Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Hunting

Southern Ute Indian Tribe Division of Wildlife Logo

Wildlife Division Head

Aran Johnson

Southern Ute Wildlife Questions

970-563-0130

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Welcome to Southern Ute Reservation Hunting

Mule Deer

Southern Ute Tribal Members

The following conditions must be met to obtain Southern Ute Tribal Member hunting permits:

  1. Must be an enrolled Southern Ute Tribal Member 12 years old or older and be able to present an enrollment card at the time permits are picked up.
  2. Hunters under the age of 21 must possess a hunter safety card and must present it at the time permits are picked up.
  3. Issued permits must be signed by the applicant.
  4. Mail-out permits will be provided to non-resident Tribal Members only after receiving a letter including the Tribal Member’s name, date of birth, copies of their enrollment card and hunter safety education card (if applicable), and a list of permits desired. Permits will not be valid until signed by the applicant.

What’s New for 2022-2023

Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has recently been detected in mule deer in the San Juan Basin. CWD is degenerative brain disease of deer and elk that takes time to progress but is always fatal to the infected animal. CWD is most prevalent in adult male mule deer greater than two years old. The prevalence of CWD in our mule deer herd is currently very low (less than 1%), however the Wildlife Division (Division) recommends having harvested adult male mule deer tested for CWD. There is no evidence that CWD can spread between infected animals and humans, however the Division does not recommend consuming meat of tested animals until tests results are obtained and the Division does not recommend consuming meat from CWD positive animals. Testing is voluntary and will be free of charge for tribal members wishing to have their animals sampled. The Division will test any deer or elk that tribal members wish to have sampled.

Spring Turkey Permits

Tribal member hunters may pick up permits for, and harvest, up to 2 spring gobblers. Tribal members will need to have the first turkey validated to ​receive the second permit.

Reduced Cow Tags

Tribal members will be limited to two Cow Elk permits.
Hunters may still get a second cow elk permit, after having their first cow elk validated.

First Descendant Hunting Opportunity

Ten First Descendants of the Southern Ute Tribe have the opportunity to draw a permit to harvest one antlerless elk from tribal land December 1 – 31, 2024.  Applications will be available online September 1st -October 25th, 2024. If there are more than ten applicants there will be an automatic draw. The application fee is $25 and is non-refundable. If drawn the permit will be $75.  Follow the link below to the Southern Ute Store.
Southern Ute Indian Tribe – Online Store (southernute-nsn.gov)

Documents

The phone number to call for arranging animal inspection and validation during regular business hours is (970) 563-0130 and during non-business hours is (970) 563-4401 (Southern Ute Dispatch).