Boulder/Kaiparowits deer unit: harvest, draw and public land
Boulder/Kaiparowits is a 5,344-square-mile general-season deer unit in DWR's Southern Region of Utah. Hunters on its general-season buck deer hunts took 693 bucks in 2025, with 1,849 hunters afield across 3 hunts, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 75.7% public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,709,959 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 park or monument (NPS, no hunting)Tribal land (tribe's rules)State park (park rules)State sovereign land (lake and river beds)Other public land (highways, other state land)Boulder/KaiparowitsNeighboring deer unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Southern Region (Cedar City office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,420,130 acres (5,344 square miles) |
| Public land | 75.7% (2,588,318 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 3 general-season, plus 1 limited-entry (DWR guidebook) |
| Bucks harvested, 2025 | 693 (1,849 hunters afield) |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 37 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 1,805 residents, 232 nonresidents (1,572 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 2, 1,013 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | Boulder, Antimony, Big Water, Bicknell, Lyman and Koosharem |
When are the 2026 deer hunts on Boulder/Kaiparowits?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 3 general-season buck 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1518 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 11 | 514 | 336 | 49 | 38 |
| DB1629 | Restricted rifle | Oct. 17-Oct. 25 | 1,087 | 862 | 155 | 109 |
| DB1630 | Restricted muzzleloader | Sept. 23-Oct. 1 | 204 | 200 | 28 | 27 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 43, 46 and 47; 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 the Boulder/Kaiparowits deer unit?
DWR's harvest reports for the Boulder/Kaiparowits general-season deer hunts, by weapon: bucks harvested, with hunters afield in brackets. In 2024, hunters took 702 bucks here.
| Year | Archery: bucks (hunters) | Muzzleloader: bucks (hunters) | Rifle: bucks (hunters) | All these hunts: bucks | All these hunts: hunters afield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 121 (378) | 114 (352) | 458 (1,119) | 693 | 1,849 |
| 2024 | 90 (338) | 107 (297) | 505 (946) | 702 | 1,581 |
| 2023 | 72 (207) | 95 (188) | 260 (476) | 427 | 871 |
| 2022 | 75 (206) | 100 (187) | 350 (585) | 525 | 978 |
| 2021 | 40 (158) | 59 (118) | 171 (338) | 270 | 614 |
| 2020 | 68 (217) | 104 (192) | 147 (457) | 319 | 866 |
| 2019 | 85 (287) | 80 (252) | 250 (642) | 415 | 1,181 |
| 2018 | 83 (312) | 163 (308) | 367 (726) | 613 | 1,346 |
| 2017 | 106 (335) | 139 (289) | 365 (780) | 610 | 1,404 |
| 2016 | 143 (358) | 162 (330) | 511 (822) | 816 | 1,510 |
| 2015 | 150 (364) | 153 (328) | 452 (840) | 755 | 1,532 |
| 2014 | 121 (317) | 169 (311) | 418 (723) | 708 | 1,351 |
| 2013 | 89 (320) | 135 (317) | 424 (758) | 648 | 1,395 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2013 to 2025. "All these hunts" adds DWR's archery, muzzleloader, early rifle and rifle rows (restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle hunts in those columns); youth and Dedicated Hunter rows and extended archery are not in these tables. 2025 is DWR's preliminary report.
Each 2025 hunt on Boulder/Kaiparowits
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1518 | Archery | 430 | 378 | 121 | 32% | 7.2 | 3.5 |
| DB1629 | Restricted rifle | 1,226 | 1,119 | 458 | 40.9% | 4.5 | 3.1 |
| DB1630 | Restricted muzzleloader | 395 | 352 | 114 | 32.4% | 4.5 | 3.3 |
Source: DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary). DWR works out percent success from its survey answers, so it can differ a little from harvest divided by hunters.
Are there limited-entry deer hunts on Boulder/Kaiparowits?
Yes. DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 1 limited-entry buck deer hunt on the Boulder/Kaiparowits unit, drawn on bonus points. In 2025, those hunts had 12 permits and hunters took 8 bucks (DWR).
| Hunt number | Hunt | 2026 season | 2025 first-choice applicants (residents) | 2025 permits drawn (residents) | 2025 first-choice applicants (nonresidents) | 2025 permits drawn (nonresidents) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1084 | Muzzleloader | Oct. 28-Nov. 5 | 40 | 11 | 19 | 1 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1084 | Muzzleloader | 12 | 12 | 8 | 66.7% | 5 | 2.4 |
Sources: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook; DWR 2025 drawing results; DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
How many hunters apply for Boulder/Kaiparowits deer permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 1,805 residents put a Boulder/Kaiparowits deer hunt first and 1,398 drew a permit, 77.5% of them; 232 nonresidents applied first choice and 174 drew (75%). In 2024, 3,197 residents applied first choice and 1,162 drew. General-season buck deer permits are drawn on preference points.
