It might be the middle of winter, but it’s time to apply for a permit to hunt big game animals in Utah this fall.
To be included in the draw for permits, your application must be received no later than 11 p.m. on March 7. You can apply for a permit at www.wildlife.utah.gov.
Applications are being accepted for every big game hunt except the general-season bull elk hunt. General-season elk permits will be available, on a first-come, first-served basis, starting July 16.
*Get a free guidebook*
Everything you need to know to apply for a permit is available in the 2019 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook.
You can get the free guidebook at www.wildife.utah.gov/guidebooks, at Division of Wildlife Resources offices and from more than 300 hunting and fishing license agents across Utah.
*The Utah Hunt Planner*
When you’re thinking about hunting in a new area—or going after a species you’ve never hunted before—you likely have a lot of questions. The Utah Hunt Planner, an interactive, online map tool, gives you in-depth, hunter-focused information about all of Utah’s hunts. Use it when you’re researching hunts you want to apply for—or use it after you draw a permit for a particular hunt—and learn the best spots to find animals, what the terrain is like in that area, if there’s a lot of public land in the unit and where the best access points are located.
DWR biologists keep the Hunt Planner up to date with the details you care about. (Note: The Hunt Planner works best on a desktop or laptop computer.)
You can view the planner at www.wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner.
*Big game web page*
Another great resource is the DWR’s big game web page. The page is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/biggame. Once you arrive at the page, the following are among the items you’ll find:
· Drawing odds in 2018
· Maps for the various hunting units
· Information about the number of big game animals taken on the units since 2010
*Hunt all three deer seasons*
Would you like to hunt all three general deer hunting seasons (archery, muzzleloader and rifle) on the unit you draw a permit for?
You can if you join the Dedicated Hunter program.
To give yourself a chance to join the Dedicated Hunter program, you must do two things. First, you must complete an online orientation course that teaches you more about the program. After you complete the course, you must then apply for and draw a 2019 Dedicated Hunter permit.
To learn more about the program and how to join it, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/dh.
*Applying for a point*
If you’re not going to hunt in 2019, you can still apply for a bonus point or a preference point. Earning a point increases the chance you’ll draw a permit the next time you apply.
Your application for a point must be received through www.wildlife.utah.gov no later than 11 p.m. on March 21.
Please remember that you must have a hunting license or a combination license to apply for a point or a hunting permit.
*More information*
If you have questions about applying for a 2019 Utah big game hunting permit, call the Utah Hunt Application office at 1-800-221-0659 or the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office.