Deseret CWMU Buck Deer 2024

Hunt Info

Please carefully read the hunt details and rules and review the FAQ.

If you're a Utah resident, you can obtain a Deseret CWMU buck deer permit by applying for it through the public drawing. If you are a NON-RESIDENT, you cannot apply for a CWMU permit through the public drawing. You can, however, purchase a permit directly from Wild Country Outfitters for the Deseret CWMU. To learn more about Utah's CWMU program, click HERE.

Read the following carefully. If you have questions not available in the hunt details, refer to the FAQ section on this page. For any additional questions, use the form below to contact the operator.

• Hunt Week

  • Monday, October 28, 2024, 10:00 AM through Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM

  • These are the only dates available for the buck deer hunt

  • We do not allow more days if a buck is not harvested

  • There is no camping the day before the hunt (Sunday, October 27, 2024) or camping the night after the hunt has ended (Saturday, November 2, 2024)

• Meeting location: Main ranch check station in Woodruff, UT

• Meeting time: 10:00 AM Monday, October 28, 2024

• Guided: No

• Trophy care: No

• Meals/Lodging: Not provided

• Camping: There is a designated area for trailers, camp trucks, and tents

• Guests:

  • Each hunter is allowed to bring a max of TWO guests.

  • Only one vehicle is allowed per hunter and his/her guest. Guest can’t bring separate vehicles.

  • Guests must stay with Hunter with the Deseret permit at all times (within 100 yards). The only exception to this rule is if a guest needs to stay back at the vehicle or truck because of physical limitations.

  • Your guests can change throughout the week, but only two guests per hunter on the Deseret CWMU at any given time.

  • The guest policy used to be one guest per hunter, and we now are allowing two guests. We will not be allowing more than two guests on this hunt.

• ATVs, Side-by-Sides, horses, lamas, goats: Not allowed

• Weapons allowed: Any legal weapon

• Guided option: If you decide you want to be guided on the deer hunt, the cost is $3,500 for the week.

  • Included in the guided option:

    • Trophy care: packing and caping of your trophy

    • Meals/Lodging: Included for the hunter free of charge. Beds/bedding, towels, pillows, restrooms, hot showers, and electricity. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided.

    • Guest: on the guided hunt, you are only allowed ONE guest.

    • Tips for guided hunts: We often get asked about tipping the guides, cooks, and camp helpers/packers (Kenny). A tip shows appreciation for a job well done; any tip will always be appropriate and appreciated.

      • Helpful tip guidelines (based on what we have seen over the last few years):

      • $500-$2,500 to the guide

      • $100-$250 to the cooks ($50-$125 to each cook)

      • $50-200 to the camp helper/packer (Kenny)

• To ensure a quality hunting experience for all public hunters, all scheduling and inquiring must be done through the Deseret CWMU Operator. Individual guides are NOT permitted to schedule hunts or deviate from the information provided on this page.

• Our goal is to provide you with a quality hunting experience. You will be provided with the same opportunity as our paying clients. Your job is to enjoy the experience and conduct yourselves in a manner that ensures all other guests have a quality experience.

• We want hunters to be happy with the buck deer hunt on the ranch. Deseret’s deer herd is excellent, and the hunt is very fun. That said, our average scores on the buck deer on the state hunt are 130-165 B&C. There is potential to harvest larger buck deer, but we want to be upfront and transparent on the averages. We want hunters to make an informed decision when considering applying for the Deseret CWMU buck deer hunt. See the picture gallery below for references of past harvested buck deer. Please Click Here to download the 2022 and 2021 average deer scores.

• If you choose the guided option, our management plan on Deseret is to harvest old/mature buck deer. We consider deer to be mature at 5.5+ years old. Our goal as an outfitter is to give the hunter opportunities to harvest a mature buck. We will not field judge and/or score the deer on the hoof. Guides will find and locate mature deer and present opportunities. The hunter will choose if he/she wants to harvest the buck deer.

• If you draw out for this hunt, you will be contacted by the CWMU operator with further information regarding your hunt. Plan on four to six weeks after the draw results (expect to hear from the operator by the middle of June).

Hunting Rules

• Safety comes first.

• Hunting

  • Take time to shoot and sight in your rifle before your hunt. Know your hunting and shooting limits. Understand your rifle. 

  • Hunters are allowed to shoot one, and only one, animal for which they have a permit. Once you hit an animal and/or draw blood, that is your animal. Please be aware of your animal and its surroundings, and pick your shots carefully. 

  • All hunters must abide by Utah state laws regarding wildlife. Click HERE for Utah Wildlife Laws.

  • All hunters and guests must always wear a hunter-orange hat and vest while hunting.

  • Most other wildlife species found on Deseret are protected by state law and/or require special licenses or permits to ‘take’ these animals. Hunting other wildlife species of any kind is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to coyotes, badgers, ground squirrels, foxes, upland birds, grouse, and waterfowl.

  • No pre-seasons scouting

  • Follow basic gun safety

    • Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

    • Treat every rifle as loaded (even if you don’t think it is).

    • No ammunition in the rifle chamber while driving, hiking, in camp, etc. (ammunition can be left in the magazine/clip)

    • Only put ammunition in the chamber when attempting to make a shot at the big game animal you have the permit for (then quickly remove chamber bullets).

    • Be aware of your surroundings while shooting. Do not shoot toward vehicles, hunters, and guests.

    • Do not rely on the gun’s safety.

    • Be sure of your target, your line of fire, and what lies beyond your target and what is beyond it.

• Vehicles/Driving & Roads etc

  • No ATVs, side-by-sides, snowmobiles, or other off-road vehicles are allowed on the ranch, even if they are street-legal (trucks/SUVs/cars only)

  • No horses, llamas, alpacas, goats, etc.

  • We recommend a 4x4 vehicle with good off-road tires (chains are also highly recommended)

  • Hunters are not to drive off the main gravel roads or well-established two-tracks (these are marked)

  • No driving past any road blockages. These include, but are not limited to, posted reflectors, locked gates, wood logs across the road, etc. This will be discussed further when you check in for your hunt.

  • All gates must remain ‘as they were’ when you approach them. If they are open, leave them open; if they are closed, close them.

  • Be safe and courteous while driving on the roads. Drive respectively, slowly and cautiously.

  • Roads may be closed for safety reasons (Ie. extreme weather).

  • Care must be taken to avoid damage to Ranch roads.

  • No chasing, pursuing, pushing, herding, or harassing game with a vehicle.

  • The maximum driving speed is 25 mph.

• Camping/Campsite & Guide services

  • Camping is allowed in designated areas.

  • No alcoholic beverages.

  • No smoking (because of fire risk).

  • No open campfires.

  • No littering; hunters must remove all their casings, cans, trash, and debris from the premises.

• The Ranch

  • State laws protect livestock on Deseret Land and Livestock (DLL). Do not harm, harass, or shoot livestock. DLL may file civil charges against anyone for harassing, shooting, or harming livestock.

  • No fishing on the streams or ponds.

  • No other outdoor recreational activities are offered on the property during the hunts.

  • Respect the property and employees.

  • Shed antlers and “dead heads” are Deseret's property. Hunters or guests cannot pick up or remove them from the ranch.

  • Hunters and guests are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and understanding the CWMU’s boundaries.