Utah hunting and fishing laws
The Utah rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Utah
If you were born after Dec. 31, 1965, you must provide proof that you have passed a hunter education course approved by the Division before you can apply for or obtain a hunting license or a big game permit. The Trial Hunting Program is the alternative: a three-year authorization with a mentor 21 or older, no more than two trial hunters, and written parental permission for minors.
Minimum hunting age in Utah
Applies to: Big game
R657-5-4: a person 12 years of age or older may apply for or obtain a permit to hunt big game. An 11 year old may apply if turning 12 that calendar year but may not hunt before the birthday. Ages 12 through 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, or by a responsible person 21 or older approved by them, within visual and verbal communication.
Blaze orange in Utah
Applies to: Big game
R657-5-49: an individual shall wear a hat, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater made of primarily hunter orange material, worn on the exterior so it can be seen, while hunting any species of big game. The current rule states no square-inch figure. Exceptions include once-in-a-lifetime hunts, archery and muzzleloader hunts, CWMU hunts, nuisance-removal hunts, and youth elk hunts.
Applies to: Big game
The field regulations phrase the archery exemption as archery hunts outside areas with a concurrent rifle season. The rule text is orange only per the agency wording; no affirmative authorization of hunter pink was located, and no explicit prohibition of it either.
Sunday hunting in Utah
No Sunday hunting restriction appears in the agency regulations.
Shooting hours in Utah
Applies to: Big game
You may take big game animals from 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset.
Baiting in Utah
Applies to: Big game
It is unlawful statewide to bait big game, take big game in a baited area, or take big game that has been lured to or is traveling from a baited area.
Applies to: Bear
Baiting big game is unlawful statewide, but bears may be baited on hunts that allow bait (summer limited-entry hunts on specified units). If you draw such a permit, you must get a bait station certificate of registration from DWR before setting up a bait station, and baiting before the season starts is prohibited.
Night hunting in Utah
Applies to: Big game
You may not use a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light to take or locate any protected wildlife, including big game, if you have a rifle, shotgun, archery equipment, airgun, crossbow or muzzleloader in your possession. It is also unlawful to possess any type of night-vision device while locating, taking or attempting to locate big game during the restricted period set in the regulations.
Applies to: Furbearers
It is unlawful to take or pursue any protected wildlife, including protected furbearers, with a spotlight or other artificial light from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. Night-vision devices may not be possessed while locating or taking big game from July 31 to Dec. 31.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Utah
Applies to: Big game
The head or sex organs of the animal you have taken must remain attached to the largest portion of its carcass, and your tag must remain with the largest portion of the animal's meat.
Hunting on private land in Utah
Written permission is required to enter or cross properly posted private property, and also for unposted land with broken soil for crops, active crops, or irrigated pastures, or land fenced or enclosed to exclude intruders. Permission must carry the owner's signature, the name of the person permitted, the dates, and a general description of the land.
Can you show your Utah license on your phone?
Digital license and permit OK. E-tag or paper tag.
Licenses can be carried in the Utah Hunting and Fishing app. For big game, “download your permit to the Utah Hunting and Fishing mobile app”; “You must carry your downloaded digital permit with you while hunting,” and keep the device charged. Hunters may “physically tag the animal using the tag attached to their printed permit or submit an e-tag” in the app, which needs location and photos including proof of sex.
Phone with downloaded permit, or printed permit tag
Utah hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — archery | Aug 15 – Sep 11, 2026 | General-season buck deer units | |
| Deer — any legal weapon (rifle) | Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026 | General-season buck deer units | |
| Deer — muzzleloader | Sep 23 – Oct 1, 2026 | General-season buck deer units | |
| Elk — general archery | Aug 15 – Sep 16, 2026 | General-season bull elk units | |
| Elk — general any legal weapon | Oct 3 – Oct 9, 2026 | Any-bull units (early hunt) | Late any-bull Oct 10-16; spike units Oct 3-15; muzzleloader Oct 28-Nov 5 |
| Turkey — spring general | May 3 – May 31, 2027 | Statewide general season | Limited-entry Apr 10-29, 2027 |
| Turkey — fall management harvest | Oct 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 | Open fall hunt areas | |
| Pheasant — general | Nov 7 – Dec 6, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Mourning/white-winged dove | Sep 1 – Oct 30, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Ducks — regular | Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 16, 2027 | Northern Zone | Southern Zone Oct 10-Jan 23 |
| Black bear — fall limited-entry (part 1) | Aug 1 – Aug 31, 2026 | Nine Mile unit (hunt BR7211) | Limited-entry permit; any legal weapon, no bait |
| Black bear — fall limited-entry (part 2) | Nov 2 – Nov 8, 2026 | Nine Mile unit (hunt BR7211) | Limited-entry permit; any legal weapon, no bait |
What you can hunt in Utah
Big game
- Mule deer Draw or limited entry General-season permits are limited and drawn; leftovers sold over the counter
- Elk General season Any-bull and spike-bull general; limited-entry bull is draw
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry Buck permits are limited entry
- Moose Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Mountain goat Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Bison Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Black bear Draw or limited entry Harvest-objective permits sold over the counter after the draw
- Cougar General season Year round, no separate permit since 2023
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season Also limited entry
- Pheasant General season
- Chukar and gray partridge General season
- Quail General season California and Gambel's
- Dusky and ruffed grouse General season
- Sage-grouse Draw or limited entry
- Sharp-tailed grouse Draw or limited entry
- White-tailed ptarmigan General season Free permit
- Rabbit and hare General season
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove General season
- Band-tailed pigeon General season Free permit
- Sandhill crane Draw or limited entry
- Tundra swan Draw or limited entry
Furbearer and predator
- Bobcat General season Permits purchased, up to six
- Coyote General season
What you can fish for in Utah
Fishing license; two poles included, no second-rod permit
Fishing licenses sold: 3-day, 7-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout General season
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Cutthroat trout General season
- Tiger trout General season
- Lake trout General season
- Arctic grayling General season
Salmon and anadromous
- Kokanee General season Closed statewide 10 Sept to 30 Nov
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Walleye General season
- Northern pike General season
- Tiger muskie General season One fish over 40 inches
- Wiper General season
- White bass General season
- Striped bass General season Lake Powell
- Channel catfish General season
- Yellow perch and crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
Other
- Whitefish General season
- Bonneville cisco General season Bear Lake; dip net and snagging legal
- Burbot General season Invasive — all caught must be killed
- June sucker and Colorado River natives No season Release alive immediately
Official Utah links
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Carry your Utah license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state