State license guide · checked October 2026
Utah hunting license
What a basic license costs in Utah, why deer and elk need a separate permit, how the spring drawing works and who must pass hunter education, all from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
The short answer
How do you get a Utah hunting license?
You buy a Utah hunting license online through the DWR licensing portal or the Utah Hunting and Fishing app, from a license agent or DWR office, or by phone at 801-538-4700. The 1-year basic license is $40 for residents (18-64) and $144 for nonresidents, plus a $10 handling fee.
How much is a Utah hunting license?
A resident Utah hunting license costs $40 for adults 18 to 64, and the nonresident version costs $144, as listed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for the current license year. That 1-year basic license covers small game and upland birds. It does not cover deer, elk or other big game: those animals need their own permit on top of the license, which is the single most important thing to understand about hunting in Utah.
If you also fish, the resident combination hunting and fishing license is $44, only four dollars more than hunting alone. Nonresidents pay $190 for the combination. Residents who know they will hunt for years can buy a multiyear license at $39 per year for up to five years, which saves a little and removes the yearly renewal.
The table below shows the basic, youth, senior and short-term prices. DWR adds a $10 handling fee to purchases, so the total at checkout is higher than the license price itself. Nonresident fees went up on July 1, 2025 under a state law, so older price lists you find online may be out of date. The DWR fee page has the full schedule.
| Type | License and what it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident | Resident 1-year basic hunting license (age 18-64) Covers small game/upland hunting; deer, elk and other big game need a separate permit (e.g., general-season buck deer $46). Resident combination hunt/fish (18-64) is $44. Multiyear licenses $39/yr up to five years. A $10 handling fee applies. | $40.00 |
| Nonresident | Nonresident 1-year basic hunting license (age 18 and older) Big game permits sold separately (e.g., general-season buck deer $599, includes 365-day fishing license). Nonresident combination license $190; 3-day small game license $89. A $10 handling fee applies. | $144.00 |
| Short-term | Nonresident 3-day small game hunting license (any age): $89.00. No resident short-term hunting license is listed. | |
| Youth | Resident basic hunting license is $11 for age 13 and under and $16 for ages 14-17; nonresident youth (17 and under) $44. Must be at least 12 to hunt big game; hunters under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or approved adult 21+. | |
| Lifetime | No longer available: Utah stopped issuing lifetime hunting and fishing licenses in 1994. Existing holders still hunt and fish without annual licenses. | |
| Discounts | Residents 65+: basic hunting license $31, combination $35. Resident disabled veterans: hunting $25.50, combination $28.50. Lifetime fishing licenses and hunting accommodations exist for people with disabilities. |
Who needs hunter education for a Utah hunting license?
Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1965 must finish hunter education before DWR will sell them a license. If you were born in 1965 or earlier, the course is not required.
Utah gives you two ways to certify. You can take an instructor-led class, or you can study online and then attend an in-person field day, where you take a written test and complete a live-fire exercise. The online route still needs that field day, so plan for it before the season you want to hunt. Course listings and sign-up are on the Utah hunter education page.
Not ready for the full course? The Trial Hunting Program lets hunters 12 and older (you can apply at 11) hunt for one three-year term without hunter education. You must stay with a licensed hunter who is at least 21. Trial hunters cannot use it for limited-entry, premium limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime hunts, so anyone aiming at a drawn trophy tag should finish the course instead.
Where can you buy a hunting license in Utah?
Most hunters buy online through the DWR licensing portal at wildlifelicense.utah.gov or in the Utah Hunting and Fishing app. Retail license agents and DWR offices also sell licenses in person. If you would rather talk to someone, DWR takes phone orders at 801-538-4700, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 Mountain time.
Think about timing. The big game drawing opens in spring, so many hunters line up their license and application in the same visit. Because a Utah license runs 365 days from purchase, a license bought in March will still be valid through the following fall seasons, and a multiyear license removes the yearly step altogether.
- Pass hunter education if you were born after Dec. 31, 1965, or enroll in the Trial Hunting Program.
- Open the DWR licenses page, the Utah Hunting and Fishing app, or visit a license agent or DWR office.
- Pick the basic hunting license, the combination license, a multiyear option, or the 3-day small game license if you are a nonresident.
- Pay the license price plus the $10 handling fee, then apply for or buy the big game permits you need.
How do big game permits and the Utah draw work?
Deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and other big game each require a permit separate from your basic license, and most of those permits come through drawings run at utahdraws.com. For example, a general-season buck deer permit is $46 for residents and $599 for nonresidents (the nonresident permit includes a 365-day fishing license).
The 2026 big game drawing for buck deer, bull elk, pronghorn, moose, bison, bighorn sheep and mountain goat was open from March 19 to April 23, 2026, closing at 11 p.m. MDT. The antlerless drawing ran June 9 to 23. Bear and turkey have their own drawings, in early February and mid-December. Leftover permits and general-season elk permits go on sale in July. Dates for the next cycle are posted in the big game application guidebook.
After the hunt, Utah requires a harvest report within 30 days after your season ends. You must file it even if you did not take an animal, so set a reminder when the season closes.
How much is a youth hunting license in Utah?
Utah youth licenses are cheap: a resident basic hunting license is $11 for kids 13 and under and $16 for ages 14 through 17. Nonresident youth 17 and under pay $44.
