Southwest Desert (South) elk unit: draw, harvest and public land
Southwest Desert, South is a 2,671-square-mile limited-entry bull elk unit in DWR's Southern Region of Utah. Limited-entry bull elk hunters here took 120 bulls on 182 permits in 2025, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary). The unit is 83.9% public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,237,262 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, 2021 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)Southwest Desert, SouthNeighboring elk unitsLake or riverHighway
| DWR region | Southern Region (Cedar City office) |
|---|---|
| Size | 1,709,450 acres (2,671 square miles) |
| Public land | 83.9% (1,433,916 acres) |
| 2026 hunts on this unit | 7 (DWR guidebook) |
| Bulls harvested, 2025 | 120 on 182 permits |
| Harvest per 100 hunters, 2025 | 66 (from DWR's figures) |
| 2025 first-choice applicants | 2,201 residents, 713 nonresidents (168 drew) |
| Wildlife management areas | 1, 10,260 acres inside the unit |
| Towns in and near it | Minersville, Milford, Cedar City, Enoch and Kanarraville |
When are the 2026 elk hunts on Southwest Desert, South?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 7 limited-entry bull elk 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3146 | Archery | Aug. 15-Sept. 15 | 217 | 37 | 119 | 3 |
| EB3149 | Early rifle | Sept. 16-Sept. 20 | 864 | 14 | 272 | 2 |
| EB3152 | Late rifle | Nov. 7-Nov. 15 | 404 | 24 | 102 | 3 |
| EB3155 | Muzzleloader | Sept. 21-Oct. 2 | 149 | 22 | 83 | 2 |
| EB3157 | Multiseason | Limited-entry seasons | 151 | 5 | ||
| EB3197 | Late archery | Nov. 28-Dec. 13 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| EB3198 | Midseason rifle | Oct. 3-Oct. 15 | 401 | 42 | 128 | 4 |
Source: 2026 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, hunt tables, pages 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60; 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 bulls are taken on Southwest Desert, South each year?
DWR's harvest reports cover Southwest Desert, South's limited-entry bull elk hunts in 5 years from 2021 to 2025. In 2025, 182 hunters afield took 120 bulls, 66 for every 100 hunters. In 2024: 95 from 155 hunters on 157 permits.
| Year | Hunts reported | Permits | Hunters afield | Bulls harvested | Harvest per 100 hunters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 182 | 182 | 120 | 66 |
| 2024 | 7 | 157 | 155 | 95 | 61 |
| 2023 | 7 | 139 | 138 | 96 | 70 |
| 2022 | 5 | 105 | 105 | 89 | 85 |
| 2021 | 5 | 118 | 116 | 69 | 59 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2021 to 2025, every limited-entry bull elk 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 Southwest Desert, South
| Hunt | Weapon | Permits | Hunters afield | Bulls harvested | DWR's percent success | Average days | Satisfaction (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3146 | Archery | 43 | 43 | 19 | 44.2% | 12.7 | 3.6 |
| EB3149 | Early rifle | 18 | 18 | 15 | 83.3% | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| EB3152 | Late rifle | 30 | 30 | 27 | 90% | 5.1 | 3.6 |
| EB3155 | Muzzleloader | 27 | 27 | 18 | 66.7% | 6.9 | 3.8 |
| EB3157 | Multiseason | 7 | 7 | 6 | 85.7% | 13 | 4.3 |
| EB3197 | Late archery | 8 | 8 | 1 | 12.5% | 9.5 | 3.3 |
| EB3198 | Midseason rifle | 49 | 49 | 34 | 69.4% | 5.2 | 3.2 |
Source: DWR 2025 harvest report (preliminary).
Southwest Desert, South by weapon, year by year
Bulls harvested of permits issued, by weapon, for each year DWR reported since 2021:
| Weapon | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | 19 of 43 | 17 of 37 | 21 of 32 | 15 of 25 | 12 of 30 |
| Early rifle | 15 of 18 | 15 of 19 | 16 of 16 | 28 of 30 | 26 of 33 |
| Late archery | 1 of 8 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 5 | ||
| Late rifle | 27 of 30 | 16 of 24 | 15 of 21 | 27 of 29 | 14 of 29 |
| Midseason rifle | 34 of 49 | 30 of 43 | 22 of 37 | ||
| Multiseason | 6 of 7 | 3 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Muzzleloader | 18 of 27 | 14 of 23 | 16 of 22 | 14 of 16 | 14 of 21 |
Source: DWR harvest reports, 2021 to 2025. An empty cell means DWR printed no hunt of that kind on this unit that year.
How many hunters apply for Southwest Desert, South elk permits?
