Book Cliffs limited-entry deer unit: draw, harvest and public land
Book Cliffs is a 3,579-square-mile limited-entry deer unit in DWR's Northeastern Region of Utah. Limited-entry deer hunters here took 96 bucks on 112 permits in 2025, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 72.9% public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,310,821 acres), measured from UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023).
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: DWR's 2026 guidebook. Harvest: DWR's reports, 2013 to 2025. Draw: DWR's 2024 and 2025 results. Land: UGRC, 2023.
National forestBLMState trust land (SITLA)DWR wildlife landNational wildlife refugeNational park or monument (NPS, no hunting)Tribal land (tribe's rules)Military land (closed)State park (park rules)State sovereign land (lake and river beds)Other public land (highways, other state land)Book CliffsNeighboring limited-entry deer unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Northeastern Region (Vernal office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,290,600 acres (3,579 square miles) |
| Public land | 72.9% (1,668,818 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 3 (DWR guidebook) |
| Bucks harvested, 2025 | 96 on 112 permits |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 88 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 1,559 residents, 476 nonresidents (102 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 5, 24,911 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | Thompson Springs, Green River, Ballard and Myton |
When are the 2026 limited-entry deer hunts on Book Cliffs?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 3 limited-entry deer hunts on this unit, shown here with the 2025 draw for the same hunt number where DWR used it.
| Hunt number | Hunt | 2026 season | 2025 first-choice applicants (residents) | 2025 permits drawn (residents) | 2025 first-choice applicants (nonresidents) | 2025 permits drawn (nonresidents) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1011 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 11 | 831 | 44 | 268 | 4 |
| DB1025 | Muzzleloader | Sept. 23-Oct. 1 | 473 | 43 | 115 | 4 |
| DB1044 | Multiseason | All limited-entry seasons | 255 | 6 | 93 | 1 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 50, 51 and 53; boundaries from DWR Hunt Planner hunt table. DWR can change a season during the year: check the Utah Hunt Planner before you go.
How many bucks are taken on Book Cliffs each year?
DWR's harvest reports cover Book Cliffs' limited-entry deer hunts in 13 years from 2013 to 2025. In 2025, 109 hunters afield took 96 bucks, 88 for every 100 hunters. In 2024: 73 from 92 hunters on 93 permits.
| Year | Hunts reported | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | Harvest per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 112 | 109 | 96 | 88 |
| 2024 | 3 | 93 | 92 | 73 | 79 |
| 2023 | 3 | 89 | 88 | 76 | 86 |
| 2022 | 3 | 87 | 86 | 69 | 80 |
| 2021 | 3 | 113 | 111 | 89 | 80 |
| 2020 | 3 | 166 | 165 | 138 | 84 |
| 2019 | 3 | 197 | 194 | 152 | 78 |
| 2018 | 3 | 198 | 191 | 155 | 81 |
| 2017 | 3 | 190 | 186 | 165 | 89 |
| 2016 | 3 | 194 | 193 | 163 | 84 |
| 2015 | 3 | 193 | 192 | 163 | 85 |
| 2014 | 2 | 174 | 173 | 135 | 78 |
| 2013 | 3 | 447 | 443 | 369 | 83 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2013 to 2025, every limited-entry deer hunt DWR printed for this unit's name each year, added up by FilledTag. CWMU, landowner, conservation and sportsman permits are not included. Harvest per 100 hunters is worked out from DWR's own two numbers.
Each 2025 hunt on Book Cliffs
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1011 | Archery | 52 | 50 | 44 | 88% | 6.6 | 4.6 |
| DB1025 | Muzzleloader | 51 | 50 | 43 | 86% | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| DB1044 | Multiseason | 9 | 9 | 9 | 100% | 15.3 | 4 |
Source: DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
Book Cliffs by weapon, year by year
Bucks harvested of permits issued, by weapon, for each year DWR reported since 2018:
| Weapon | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 44 of 52 | 34 of 42 | 32 of 41 | 27 of 39 | 39 of 53 | 55 of 74 | 66 of 92 | 65 of 88 |
| Multiseason | 9 of 9 | 7 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 6 | 8 of 8 | 11 of 12 | 12 of 13 | 8 of 13 |
| Muzzleloader | 43 of 51 | 32 of 44 | 38 of 42 | 37 of 42 | 42 of 52 | 72 of 80 | 74 of 92 | 82 of 97 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2018 to 2025. An empty cell means DWR printed no hunt of that kind on this unit that year.
How many hunters apply for Book Cliffs limited-entry deer permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 1,559 residents put a Book Cliffs limited-entry deer hunt first and 93 drew a permit, 6% of them; 476 nonresidents applied first choice and 9 drew (1.9%). In 2024, 1,474 residents applied first choice and 83 drew. Limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime permits are drawn on bonus points: DWR reserves half of each hunt's permits for the applicants with the most points and draws the rest at random (Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-8).
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1011 | Limited-entry archery buck deer | 831 | 44 | 268 | 4 |
| DB1025 | Limited-entry muzzleloader buck deer | 473 | 43 | 115 | 4 |
| DB1044 | Multi-season limited-entry buck deer | 255 | 6 | 93 | 1 |
| Hunt | Residents, reserved permits: points | Residents, random permits: points | Nonresidents, reserved permits: points | Nonresidents, random permits: points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1011 | 14 to 17 | 2 to 13 | 20 | 10 to 14 |
| DB1025 | 14 to 18 | 0 to 12 | 20 to 21 | 10 to 14 |
| DB1044 | 21 to 22 | 9 to 13 | 5 |
From DWR's 2025 drawing results, which list each point level's permits from the reserved half (most points first) and from the random half. A blank cell means no permit of that kind went to the group.
