Permit applications for Utah’s big game hunt open March 21

Antelope Island Bison in August, 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Big game hunts are held in Utah for bighorn sheep, bison, elk, moose, mountain goats, mule deer and pronghorn

UTAH — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced today that the application period for the big game hunting season will run from March 21 to April 25.

From 8 a.m. on March 21 to 11 p.m. on April 25, hunters will be able to apply to enter the raffle for a permit for the big game hunt they are interested in. Hunters can apply online or over the phone by calling the nearest DWR office.

All draw results will be revealed on May 16, with the final permit numbers being approved by the Utah Wildlife Board during their public board meeting on May 2. This year, the DWR has announced a change to the usual application dates, which were previously shifted from January to March in order to give hunters more information on proposed permit numbers before they apply.

“We don’t have the data from the winter big game captures, the previous fall hunt harvest rates, and other big game surveys until March,” said Lindy Varney, DWR wildlife licensing coordinator. “After we receive that data, we put together the permit recommendations for the upcoming fall big game hunting seasons. Last year, due to public request, we approved shifting the application dates from January to March so that hunters will have information about the proposed permit numbers prior to applying.”

Hunters can access the proposed permit numbers for each hunt unit beginning in April on the Utah Hunt Planner.

Applications are accepted for most of Utah’s 2023 big game hunts, with a few exceptions. Permits for the state’s general-season bull elk hunts will not be available until July.

In addition to the big game hunts, hunters can also apply for the Utah’s Dedicated Hunter Program, which provides an opportunity for hunters to apply for a chance to hunt all of Utah’s general-season deer hunts.