East Canyon deer unit: harvest, draw and public land
East Canyon is a 631-square-mile general-season deer unit in DWR's Northern Region of Utah. Hunters on its general-season buck deer hunts took 325 bucks in 2025, with 1,380 hunters afield across 4 hunts, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 18.7% public land open to hunting, most of it national forest (70,583 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 (before 2023 under the old unit's name). Draw: DWR's 2024 and 2025 results. Land: UGRC, 2023.
National forestBLMState trust land (SITLA)DWR wildlife landBureau of ReclamationMilitary land (closed)State park (park rules)State sovereign land (lake and river beds)Other public land (highways, other state land)East CanyonNeighboring deer unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Northern Region (Ogden office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 403,532 acres (631 square miles) |
| Public land | 18.7% (75,559 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 4 general-season, plus 2 limited-entry (DWR guidebook) |
| Bucks harvested, 2025 | 325 (1,380 hunters afield) |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 24 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 1,830 residents, 25 nonresidents (1,241 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 1, 6,536 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | Layton, Bountiful, Kaysville, Sunset, North Salt Lake and Riverdale |
When are the 2026 deer hunts on East Canyon?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 4 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1603 | Rifle (any legal weapon) | Oct. 17-Oct. 25 | 900 | 536 | 7 | 7 |
| DB1604 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 11 | 441 | 286 | 9 | 8 |
| DB1605 | Early rifle | Oct. 7-Oct. 11 | 365 | 272 | 9 | 9 |
| DB1606 | Muzzleloader | Sept. 23-Oct. 1 | 124 | 123 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 43, 44, 45 and 46; 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 East Canyon deer unit?
DWR's harvest reports for the East Canyon general-season deer hunts, by weapon: bucks harvested, with hunters afield in brackets. In 2024, hunters took 258 bucks here.
| Year | Archery: bucks (hunters) | Muzzleloader: bucks (hunters) | Early rifle: bucks (hunters) | Rifle: bucks (hunters) | All these hunts: bucks | All these hunts: hunters afield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 (238) | 18 (242) | 65 (274) | 205 (626) | 325 | 1,380 |
| 2024 | 50 (238) | 27 (228) | 46 (239) | 135 (479) | 258 | 1,184 |
| 2023 | 22 (172) | 29 (233) | 29 (166) | 54 (325) | 134 | 896 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2023 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 East Canyon
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1603 | Rifle (any legal weapon) | 761 | 626 | 205 | 32.7% | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| DB1604 | Archery | 315 | 238 | 37 | 15.5% | 8.8 | 3.4 |
| DB1605 | Early rifle | 360 | 274 | 65 | 23.7% | 3 | 3.2 |
| DB1606 | Muzzleloader | 316 | 242 | 18 | 7.4% | 3.6 | 2.8 |
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.
Before the current unit: Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich and Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan, South Rich
DWR's harvest reports list Chalk Creek, East Canyon and Morgan-South Rich as one general-season deer unit through 2022 and as three units from 2023. DWR's harvest for the old unit, as DWR printed it:
| Year | Archery: bucks (hunters) | Muzzleloader: bucks (hunters) | Early rifle: bucks (hunters) | Rifle: bucks (hunters) | All these hunts: bucks | All these hunts: hunters afield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 116 (1,063) | 337 (1,166) | 230 (1,042) | 1,039 (2,646) | 1,722 | 5,917 |
| 2021 | 131 (1,129) | 315 (1,241) | 281 (913) | 808 (1,895) | 1,535 | 5,178 |
| 2020 | 124 (1,105) | 221 (1,276) | 167 (923) | 458 (2,045) | 970 | 5,349 |
| 2019 | 119 (1,232) | 221 (1,418) | 257 (1,092) | 628 (2,270) | 1,225 | 6,012 |
| 2018 | 166 (1,304) | 474 (1,417) | 365 (1,144) | 914 (2,310) | 1,919 | 6,175 |
| 2017 | 142 (986) | 307 (1,199) | 1,133 (2,745) | 1,582 | 4,930 | |
| 2016 | 172 (1,068) | 354 (1,196) | 1,312 (2,758) | 1,838 | 5,022 | |
| 2015 | 195 (1,057) | 375 (1,115) | 1,168 (2,574) | 1,738 | 4,746 | |
| 2014 | 106 (921) | 277 (1,133) | 1,108 (2,619) | 1,491 | 4,673 | |
| 2013 | 126 (1,034) | 250 (981) | 1,047 (2,795) | 1,423 | 4,810 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2013 to 2022. The old unit's ground is not the same as this unit's.
Are there limited-entry deer hunts on East Canyon?
