Yellowstone deer unit: harvest, draw and public land
Yellowstone is a 1,947-square-mile general-season deer unit in DWR's Northeastern Region of Utah. Hunters on its general-season buck deer hunts took 544 bucks in 2025, with 1,032 hunters afield across 3 hunts, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 49.8% public land open to hunting, most of it national forest (619,918 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 landBureau of ReclamationTribal land (tribe's rules)State park (park rules)YellowstoneNeighboring deer unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Northeastern Region (Vernal office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,245,869 acres (1,947 square miles) |
| Public land | 49.8% (620,812 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 3 general-season, plus 1 limited-entry (DWR guidebook) |
| Bucks harvested, 2025 | 544 (1,032 hunters afield) |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 53 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 2,570 residents, 139 nonresidents (853 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 1, 192 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | Ballard, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Myton, Francis and Kamas |
When are the 2026 deer hunts on Yellowstone?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1523 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 11 | 527 | 154 | 23 | 18 |
| DB1553 | Rifle (any legal weapon) | Oct. 17-Oct. 25 | 1,723 | 455 | 96 | 52 |
| DB1583 | Muzzleloader | Sept. 23-Oct. 1 | 320 | 156 | 20 | 18 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 44, 45 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 Yellowstone deer unit?
DWR's harvest reports for the Yellowstone general-season deer hunts, by weapon: bucks harvested, with hunters afield in brackets. In 2024, hunters took 408 bucks here.
| Year | Archery: bucks (hunters) | Muzzleloader: bucks (hunters) | Rifle: bucks (hunters) | All these hunts: bucks | All these hunts: hunters afield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 62 (205) | 89 (204) | 393 (623) | 544 | 1,032 |
| 2024 | 47 (196) | 65 (172) | 296 (515) | 408 | 883 |
| 2023 | 31 (155) | 60 (157) | 215 (408) | 306 | 720 |
| 2022 | 52 (240) | 127 (199) | 338 (589) | 517 | 1,028 |
| 2021 | 53 (249) | 112 (226) | 291 (527) | 456 | 1,002 |
| 2020 | 43 (264) | 123 (248) | 237 (565) | 403 | 1,077 |
| 2019 | 33 (290) | 128 (264) | 290 (624) | 451 | 1,178 |
| 2018 | 72 (264) | 129 (248) | 375 (597) | 576 | 1,109 |
| 2017 | 44 (262) | 106 (260) | 297 (598) | 447 | 1,120 |
| 2016 | 58 (299) | 131 (282) | 371 (618) | 560 | 1,199 |
| 2015 | 45 (298) | 108 (268) | 379 (630) | 532 | 1,196 |
| 2014 | 51 (281) | 104 (254) | 310 (595) | 465 | 1,130 |
| 2013 | 37 (256) | 73 (252) | 303 (569) | 413 | 1,077 |
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 Yellowstone
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1523 | Archery | 236 | 205 | 62 | 30.2% | 10.4 | 3.4 |
| DB1553 | Rifle (any legal weapon) | 704 | 623 | 393 | 63.1% | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| DB1583 | Muzzleloader | 229 | 204 | 89 | 43.6% | 4.2 | 3.4 |
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 Yellowstone?
Yes. DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 1 limited-entry buck deer hunt on the Yellowstone unit, drawn on bonus points. In 2025, those hunts had 7 permits and hunters took 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1039 | Muzzleloader | Oct. 28-Nov. 5 | 47 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bucks harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1039 | Muzzleloader | 7 | 7 | 7 | 100% | 5.1 | 3.6 |
Sources: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook; DWR 2025 drawing results; DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
How many hunters apply for Yellowstone deer permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 2,570 residents put a Yellowstone deer hunt first and 765 drew a permit, 29.8% of them; 139 nonresidents applied first choice and 88 drew (63.3%). In 2024, 3,001 residents applied first choice and 634 drew. General-season buck deer permits are drawn on preference points.
