Utah Wildlife Board

Stories

Utah adds 450 elk hunting permits as drought strains herds

As of September 2026: Unanimously approved additional elk permits

Utah's elk are running out of food. Statewide reservoirs sit at 32% capacity, drought has withered the forage elk depend on, and herds have grown beyond what the land can carry. The Utah Wildlife Board on Aug. 20 added 450 antlerless elk hunting permits across eight units where elk exceed population objectives by hundreds.

Updated Sep 5