In DWR's 2025 draw, 2,201 residents put a Southwest Desert, South elk hunt first and 153 drew a permit, 7% of them; 713 nonresidents applied first choice and 15 drew (2.1%). In 2024, 2,186 residents applied first choice and 129 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3146 | Limited-entry archery bull elk | 217 | 37 | 119 | 3 |
| EB3149 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - early | 864 | 14 | 272 | 2 |
| EB3152 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - late | 404 | 24 | 102 | 3 |
| EB3155 | Limited-entry muzzleloader bull elk | 149 | 22 | 83 | 2 |
| EB3157 | Limited-entry multi-season bull elk | 151 | 5 | ||
| EB3197 | Limited-entry archery bull elk - late | 15 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| EB3198 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - mid | 401 | 42 | 128 | 4 |
| Hunt | Residents, reserved permits: points | Residents, random permits: points | Nonresidents, reserved permits: points | Nonresidents, random permits: points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3146 | 9 to 12 | 1 to 9 | 23 | 7 |
| EB3149 | 23 to 25 | 0 to 20 | 26 | 4 |
| EB3152 | 16 to 19 | 3 to 14 | 22 | 17 |
| EB3155 | 17 to 22 | 3 to 14 | 27 | 18 |
| EB3157 | 25 to 26 | 22 to 23 | ||
| EB3197 | 4 to 8 | 0 to 3 | 3 | |
| EB3198 | 15 to 24 | 0 to 21 | 24 | 11 to 21 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB3146 | Limited-entry archery bull elk | 214 | 31 | 117 | 4 |
| EB3149 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - early | 894 | 12 | 323 | 1 |
| EB3152 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - late | 361 | 21 | 111 | 1 |
| EB3155 | Limited-entry muzzleloader bull elk | 168 | 19 | 100 | 2 |
| EB3157 | Limited-entry multi-season bull elk | 155 | 4 | ||
| EB3197 | Limited-entry archery bull elk - late | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| EB3198 | Limited-entry ALW (rifle) bull elk - mid | 381 | 38 | 111 | 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 Southwest Desert, South is public land?
83.9% of the Southwest Desert, South elk unit is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,433,916 of 1,709,450 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,237,262 acres or 72.4% of the unit.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Southwest Desert, South |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,237,262 | 72.4% |
| State trust land (SITLA) | 182,806 | 10.7% |
| DWR wildlife land | 10,259 | 0.6% |
| National forest | 3,589 | 0.2% |
| Other public land (highways, other state land) | 41 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 275,493 | 16.1% |
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: Indian Peaks WMA (10,260 acres).
What other hunts share the Southwest Desert, South elk 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 Southwest Desert, South it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Desert | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 100% |
| Southwest Desert | general-season spike elk (over the counter) | 100% |
| Southwest Desert | general-season deer, with its limited-entry hunts | 100% |
How do you get to the Southwest Desert, South unit?
Highways through the unit: I-15 (about 6 miles inside it). Towns inside: Minersville and Milford. Nearby: Cedar City (on the line), Enoch (on the line), Kanarraville (11 miles) and Parowan (11 miles). Rivers: Beaver River (16 miles).
Which elk units border or overlap Southwest Desert, South?
| Unit | Square miles | Public land | Bulls harvested (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panguitch Lake | 882 | 77.9% | 65 (2025) |
| Southwest Desert, North | 2,534 | 93.9% | 21 (2025) |
Questions hunters ask
When are the 2026 elk hunts on Southwest Desert, South?
DWR's 2026 guidebook lists 7 limited-entry bull elk hunts on Southwest Desert, South: Archery Aug. 15-Sept. 15 (EB3146), Early rifle Sept. 16-Sept. 20 (EB3149), Late rifle Nov. 7-Nov. 15 (EB3152), Muzzleloader Sept. 21-Oct. 2 (EB3155), Multiseason Limited-entry seasons (EB3157) and Late archery Nov. 28-Dec. 13 (EB3197), and 1 more in the table above.
How many bulls were harvested on Southwest Desert, South in 2025?
120, by DWR's 2025 harvest report (preliminary): 182 hunters afield on 182 permits, 66 bulls for every 100 hunters. In 2024 the count was 95.
How many people apply for Southwest Desert, South elk permits?
2,201 residents and 713 nonresidents made a Southwest Desert, South hunt their first choice in DWR's 2025 draw; 153 residents and 15 nonresidents drew (DWR 2025 drawing results).
Is Southwest Desert, South mostly public land?
Yes. 83.9% of the unit is public land open to hunting, most of it BLM (1,237,262 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map.
What is the closest town to the Southwest Desert, South elk unit?
Minersville and Milford are inside the unit. Just outside: Cedar City (on the line), Enoch (on the line) and Kanarraville (11 miles).
DWR's boundary description for Southwest Desert, South
Beaver, Iron and Millard counties: Boundary begins at the Utah-Nevada state line and US-6/50; east on SR-21; south on SR-21 to SR-130; south on SR-130 to I-15; south on I-15 to SR-56; west on SR-56 to the Lund highway; northwest on this highway to Lund and the Union Pacific railroad tracks; southwest along these tracks to the Utah-Nevada state line; north on this state line to US-6/50. Excludes all CWMUs. USGS 1:100,000 Maps: Beaver, Caliente, Cedar City, Delta, Garrison, Richfield, Wah Wah Mountains
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 Panguitch Lake Southwest Desert, North