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1523 | General season, archery | 527 | 154 | 23 | 18 |
| DB1553 | General season, any legal weapon | 1,723 | 455 | 96 | 52 |
| DB1583 | General season, muzzleloader | 320 | 156 | 20 | 18 |
| Hunt | DWR's hunt name | Resident applicants | Residents drawn | Nonresident applicants | Nonresidents drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DB1523 | General season, archery | 646 | 128 | 35 | 17 |
| DB1553 | General season, any legal weapon | 1,984 | 379 | 125 | 50 |
| DB1583 | General season, muzzleloader | 371 | 127 | 17 | 17 |
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 Yellowstone is public land?
49.8% of the Yellowstone deer unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 620,812 of 1,245,869 acres. The largest share is national forest, 619,918 acres or 49.8% of the unit. 289,333 acres are tribal land, hunted only under the tribe's own rules.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Yellowstone |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 619,918 | 49.8% |
| Tribal land (tribe's rules) | 289,333 | 23.2% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 660 | 0.1% |
| DWR wildlife land | 207 | under 0.1% |
| State park (park rules) | 79 | under 0.1% |
| State trust land (SITLA) | 27 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 335,645 | 26.9% |
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: Little Montes Creek WMA (192 acres).
What other hunts share the Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone | once-in-a-lifetime bull moose | 100% |
| Yellowstone | general-season any bull elk (over the counter) | 100% |
| High Uintas West | once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat | 23% |
| High Uintas Central | once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat | 16% |
| High Uintas East | once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat | 11% |
How do you get to the Yellowstone unit?
Highways through the unit: US 191 (about 26 miles inside it) and US 40 (about 19 miles inside it). Towns inside: Ballard, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Altamont, Tabiona and Bluebell. Nearby: Myton (on the line), Francis (8 miles), Kamas (9 miles) and Oakley (13 miles). Rivers: Duchesne River (69 miles), Uinta River (50 miles) and Provo River (15 miles).
Which deer units border or overlap Yellowstone?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bucks harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalk Creek | 617 | 10.1% | 532 (2025) |
| Kamas | 343 | 59.1% | 199 (2025) |
| Nine Mile | 2,574 | 69.1% | 402 (2025) |
| North Slope | 1,224 | 89% | 685 (2025) |
| Vernal/Bonanza | 2,062 | 72.8% | 634 (2025) |
| Wasatch Mountains, East | 1,631 | 54.2% | 1,658 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 deer hunts on Yellowstone?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 3 general-season hunts on Yellowstone: Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 11 (DB1523), Rifle (any legal weapon) Oct. 17-Oct. 25 (DB1553) and Muzzleloader Sept. 23-Oct. 1 (DB1583).
How many bucks were harvested on Yellowstone in 2025?
544, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 1,032 hunters afield, 53 bucks for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 408.
How many people apply for Yellowstone deer permits?
2,570 residents and 139 nonresidents made a Yellowstone hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 765 residents and 88 nonresidents drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is Yellowstone mostly public land?
No. 49.8% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it national forest (619,918 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map. Most of the rest is private land.
What is the closest town to the Yellowstone deer unit?
Ballard, Roosevelt and Duchesne are inside the unit. Just outside: Myton (on the line), Francis (8 miles) and Kamas (9 miles).
DWR's boundary description for Yellowstone
Duchesne, Summit, Uintah and Wasatch counties: Boundary begins at SR-87 and US-40 in Duchesne; north on SR-87 to SR-35; northwest on SR-35 to the Provo River; north along this river to North Fork Provo River; north along this river to SR-150; east and north on SR-150 to the Summit-Duchesne county line (summit of the Uinta Mountains) at Hayden Pass; east along the summit of the Uinta Mountains to the Dry Fork-Whiterocks drainage divide; south atop this divide to USFS Trail #025; southwest on this trail to Whiterocks Lake and the East Fork of the Whiterocks River; south along this river to the Whiterocks River; south along this river to the Uinta River; south along this river to the Duchesne River; west along this river to US-40 at Myton; west on US-40 to SR-87 in Duchesne. EXCLUDES ALL NATIVE AMERICAN TRUST LAND WITHIN THIS BOUNDARY. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Duchesne, Dutch John, Kings Peak, Provo, Salt Lake City, Vernal. Boundary questions? Call 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 Chalk Creek Kamas Nine Mile North Slope Vernal/Bonanza Wasatch Mountains, East