West Desert Elk Draw Odds (Utah)
Limited-entry bull elk hunts on the West Desert unit. In 2026, 208 residents applied for 26 resident permits and 65 nonresidents for 4 nonresident permits across 2 hunts.
West Desert elk draw: key facts, 2026
- West Desert elk hunts drew 208 resident applications in 2026, the 5th fewest of 23 limited-entry elk units.
- West Desert elk averaged 8.0 resident applicants per resident permit, the 3rd lowest of 23 limited-entry elk units with permits.
- West Desert elk resident odds ranged from 1 in 6.8 (EB3137, archery) to 1 in 9.2 (EB3144, hamss) in 2026.
- Nonresidents were 24% of West Desert elk applicants (65 of 273) and drew 4 of 30 permits in 2026.
Computed from Utah DWR draw odds (utahdraws.com/drawodds, 2026) and earlier DWR drawing odds reports. Past draws do not predict future ones.
Odds by weapon
All West Desert elk hunts
| Hunt | Code | Weapon | 2026 season | Res. applicants | Res. permits | Res. odds 2026 | Nonres. permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek, September | EB3137 | Archery | Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 | 89 | 13 | 1 in 6.8 | 2 |
| Deep Creek | EB3144 | HAMSS | Nov. 7 to Nov. 30 | 119 | 13 | 1 in 9.2 | 2 |
West Desert elk hunt map
Boundary data: Utah DWR, 2026 hunt boundaries. For reference only, simplified for display. Legal boundary on the DWR Hunt Planner.
West Desert elk point creep
Resident applicants by bonus points held, each year, on this unit's current hunt codes. The median bonus points held by resident applicants on West Desert elk hunts went from 2 in 2021 to 4 in 2026; the 90th percentile went from 7 to 9 (same 2 hunt codes both years).
| Year | Hunt codes | Res. applicants | Median points | 90th percentile | Top level | 0 to 4 pts | 5 to 9 pts | 10 to 14 pts | 15 to 19 pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 208 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 116 | 73 | 17 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 196 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 123 | 58 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 159 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 91 | 57 | 8 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 | 189 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 133 | 41 | 14 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 | 163 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 107 | 41 | 13 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 | 176 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 120 | 43 | 10 | 3 |
Other species on West Desert
Nearby elk units
No bordering units found in DWR's 2026 boundary layer.
Hunting West Desert with a guide?
No outfitters are listed for West Desert yet. You can send a quote request now and we pass it to outfitters who list this unit.
Questions about West Desert elk draw odds
How many West Desert elk hunts are there?
DWR's 2026 draw odds list 2 hunts for West Desert elk: Deep Creek, September archery (EB3137); Deep Creek hamss (EB3144).
Which West Desert elk hunt had the best resident odds in 2026?
Deep Creek, September archery (EB3137) at 1 in 6.8 (89 residents for 13 permits). The longest odds were Deep Creek hamss (EB3144) at 1 in 9.2. Odds change every year.
When are the West Desert elk seasons?
2026 seasons from the DWR guidebook: EB3137 Sept. 1 to Sept. 30; EB3144 Nov. 7 to Nov. 30. 2027 dates post when DWR publishes the 2027 guidebook.
Get the 2027 deadline
We plan to email when DWR announces the next application dates and before the deadline. Delete any time via [email protected].
Odds: Utah DWR draw odds, utahdraws.com/drawodds (2026). utahdraws.com/drawodds. History from the 2018 to 2025 DWR reports, linked year by year in the history tables.
Season dates: Utah DWR 2026 Big Game Application Guidebook. Boundary data: Utah DWR, 2026.
Page built Sept. 24, 2026. Found an error? [email protected]. Verify all dates and rules with DWR before applying.