Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 CONTACT US CONTENTS WHAT’S NEW? KNOW THE LAWS Turn in a poacher 6 2021 season dates No baiting allowed: In early 2021, the Utah This guidebook summarizes Utah’s big Phone: 1-800-662-3337 8 License and permit fees Legislature passed a new law that prohibits big game hunting laws and rules. Although it Text: 847411 9 Discounted licenses for game baiting statewide. It is now unlawful to is a convenient quick-reference document Online: wildlife.utah.gov/utip disabled veterans bait big game, take big game in a baited area for Utah big game regulations, it is not an 10 Basic requirements or take big game that has been lured to or is all-encompassing resource. Division offices For an in-depth look at the state’s big 10 Utah’s Trial Hunting Program traveling from a baited area. For details and Offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., exceptions, see page 49. game hunting laws and rules, visit wildlife. 11 Keep your license on your phone Monday through Friday. utah.gov/rules. 13 Apply for an antlerless permit Possible changes to trail camera You can use the references in the guide- Salt Lake City 13 Depredation hunts regulations: At the direction of the Utah book—such as Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-24 1594 W North Temple 14 When permits go on sale Legislature, the Utah Wildlife Board will be and Utah Code § 23-20-25—to search the Box 146301 15 Multiple elk permits considering changes to the state’s trail camera Division’s website for the detailed statute or Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 regulations this year. If those changes occur, 16 How will COVID-19 affect the rule that underpins the guidebook summary. 801-538-4700 they may go into effect before the hunts this 2021 big game hunts? If you have questions about a particular fall. If that happens, the Division will notify 16 Definition of youth rule, call or visit the nearest Division office. Central Region the public through its various communication 1115 N Main Street 17 More opportunity for youth channels. For details, see the information box Who makes the rules? Springville, UT 84663 18 Chronic wasting disease on page 30. Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field 801-491-5678 19 Big game hunts The Utah Wildlife Board passes the rules 20 Mandatory reporting New child support law goes into effect: and laws summarized in this guidebook. Northeastern Region 26 Multi-season elk permits Starting July 1, 2021, there will be restrictions There are seven board members, and 318 N Vernal Avenue each serves a six-year term. Appointed by 27 Avoid harvesting collared wildlife on fishing and hunting license purchasers for Vernal, UT 84078 the governor, board members are not Divi- 30 Once-in-a-lifetime hunts nonpayment of child support. For details, see 435-781-9453 the information box on page 28. sion employees. 31 Report your harvest The Division’s director serves as the Northern Region 34 Antlerless hunts Changes to permit sales dates in July: board’s executive secretary but does not 515 E 5300 S 36 Hunter Mentoring program Any permits remaining after the big game have a vote on wildlife policies. Ogden, UT 84405 38 Permit surrenders, refunds and drawing—and all general-season elk per- 801-476-2740 Before board members make changes to exchanges mits—will go on sale during different days wildlife rules, they listen to recommenda- Southeastern Region 40 Hunting on CWMUs in July. For all of the permit sales dates, see the tions from Division biologists. They also 319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A 42 Field regulations article on page 14. receive input from the public and various 42 Firearms and archery equipment interest groups via the regional advisory Price, UT 84501 New ways to report poachers: Earlier this 435-613-3700 43 Are you allowed to possess a year, the Division launched its new UTDWR law council (RAC) process. weapon? enforcement app and a text option for report- If you have feedback or suggestions for Southern Region 44 Hunters with disabilities board members, you can find their contact 1470 N Airport Road ing poachers (text 847411). For details about 48 Trespassing information online at wildlife.utah.gov. Cedar City, UT 84721 these new options, see the information box on wildlife.utah.gov 435-865-6100 49 Prohibited hunting methods page 29 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/utip. Wildlife Board members 49 Baiting Washington County Field Office 50 Tagging requirements Unlimited youth any-bull elk permits: Randy Dearth Byron Bateman, Chair 451 N SR-318 52 Possession and use of big game In 2021, there will be an unlimited number Wade Heaton Kevin Albrecht, Vice Chair Hurricane, UT 84737 54 Hunt maps of general-season any bull elk permits (any Karl Hirst Rory Reynolds, legal weapon, muzzleloader and multi-season) 435-879-8694 62 Definitions Donnie Hunter Division Director & Executive available to youth hunters. Those permits will Bret Selman Secretary On the cover: Deer photo taken by Tyson be available for purchase starting July 13, wildlife.utah.gov Mecham. 2021. For more information, see page 25. 