
Youth Only General Elk	$51.10
Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer	$189.07
Multiseason Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer	$343.39
Limited-Entry and Limited-Entry Management Buck Deer	$96.07
Multiseason Limited-Entry Buck Deer	$173.74
General Deer	$47.01
General Deer Dedicated Hunter Program (Adult)	$219.73
General Deer Dedicated Hunter Program (Youth)	$122.64
General Deer Dedicated Hunter Program - Per Hour	$40.88
Antelope	$64.39
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ewe)	$112.42
Cow Moose	$254.48
Cow Elk	$58.20
Doe Deer	$37.20
Doe Antelope	$35.77
Black Bear	$95.05
Multiseason Black Bear	$187.03
Turkey	$40.88
All pricing includes the 2.2% processing fee *Current as of September 2025

MULE DEER (LIMITED ENTRY)
Archery	Aug 16 – Sep 12, 2025
Muzzleloader	Sep 24 – Oct 2, 2025 (varies by unit)
Muzzleloader (Late hunt on General Units)	Oct 29 - Nov 6, 2025
Rifle	Oct 18 – Oct 26, 2025 (varies by unit)
HAMMS	Nov 8 - Nov 30, 2025
MULE DEER (GENERAL)
Archery	Sep 2 – Sep 30, 2025
Muzzleloader	Sep 24 - Oct 2, 2025
Rifle (1st season)	Oct 8 - Oct 12, 2025
Rifle (2nd season)	Oct 18 - Oct 26, 2025
PRONGHORN
Archery	Aug 16 – Sep 12, 2025
Muzzleloader	Sep 24 – Oct 2, 2025
Rifle	Sep 13 – Sep 21, 2025
ELK (GENERAL)
Archery (Spike Units)	Aug 16 – Sep 5, 2025
Archery (Any Bull Units)	Aug 16 – Sep 17, 2025
Rifle (Spike Units)	Oct 4 – Oct 16, 2025
Rifle (Any Bull Units)	Oct 4 – Oct 10, 2025 (1st season)
Rifle (Any Bull Units)	Oct 11 – Oct 17, 2025 (2nd season)
Muzzleloader (Any Bull Units)	Oct 29 – Nov 6, 2025
ELK (LIMITED)
Archery (Early)	Aug 16 – Sep 16, 2025
Archery (Late)	Nov 29 – Dec 14, 2025
Muzzleloader	Sep 22 – Oct 3, 2025
Elk Rifle (Early)	Sep 17 – Sep 21, 2025
Rifle (Mid)	Oct 4 – Oct 16, 2025
Rifle (Late)	Nov 8 – Nov 16, 2025
BISON
Any Legal Weapon	Nov, 2025 – Jan, 2026 (varies by unit)
DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
Any Legal Weapon	Sep 13 – Nov 10, 2025
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP
Any Legal Weapon	Oct – Nov, 2025 (varies by unit)
MOUNTAIN GOAT
Any Legal Weapon	Sep – Nov, 2025 (varies by unit)
SHIRAS MOOSE
Any Legal Weapon	Sep 13 – Oct 31, 2025

YEAR	ELK, DEER, ANTELOPE & ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIMES	BLACK BEAR	ANTLERLESS
2025	May 13 (emails & online)	February 27	July 2
2024	May 14 (emails & online)	February 28	July 5
2023	May 25 (emails)	February 28	July 6
2022	May 13 (emails)	March 2	June 28
2021	May 11 (emails)	March 2	June 29
2020	May 15 (emails)		June 30
2019	May 13 (emails)
2018	May 11

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

1594 West North Temple
PO Box 146301
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301
ph. 801-538-4700

APPLY CHECK POINTS

Non-residents can apply for both Desert and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep tags in Utah. While the state is known for being relatively aggressive in issuing bighorn permits, populations of both species remain limited, making these tags difficult to draw. Beginning last year, a new interpretation of the ten percent non-resident quota resulted in three hunts that offered two non-resident permits, allowing bonus permits to be issued in those units. Applicants will be able to review the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ (UDWR) permit recommendations in late March, prior to the April application deadline. This provides a significant advantage to sheep hunters at the maximum point level, allowing them to better evaluate which units may offer a realistic chance at drawing a preference tag.

UNIT	COMMENTS
Escalante, East	Southern portion of the state north of Lake Powell. Big, roadless slickrock country. Expect a multi-day backpack trip to get into the scattered populations of sheep. Always a chance at a big ram with the remoteness of the area. Unit was split to disperse hunters as hunters were killing more rams in the more accessible west side. Some access from Lake Powell, but still plan on packing in.
Kaiparowits, East	Southern portion of the state north of Lake Powell. Canyon country with a combination of rocky, broken clay hills and slickrock. Rugged and steep terrain. Good population with decent access and good genetics. Scattered small herds throughout most of the unit. Quality is still good and as good of a chance at a 165” ram as any unit in the state. Access is good with some road access, backpacking areas, and boat access off Lake Powell. 155-165”+ rams available. Average days hunted in 2023 was 4.
Kaiparowits, West	Southern portion of the state northwest of Lake Powell. Similar terrain as the other Kaiparowits units — mesas on top with rocky, steep canyons and cliffs. Better/easier access for the most part than the other Kaiparowits units. The unit is currently experiencing a disease outbreak, and it is unsure how this is going to affect the unit in the future, but 160-165” should still be available. Most sheep inhabit the southern rocky canyons between the Paria River and the Smoky Mountain Road, with a few scattered south of Hwy 89 along the river. Quality is still good, but we may see more tag reductions in the future if disease loss is substantial. Average days hunted in 2023 was 10.
San Rafael, Dirty Devil	Southcentral portion of the state. Good population of sheep. There is a combination of canyons that hold sheep that can be accessed by short or long day hikes as well as rugged canyons that will require multi-day backpack or horseback type hunting. Most sheep are located along the Dirty Devil River and the tributary canyons (which are many) from the north to the south. Rams are smaller on average with a trophy ram coming in at 160", and most mature rams are in the 150" class. Average days hunted in 2023 was 9. Non-residents may hunt both the San Rafael, Dirty Devil, and Henry Mountains units.
San Rafael, South	Southcentral portion of the state. Sheep populations in this area are doing well. The herd features native Utah genetics, characterized by smaller frames, tight curls, and mature rams typically ranging in the 140-150s. The area offers excellent public land access via dirt roads and ATV trails, leading to glassing points and remote canyons. It’s a vast landscape with small, scattered herds, most of which are tucked away in hard-to-reach pockets. The terrain includes flat desert mesas, rocky canyons, and cliffs. Average days hunted in 2023 was 10. Non-residents have the opportunity to hunt in both the San Rafael South and San Rafael North units.

