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30,000 rifle and muzzleloader bull elk permits on sale

30,000 rifle and muzzleloader bull elk permits on sale

By Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

As of July 11, total of 30,000 rifle and muzzleloader permits for bull elk in Utah went on sale. If you didn't get a permit on July 11, don't worry. It usually takes a few weeks for general elk permits to sell out.

"Don't wait too long, though," says Lindy Varney, wildlife licensing coordinator. "If you want to hunt elk in Utah, I'd encourage you to buy a permit as soon as you can."

General archery elk permits are one type of elk permit that won't sell out. They aren't limited in number, so there is no problem getting one.

General archery elk permits also went on sale July 11. They'll be available until the extended archery elk hunt ends on Dec. 15.

To get a permit to hunt during the general season, visit a Division of Wildlife Resources office or hunting license agent, or buy one online.

Before purchasing a rifle or muzzleloader permit, hunters should decide which units they want to hunt: any-bull units, where you're allowed to take a bull of any size, or spike-only units, where only spike bulls may be taken.

If you buy an any-bull permit, you can hunt on all of the any-bull units in Utah. If you buy a spike-only permit, you can hunt on all of the spike-only units in the state.

While many hunters dream of taking a large, branch-antlered bull, Varney says a hunt on a spike-only unit provides several advantages.

"One of the neat things about hunting on a spike-only unit is the chance to hear and see big, mature bulls," she says. "The spike-only hunts are held on the same areas where the limited-entry hunts are held. You can't take a branch-antlered bull with a spike-only permit, but you can still experience the thrill of being near these big elk."

The spike-only units are mostly public land, so you'll have lots of places to hunt. And—just like taking a branch-antlered bull—taking a spike bull will provide you with lots of tasty, healthy meat.

If you'd rather hunt branch-antlered bulls on an any-bull unit, Justin Shannon, DWR big game coordinator, says two units in the Uinta Mountains—the North Slope unit and the South Slope unit—are the most popular units in the state. "Hunting any-bull units can be a challenge," Shannon says, "but they hold some big bulls."

A map that shows Utah's spike-only and any-bull units is available on pages 54 and 55 of the 2017 Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook. Get the free guidebook.

Shannon also encourages hunters preparing for the trip to visit the agency's Utah Hunt Planner website.

The site includes notes from the biologists who manage the units, includes general information about the units, and safety and weather information. Information about the number of bulls on the units is also given.

The site also includes maps that show the units' boundaries, identifies public and private lands, and the various types of elk habitat found on the units.

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