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1518 | General season, archery | 514 | 336 | 49 | 38 |
| DB1629 | General season, restricted rifle | 1,087 | 862 | 155 | 109 |
| DB1630 | General season, restricted muzzleloader | 204 | 200 | 28 | 27 |
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1518 | General season, archery | 521 | 279 | 71 | 34 |
| DB1548 | General season, any legal weapon | 2,195 | 658 | 313 | 74 |
| DB1578 | General season, muzzleloader | 481 | 225 | 49 | 30 |
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 Boulder/Kaiparowits is public land?
75.7% of the Boulder/Kaiparowits deer unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 2,588,318 of 3,420,130 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,709,959 acres or 50% of the unit. 715,370 acres are National Park Service land, closed to hunting.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Boulder/Kaiparowits |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,709,959 | 50% |
| National park or monument (NPS, no hunting) | 715,370 | 20.9% |
| National forest | 683,401 | 20% |
| State trust land (SITLA) | 193,587 | 5.7% |
| State park (park rules) | 4,534 | 0.1% |
| State sovereign land (lake and river beds) | 3,418 | 0.1% |
| DWR wildlife land | 1,371 | under 0.1% |
| Other public land (highways, other state land) | 183 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 108,307 | 3.2% |
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: Bicknell Bottoms WMA (627 acres) and Black Canyon WMA (386 acres).
DWR's Walk-In Access program has 1 active hunting property on private land in the unit, about 87 acres. Each has its own rules: DWR Walk-In Access.
What other hunts share the Boulder/Kaiparowits 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 Boulder/Kaiparowits it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder/Kaiparowits | general-season spike elk (over the counter) | 100% |
| Barney Top/Kaiparowits | limited-entry bull elk | 63% |
| Kaiparowits | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 61% |
| Kaiparowits HAMSS | limited-entry deer | 59% |
| Plateau | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 39% |
| Boulder | limited-entry bull elk | 35% |
| Kaiparowits, West | once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep | 20% |
| Kaiparowits, East | once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep | 19% |
| Escalante, East | once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep | 14% |
| Escalante, West | once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep | 8% |
How do you get to the Boulder/Kaiparowits unit?
Highways through the unit: US 89 (about 21 miles inside it). Towns inside: Boulder, Antimony, Big Water, Escalante, Henrieville and Loa. Nearby: Bicknell (on the line), Lyman (on the line), Koosharem (on the line) and Tropic (on the line). Rivers: Escalante River (106 miles), Colorado River (51 miles) and Fremont River (28 miles).
Which deer units border or overlap Boulder/Kaiparowits?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bucks harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishlake | 684 | 83.1% | 436 (2025) |
| Manti/San Rafael | 7,649 | 81.5% | 2,518 (2025) |
| Monroe | 690 | 75.4% | 446 (2025) |
| Mt Dutton | 659 | 87.6% | 141 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 deer hunts on Boulder/Kaiparowits?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 3 general-season hunts on Boulder/Kaiparowits: Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 11 (DB1518), Restricted rifle Oct. 17-Oct. 25 (DB1629) and Restricted muzzleloader Sept. 23-Oct. 1 (DB1630).
How many bucks were harvested on Boulder/Kaiparowits in 2025?
693, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 1,849 hunters afield, 37 bucks for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 702.
How many people apply for Boulder/Kaiparowits deer permits?
1,805 residents and 232 nonresidents made a Boulder/Kaiparowits hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 1,398 residents and 174 nonresidents drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is Boulder/Kaiparowits mostly public land?
Yes. 75.7% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,709,959 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map.
What is the closest town to the Boulder/Kaiparowits deer unit?
Boulder, Antimony and Big Water are inside the unit. Just outside: Bicknell (on the line), Lyman (on the line) and Koosharem (on the line).
DWR's boundary description for Boulder/Kaiparowits
Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sevier and Wayne counties: Boundary begins at SR-62 and SR-24; east on SR-24 to the Notom-to-Bullfrog road; south on this road to SR-276; south on SR-276 to the west shoreline of Lake Powell; south along this shoreline to the Utah-Arizona state line; west on the state line to the Paria River; north along this river to SR-12; west on SR-12 to the Widstoe-Antimony road; north on this road to SR-22; north on SR-22 to SR-62; north on SR-62 to SR-24. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Escalante, Hite Crossing, Kanab, Loa, Navajo Mountain, Panguitch, Salina, Smokey Mountain. Boundary questions? Call the Cedar City office, 435-865-6100.
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 Southern Region Utah draw deadlines Fishlake Manti/San Rafael Monroe Mt Dutton