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1011 | Limited-entry archery buck deer | 757 | 39 | 256 | 3 |
| DB1025 | Limited-entry muzzleloader buck deer | 470 | 38 | 126 | 3 |
| DB1044 | Multi-season limited-entry buck deer | 247 | 6 | 139 | 1 |
Source: DWR 2025 drawing results and DWR 2024 drawing results, first-choice applications only, as DWR reports them; DWR leaves out second to fifth choices. The share who drew in a past year is not a forecast for the next draw. Deadlines and fees: Utah draw deadlines and fees.
How much of Book Cliffs is public land?
72.9% of the Book Cliffs limited-entry deer unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,668,818 of 2,290,600 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,310,821 acres or 57.2% of the unit. 518,841 acres are tribal land, hunted only under the tribe's own rules.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Book Cliffs |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,310,821 | 57.2% |
| Tribal land (tribe's rules) | 518,841 | 22.7% |
| State trust land (SITLA) | 333,085 | 14.5% |
| DWR wildlife land | 24,912 | 1.1% |
| State sovereign land (lake and river beds) | 1,033 | under 0.1% |
| Other public land (highways, other state land) | 827 | under 0.1% |
| Military land (closed) | 566 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 100,515 | 4.4% |
Measured by FilledTag inside DWR's 2026 boundary from UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023). State trust land (SITLA) is open to hunting where it can be reached legally; many sections touch no public road. A permit does not allow hunting on CWMUs, tribal land or national parks.
DWR wildlife management areas inside the unit: Two Waters WMA (10,897 acres), Book Cliffs Roadless WMA (6,929 acres), Willow Creek (Uintah/Grand) WMA (3,712 acres), Bitter Creek WMA (2,195 acres) and Nash Wash WMA (1,178 acres).
What other hunts share the Book Cliffs limited-entry deer unit's ground?
Utah draws a separate map of units for each species and hunt type. These units cover part of the same ground, measured from DWR's 2026 boundaries:
| Unit | Hunt type | Share of Book Cliffs it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East | limited-entry bull elk | 85% |
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East | general-season spike elk (over the counter) | 85% |
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek | once-in-a-lifetime bison | 61% |
| Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 61% |
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek/South | once-in-a-lifetime bison | 39% |
| Nine Mile, Jack Creek | once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | 39% |
| Book Cliffs, South | once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep | 36% |
| Book Cliffs, South | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 36% |
| Book Cliffs, Floy Canyon | general-season any bull elk (over the counter) | 12% |
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless | general-season spike elk (over the counter) | 2% |
| Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless | limited-entry bull elk | 2% |
How do you get to the Book Cliffs unit?
Highways through the unit: US 50, I-70 and US 6 (one road, about 102 miles inside it) and US 191 (about 29 miles inside it). Towns inside: Thompson Springs. Nearby: Green River (2 miles), Ballard (19 miles) and Myton (19 miles). Rivers: Green River (59 miles) and White River (40 miles).
Which limited-entry deer units border or overlap Book Cliffs?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bucks harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Cliffs, Floy Canyon | 438 | 92.4% | 7 (2025) |
| Book Cliffs, North | 2,288 | 60.1% | 117 (2025) |
| Book Cliffs, South | 1,291 | 95.4% | 31 (2025) |
| La Sal Mountains | 2,477 | 78.4% | 673 (2025) |
| Nine Mile | 2,574 | 69.1% | 402 (2025) |
| Vernal/Bonanza | 2,062 | 72.8% | 634 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 limited-entry deer hunts on Book Cliffs?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 3 limited-entry deer hunts on Book Cliffs: Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 11 (DB1011), Muzzleloader Sept. 23-Oct. 1 (DB1025) and Multiseason All limited-entry seasons (DB1044).
How many bucks were harvested on Book Cliffs in 2025?
96, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 109 hunters afield on 112 permits, 88 bucks for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 73.
How many people apply for Book Cliffs limited-entry deer permits?
1,559 residents and 476 nonresidents made a Book Cliffs hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 93 residents and 9 nonresidents drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is Book Cliffs mostly public land?
Yes. 72.9% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,310,821 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map.
What is the closest town to the Book Cliffs limited-entry deer unit?
Thompson Springs is inside the unit. Just outside: Green River (2 miles), Ballard (19 miles) and Myton (19 miles).
DWR's boundary description for Book Cliffs
Grand and Uintah counties: Boundary begins at Exit 164 on I-70 near the town of Green River; east on I-70 to the Utah-Colorado state line; north on this state line to the White River; west along this river to the Green River; south along this river to Swasey's Boat Ramp and the Hastings Road; south on this road to SR-19; south and east on SR-19 to Exit 164 on 1-70 near the town of Green River. EXCLUDES ALL NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST LAND WITHIN THE BOUNDARY. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Huntington, Seep Ridge, Westwater. Boundary questions? Call the Price office, 435-613-3700 or the Vernal office, 435-781-9453.
From DWR's 2026 unit layer.
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Where these numbers come from
- Harvest, permits, hunters, days and satisfaction: DWR harvest reports, 2013 to 2025 (2025 preliminary).
- 2026 hunts and season dates: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook; boundary names: DWR Hunt Planner hunt table.
- Applicants and permits drawn: DWR drawing results, 2024 and 2025.
- Unit boundary: DWR 2026 hunt unit boundaries. Public land: UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023). WMAs: DWR public access properties (WMAs). Walk-In Access: DWR Walk-In Access properties (December 17, 2025).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Numbers are copied from DWR and the State of Utah, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Utah hunting units Northeastern Region Utah draw deadlines Book Cliffs, Floy Canyon Book Cliffs, North Book Cliffs, South La Sal Mountains Nine Mile Vernal/Bonanza