Utah Elk Hunting Units & Draw Odds
98 units · 78.3% avg hunter success
Utah runs a hybrid elk draw system where bonus points improve your chances without guaranteeing a tag. As a nonresident, you'll compete for a portion of available tags across nearly one hundred different units, each with its own hunt type, season, and success rates. Applications open in mid-March and close in late April, with results arriving by late May. Your tag fee runs several hundred dollars once drawn, plus a modest application fee per entry. This page breaks down five key units with recent draw history—including zero-point success rates and harvest data—so you can gauge your realistic odds before you apply. Utah's system rewards patience with points, but the best zero-point hunts show that newcomers can still draw here.
How the Utah Draw Works
Draw system
Hybrid draw — part preference order, part random allocation.
Nonresident allocation: 10% of tags
2026 application window
Mar 19 – Apr 23(nonresident)
Results: May 31
2026 fees (nonresident, regular)
$10 app · $144 license · $849 tag
Easiest Elk Draws for Nonresidents (2024 Results)
Point levels that drew with certainty, and the best documented zero-point hunts — actual draw results, per hunt.
50% at zero points · Archery, Late LE — EB3170
33% at zero points · Archery, Late LE — EB3197
25% at zero points · H.A.M.S. LE — EB3143
20% at zero points · Archery LE — EB3182
17% at zero points · Rifle, Mid LE — EB3185
13% at zero points · Archery LE — EB3003
5.6% at zero points · Rifle, Late LE — EB3065
4.3% at zero points · Rifle, Mid LE — EB3194
2.4% at zero points · Archery LE — EB3022
2.1% at zero points · Rifle, Mid LE — EB3126
0.0% at zero points · Archery LE — EB3135
0.0% at zero points · Archery LE — EB3000
| Unit | Drew with certainty at | Best zero-point hunt | Success | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit Cache, South | — | 50%Archery, Late LE — EB3170 | 100% | 81% |
| Unit Southwest Desert, South | — | 33%Archery, Late LE — EB3197 | 44.2% | 88% |
| Unit Southwest Desert, North | — | 25%H.A.M.S. LE — EB3143 | 42.1% | 98% |
| Unit La Sal, La Sal Mtns | — | 20%Archery LE — EB3182 | 59.6% | 94% |
| Unit Monroe | — | 17%Rifle, Mid LE — EB3185 | 100% | 79% |
| Unit Cache, Meadowville | — | 13%Archery LE — EB3003 | 42.9% | 62% |
| Unit Fishlake/Thousand Lakes | — | 5.6%Rifle, Late LE — EB3065 | 36.8% | 94% |
| Unit San Juan Bull Elk | — | 4.3%Rifle, Mid LE — EB3194 | 78.9% | 94% |
| Unit Wasatch Mtns | — | 2.4%Archery LE — EB3022 | 74% | 82% |
| Unit Manti | — | 2.1%Rifle, Mid LE — EB3126 | 69.2% | 76% |
| Unit Barney Top/Kaiparowits | — | 0.0%Archery LE — EB3135 | 22.2% | 99% |
| Unit Beaver, East | — | 0.0%Archery LE — EB3000 | 100% | 92% |
All Utah Elk Units
Utah Elk Draw FAQ
How does Utah's elk draw work for nonresidents?
Utah uses a bonus-point hybrid system. You enter a drawing and accumulate bonus points each year you don't draw, which increase your odds going forward without guaranteeing success. Nonresidents receive a dedicated allocation of tags across all units. Applications open in spring, close within a few weeks, and results come out in late May.
What are the application and tag fees for nonresident elk in Utah?
The application fee is a flat ten dollars per entry. If you draw a tag, the tag fee is several hundred dollars. These costs make it worthwhile to research units carefully before you apply.
Can I draw a Utah elk tag with zero bonus points?
Yes. Recent draw data shows several units where hunters with zero points have drawn tags, though odds vary widely by unit and hunt type. Some zero-point archery hunts drew at rates between twenty and fifty percent, while others drew at lower rates. Your success depends on which unit and season you target.
What harvest success rates should I expect in Utah elk units?
Harvest success varies significantly by unit and hunt type. Recent data shows success rates ranging from the low forties to one hundred percent across different units. Archery hunts, rifle hunts, and late-season opportunities each perform differently, so choose based on your preferred style and tolerance for uncertainty.
Plan your Utah Elk hunt — free account, no card. Run the draw simulator at your point level, see 2022–2024 data, and save units to compare.
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