Age matters for big game. A young hunter must be at least 12 to hunt deer, elk or other big game. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or approved adult who is 21 or older. Kids still need hunter education to buy a license, or they can start through the Trial Hunting Program from age 12 (with applications allowed at 11). Because the youth license is good for 365 days, buying it right before the first planned hunt gets the most use from it.
What does a nonresident Utah hunting license cost?
A nonresident license in Utah costs $144 for a year, or $190 if you want the combination license with fishing. Visitors coming only for upland birds or other small game have a cheaper option: a 3-day small game license for $89, sold to nonresidents of any age.
Big game is where nonresident costs add up. The general-season buck deer permit is $599 on top of the license, and like residents, most nonresidents get deer and elk permits through the spring drawing. Hunter education rules are the same for everyone: if you were born after Dec. 31, 1965, bring proof of a course from your home state.
Planning a trip that crosses state lines? Compare the Idaho hunting license to the north, or the Wyoming hunting license to the northeast, before you book.
Other Utah license rules to know
A few more points help you stay legal in the field. DWR's field regulations guidebook has the details, and you can compare every hunting license by state if you hunt elsewhere too.
- License length: a Utah license is valid for 365 days from the date you buy it, not a fixed season. Multiyear licenses last longer.
- Hunter orange: big game hunters must wear visible hunter orange on the outside, such as a hat, shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater. Utah sets no square-inch minimum. Exceptions include archery, muzzleloader and once-in-a-lifetime hunts when no general rifle deer or elk hunt is underway, and CWMUs.
- Seniors and veterans: residents 65 and older pay $31 for the basic hunting license or $35 for the combination. Resident disabled veterans pay $25.50 for hunting or $28.50 for the combination.
- Lifetime licenses: Utah stopped issuing them in 1994. People who already hold one still hunt and fish without buying annual licenses.
- Landowners: we found no landowner license exemption in DWR's published rules, so check with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before hunting your own land without a license.
Official links
Official Utah hunting links
Every link below goes straight to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or its official license system, checked October 2026. Bookmark the ones you need before the season.
Buy or renew
- Buy a Utah hunting license onlineUtah DWR's official online license and permit store.
- Utah Hunting and Fishing mobile appCarry licenses and permits on your phone.
- Buy a license over the phone
Licenses and fees
- Utah license and permit feesResident and nonresident prices for licenses, permits and combinations.
Hunter education
- Utah hunter education course
- Trial Hunting ProgramTry hunting before hunter ed, with a licensed hunter over 21.
- Hunter Mentoring ProgramLets a young hunter share a mentor's hunting permit.
Regulations and seasons
- Utah hunting guidebooksCurrent regulations for big game, upland game, waterfowl and more.
- Big game field regulations guidebook (PDF)
- Season dates and drawing deadlines calendar
Tags, permits and harvest reporting
- How Utah's hunt permit drawings workOverview of how Utah's permit drawing system works.
- Apply for a Utah hunt drawingOfficial draw portal for applications, points and results.
- Report your Utah harvest
Youth, lifetime and special licenses
- Youth hunting opportunities in Utah
- Lifetime hunting and fishing licensesUtah stopped issuing lifetime licenses in 1994; info for current holders.
- Utah HIP registration for migratory birds
Questions
Utah hunting license questions
Can I buy a Utah hunting license online?
Yes. DWR sells licenses online through its licensing portal at wildlifelicense.utah.gov and in the Utah Hunting and Fishing app. You can also buy from retail license agents, at DWR offices, or by calling 801-538-4700 on weekdays from 8 to 5 Mountain time. A $10 handling fee applies.
How long is a Utah license good for?
A standard license is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase, so a license bought in March stays good through that fall's hunts. Utah also sells multiyear licenses to residents at $39 per year for up to five years.
Does the basic Utah license include a deer tag?
No. The basic license covers small game only. Deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and other big game need a separate permit, most of them drawn at utahdraws.com. A resident general-season buck deer permit is $46, and the nonresident version is $599.
Can you still get a lifetime hunting license in Utah?
No. Utah stopped issuing lifetime hunting and fishing licenses in 1994. Anyone who bought one before then can keep hunting and fishing without annual licenses, but new hunters buy a 1-year or multiyear license instead.
How old do you have to be to hunt big game in Utah?
You must be at least 12 to hunt big game in Utah. Hunters under 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or approved adult 21 or older. Young hunters also need hunter education or must hunt under the Trial Hunting Program.
Is there a short-term hunting license in Utah?
Nonresidents can buy a 3-day small game hunting license for $89, available at any age. It does not cover big game. DWR does not list a short-term hunting license for residents, who buy the 1-year or multiyear license.
Do I have to report my harvest in Utah?
Yes, for big game. Utah requires a harvest report within 30 days after your season ends, and you must submit it even if you were unsuccessful. Check your permit details on the DWR site for the exact reporting steps.
Sources
Checked against official Utah sources
Every price and rule on this page comes from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or its official license and regulations pages, checked October 2026. Prices and rules change each license year, so confirm on the state site before you buy. HuntReserve doesn't sell licenses or take a fee.
Hunting nearby
License guides for neighboring states
Crossing a state line to hunt? You need a nonresident license from the state you hunt in. See all 50 states on the map →
For outfitters in Utah
Every hunter licensed
before opening day.
HuntReserve has each hunter in a party upload their license and sign your waiver from their phone, scans the ID and flags expired or mismatched documents before the hunt.