Yes. DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 2 limited-entry buck deer hunts on the East Canyon unit, drawn on bonus points. In 2025, those hunts had 16 permits and hunters took 11 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1101 | Muzzleloader | Oct. 28-Nov. 5 | 26 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| DB1105 | HAMSS | Nov. 7-Nov. 30 | 32 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1101 | Muzzleloader | 10 | 10 | 6 | 60% | 5.3 | 4 |
| DB1105 | HAMSS | 6 | 6 | 5 | 83.3% | 6.5 | 4.3 |
Sources: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook; DWR 2025 drawing results; DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
How many hunters apply for East Canyon deer permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 1,830 residents put an East Canyon deer hunt first and 1,217 drew a permit, 66.5% of them; 25 nonresidents applied first choice and 24 drew (96%). In 2024, 1,900 residents applied first choice and 1,076 drew. General-season buck deer permits are drawn on preference points.
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1603 | General season, any legal weapon | 900 | 536 | 7 | 7 |
| DB1604 | General season, archery | 441 | 286 | 9 | 8 |
| DB1605 | General season, any legal weapon | 365 | 272 | 9 | 9 |
| DB1606 | General season, muzzleloader | 124 | 123 |
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1603 | General season, any legal weapon | 868 | 467 | 15 | 14 |
| DB1604 | General season, archery | 517 | 284 | 6 | 6 |
| DB1605 | General season, any legal weapon | 423 | 236 | 10 | 8 |
| DB1606 | General season, muzzleloader | 92 | 89 | 4 | 4 |
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 East Canyon is public land?
18.7% of the East Canyon deer unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 75,559 of 403,532 acres. The largest share is national forest, 70,583 acres or 17.5% of the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of East Canyon |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 70,583 | 17.5% |
| Military land (closed) | 6,223 | 1.5% |
| DWR wildlife land | 3,872 | 1% |
| State park (park rules) | 2,635 | 0.7% |
| BLM | 636 | 0.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 434 | 0.1% |
| State trust land (SITLA) | 34 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 319,115 | 79.1% |
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 area inside the unit: East Canyon WMA (6,536 acres).
DWR's Walk-In Access program has 1 active hunting property on private land in the unit, about 4 acres. Each has its own rules: DWR Walk-In Access.
What other hunts share the East Canyon 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 East Canyon it covers |
|---|---|---|
| East Canyon | once-in-a-lifetime bull moose | 100% |
| East Canyon | general-season any bull elk (over the counter) | 100% |
| East Canyon | limited-entry bull elk | 100% |
| East Canyon, Morgan-Summit | once-in-a-lifetime bull moose | 60% |
How do you get to the East Canyon unit?
Highways through the unit: I-80 (about 66 miles inside it), US 89 (about 36 miles inside it), US 189 (about 29 miles inside it) and I-84 and I-15 (one road, about 21 miles inside it). Towns inside: Layton, Bountiful, Kaysville, Coalville, Centerville and South Weber. Nearby: Sunset (on the line), North Salt Lake (on the line), Riverdale (on the line) and Farmington (on the line). Rivers: Weber River (42 miles).
Which deer units border or overlap East Canyon?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bucks harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Elder | 8,973 | 36% | 1,123 (2025) |
| Chalk Creek | 617 | 10.1% | 532 (2025) |
| Kamas | 343 | 59.1% | 199 (2025) |
| Morgan-South Rich | 930 | 14.1% | 251 (2025) |
| Ogden | 633 | 25.5% | 566 (2025) |
| Oquirrh/Tintic | 2,164 | 33.4% | 796 (2025) |
| Wasatch Mountains, West | 1,220 | 59% | 1,175 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 deer hunts on East Canyon?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 4 general-season hunts on East Canyon: Rifle (any legal weapon) Oct. 17-Oct. 25 (DB1603), Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 11 (DB1604), Early rifle Oct. 7-Oct. 11 (DB1605) and Muzzleloader Sept. 23-Oct. 1 (DB1606).
How many bucks were harvested on East Canyon in 2025?
325, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 1,380 hunters afield, 24 bucks for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 258.
How many people apply for East Canyon deer permits?
1,830 residents and 25 nonresidents made an East Canyon hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 1,217 residents and 24 nonresidents drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is East Canyon mostly public land?
No. 18.7% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it national forest (70,583 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map. Most of the rest is private land.
What is the closest town to the East Canyon deer unit?
Layton, Bountiful and Kaysville are inside the unit. Just outside: Sunset (on the line), North Salt Lake (on the line) and Riverdale (on the line).
DWR's boundary description for East Canyon
Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake and Summit counties: Boundary begins at Echo Junction and I-80; southwest along I-80 to I-15; north on I-15 to its junction with I-84 near Ogden; east on I-84 to Echo Junction. This hunt is comprised of all or largely private property. Hunters should acquire written permission from the landowner before applying for this hunt. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Salt Lake City, Ogden. Boundary questions? Call the Ogden office, 801-476-2740.
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 Northern Region Utah draw deadlines Box Elder Chalk Creek Kamas Morgan-South Rich Ogden Wasatch Mountains, West