UNIT	COMMENTS
Book Cliffs, South	Eastern portion of the state. Rocky Mountain bighorns. Rocky, broken canyon country located north of I-70 east of Green River. Great habitat and good numbers of sheep for the low number of permits. This is one of the more physically easy Rocky sheep hunts in the state. Very open, glassable terrain with the chance to look over several rams. Quality is good for Utah with a very good chance at a 165-170”+ ram. Average days hunted in 2023 was 8.
Box Elder, Newfoundland Mtn	Northwestern portion of the state west of the Great Salt Lake. California bighorns. Barren, rocky ranges popping up from expansive salt flats. Good access with rough roads running along both sides of the main range as well as a few that get you on top. Most sheep can be glassed from the roads. Good numbers of sheep with mostly average rams. Most mature rams in this unit are 150” class with almost no 160” rams anymore. This unit has two hunts on it that run back to back. Quality is pretty similar between the two hunts as is hunt days. Average days hunted in 2023 for the late hunt was 2 days.
Fillmore, Oak Creek	This unit, located in the Oak Creek Mountains, is home to a newly established herd of California bighorns. The terrain is mostly burn scars and oak regrowth, with sheep found at higher elevations in steep, rocky areas. Access is limited to day hiking, both short and long distances. Once known for 160” class rams, the top rams now typically fall in the 150” range. The late season hunt often produces younger rams. While this has been the best hunt for California bighorns in Utah, the rising number of tags issued has impacted the quality of the herd. Average days hunted in 2023 was 4.
Nine Mile, Gray Canyon	Eastern portion of the state. Rocky Mountain bighorns. Rocky, broken canyon country located north of I-70 west of Green River. Great habitat with a decent number of sheep. This hunt can be as physically demanding as you want. Open, glassable country where you can look at several rams. A lot of 6 to 7-year-old rams. 165"+ potential. Average days hunted in 2023 was 7.

UTAH DESERT BIGHORN HUNT TYPE (LE)	2025 SEASON DATES	2026 SEASON DATES	2027 SEASON DATES
Any Legal Weapon	Oct – Nov, 2025 (varies by unit)	Nov – Dec, 2026	Nov – Dec, 2027

Disclaimer: Sheep seasons are limited-entry and vary by unit; consult the current Utah DWR proclamation.

UTAH ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN (LE)	2025 SEASON DATES	2026 SEASON DATES	2027 SEASON DATES
Any Legal Weapon	Oct – Nov, 2025 (varies by unit)	Sep – Oct, 2026	Sep – Oct, 2027

Disclaimer: RM bighorn seasons are limited-entry and unit-specific. Verify with Utah DWR.

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Utah offers chances to hunt both Rocky Mountain and California bighorn sheep, though California bighorns are included under the Rocky Mountain bighorn species category. For 2026, the Nine Mile, Gray Canyon, and Book Cliffs (South) units make up the Rocky Mountain bighorn hunts available to non-residents. California bighorn opportunities for non-residents include the Box Elder, Newfoundland, and Oak Creek units, all of which are second rifle season hunts. In total, non-residents have four Rocky Mountain bighorn hunts to select from. Trophy potential in the Rocky Mountain units is strong, with 170”+ rams possible, while the California bighorn units generally produce mature rams averaging in the 150” class.

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Utah will offer five Desert bighorn sheep hunts for non-residents again this year, due in part to the split of the Escalante unit into Escalante (East) and Escalante (West). Only Escalante (East) will have a non-resident permit available in the draw and it is worth noting that this unit is considerably more rugged and physically demanding than its western counterpart. The Kaiparowits (West) unit is seeing permit reductions as a result of lower numbers and quality compared to previous years. The Kaiparowits (East) unit has seen increases in population that may be due, in part, to drought conditions in the western unit pushing sheep east. For now, there are more mature rams in Kaiparowits (East) than in Kaiparowits (West). For hunters seeking above-average rams, the top units to consider are Kaiparowits (East), Escalante (East), and Kaiparowits (West). The San Rafael (Dirty Devil) and San Rafael (South) units still offer excellent hunt quality but typically produce rams in the 150 to 160” class.

It’s important to note that Utah manages its any-weapon sheep hunts with the goal of 100% harvest success. Any sheep tag drawn in the state offers a high-quality experience, with huntable populations and mature rams available. While draw odds are long, as reflected in the tables, adding a sheep application costs just $21 if you’re already applying for another Utah species, making it an affordable chance at a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. This discussion focuses on non-resident units, but if you have questions about resident-only opportunities, feel free to give us a call; we research most of the other sheep units across Utah.

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Dates & Fees | Utah Bighorn Sheep Hunting