Just wanted to let everybody know that Utah's big game drawing opens on January 28, 2016. Utah is still affordable to put in and acquire points for all of the species Utah offers. The license to put in is $65. Each species application is $10 and they only charge you if you draw out. Don't miss out on a great year ahead. The hunt dates for our rifle elk hunts will be in the rut Sept 17-25. The general rifle deer hunt will be Oct 22-30 which will make the last 5 days perfect for some pre rut deer hunting. Our elk and deer hunting is as good as it has ever been! Best of luck to everyone who comes west. I will be glad to help anybody coming to Utah trying to find a hunt to meet their needs. There is plenty of over the counter hunts available also.
Shane Scott
shanescottoutfitting.com

To add. The $65 license is good for 365 days from purchase. Time a license and the preference point applications right, one can use one years license to purchase points two years in a row.

Thanks for the reminder Shane. 15 point for me now.....

I have 20 points on elk, 16 on Desert Bighorn. One of these years...

That's good to know. I'll have to pay attention to the dates when I buy my points.

Sniper John, I am interested in doing this but not familiar with the process. Would you explain to me how? Thanks!

I have been doing points in a few states, but not utah. I'm getting to the age where I will likely be too old or dead before I could get my foot in door with many of the more sought after big game hunts. So take into consideration your age and how long it will take to be able to draw as well as point creep increasing that time, and unknown future cost increases of obtaining points. Not to mention States seem to have a sky is the limit on raising non resident big game license fees. Plus in the future states enacting dramatic limits on the percent of non resident big game permits making them near impossible to draw.

Just this year because of family health issues leading to the passing of my father during hunting season, I had to miss two hunts I was drawn for this year. One in state and one out of state. And I doubt I will be able to go anywhere to hunt next season related to taking care of another family member in bad health. Knowing there is the possibility fate could have me building points for these special hunts and getting too old or dead or pushed out by hunt cost increases and limits before I am able to use those points has me questioning even bothering with most of them anymore. I might be better putting all those fees into an account for a nice paid hunt or two someday. That said there are a couple game/area hunts in Utah I was interested in that may be possible to me if I start now, so I had been looking into it.

What I know. Utah requires a hunting license to apply for big game hunts. Your only required to have a current hunting license at the time of application. The application period is long so what people do is buy their hunting license late in the application period, then apply for whatever hunts that year. The next year they apply early in the application period while that same hunting license is still valid. Applications are $10 for each game animal and no up front big game license fees. You can just buy preference and bonus points as well. General hunts have preference points. Limited and once in a lifetime have bonus points. Basically the top 50% point holders are in the first draw, then everyone is in the second draw, or something like that, you would have to look on the Utah site to get the full details of how that all works. It is poor odds like playing the lottery if you don't have enough points, but because of that 2nd draw structure, non residents applying the first year could get lucky on a second draw for a real nice hunt. Ones like Antelope Island with one permit and no second draw, forget about it. Henry Mountains Mule Deer on the other hand would be a primo hunt for even a do it on your own kinda person and at least possible after a few years of points or a lucky draw.

Great information. Thank you for the help. Sorry about the loss of your father.