2 3 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Research antlerless hunts online: conducting new, randomized checks at various Check for closures: There may be late- Review application guidebook: If you Starting May 20, 2021, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ locations. To learn more, see page 18 or visit season road closures on federal and state lands. have questions about the 2021 big game ap- guidebooks to find all of the information you’ll wildlife.utah.gov/cwd. Before heading into the field, please check plication period, hunt drawing or limited-entry need to research Utah’s antlerless hunts. This with the managing agency for the area you season dates, please see the 2021 Utah Big information includes application dates, rules, Find updated maps and boundaries: plan to hunt. Game Application Guidebook at wildlife.utah. hunt tables, maps and more. The antlerless Use the Utah Hunt Planner to find unit maps, gov/guidebooks. That guidebook was printed application period runs from May 27–June boundaries and information for your hunts this Discounted licenses for disabled veter- in December 2020 and is a companion to this 17, 2021. year. The information in the Hunt Planner will be ans: To thank our servicemen and service- book. updated in June for the 2021 big game season. women, the Division offers discounted hunting COVID-19 and the 2021 big game To learn more, visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplan- and combination licenses to Utah veterans who Guidebook corrections: If errors are found hunts: Stay informed about COVID-19 ner or see the information box on page 13. were disabled in the line of duty. For details, in this guidebook after it is printed, the Divi- pandemic-related changes that might affect see page 9. sion will correct them in the online copy. Visit your hunt. See the box on page 16 and visit Season date changes: Season dates change wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks to view digital wildlife.utah.gov/covid. every year, so please check them carefully before Change to permit surrender processes: versions of all the Division’s guidebooks. you head out on your hunt. You can find season If you want to surrender your big game permit, Changes to statewide elk plan: At the dates listed on your permit or at wildlife.utah. you are strongly encouraged to do so at least Protection from discrimination: The end of 2020, the Utah Wildlife Board approved gov/huntplanner. 30 days before the season opens. The surren- Division receives federal financial assistance changes to the statewide elk-management der process has changed and could result in the from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under plan. Those changes increased the number And keep in mind loss of previously accrued bonus or preference Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section of general-season any bull elk permits from points. For details, see the article on page 38 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field 15,000 to 17,500 and also allowed an unlim- Download the app: To store your licenses or visit wildlife.utah.gov/refund. of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, ited number of general-season any bull elk on a phone or tablet, download the free Utah the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of permits for youth. Hunting and Fishing app at wildlife.utah.gov/ Forfeit preference points for purchase the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. mobileapp. of remaining general buck deer permit: Department of the Interior and its bureaus Longer hunt for general-season If you purchase a general-season buck deer prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, Trial hunting program: People who haven’t archery bull elk: The Utah Wildlife Board permit that’s available after the big game color, national origin, age, disability or sex. If hunted big game may be able to try it for the extended the general-season archery any bull drawing in 2021, you will lose any preference you believe that you have been discriminated first time without taking Hunter Education. See elk hunt by five days. That hunt will run from points you’ve accrued for general-season buck against in any program, activity or facility, or page 10 for more information. Aug. 21–Sept. 22, 2021. For all season dates, deer. To learn more about purchasing these if you desire further information, please visit see page 6. permits, see page 38. Hunter Mentoring program: The Hunter www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights.cfm. Mentoring program allows a young person to Hunting at Fish Springs NWR: Fish Flexibility in using antlerless elk Private lands: The Division cannot guarantee Springs National Wildlife Refuge has expanded share a mentor’s permit. To learn more, see permits: If you obtain two antlerless elk the information box on page Hunter Mentoring access to any private land. Under certain cir- some big game archery hunting opportunities permits for the same area, but the permits are cumstances, you must obtain written permis- on the refuge. For details, see page 47 or program on page 36 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/ for different seasons, you may harvest both mentoring. sion from the landowner or the landowner’s visit go.usa.gov/xHpsz. elk during the same season. See page 36 for authorized representative before hunting on more information. private lands. For more information, please see New options for military members: Hunting in Salt Lake County: Before you Trespassing on page 48. Active military personnel may be eligible to hunt deer or elk in Salt Lake County, learn about National parks closed to hunting: All of take advantage of some new opportunities if special restrictions. See page 47 for more Utah’s national parks and monuments—ex- wildlife.utah.gov information. Division funding: The Division is mostly they were deployed during the 2021 big game cept the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears funded by the sale of hunting and fishing application period. For details, see the infor- Ears national monuments—are closed to Mandatory reporting: Many big game licenses and through federal aid made possible mation box on page 32 or visit visit wildlife. hunting. hunters must report hunt information within by an excise tax on the sale of firearms and utah.gov/military. 30 calendar days after the end of the hunting other hunting- and fishing-related equipment. CWD regulations and surveillance: This season (even if they did not harvest an animal). year, the Division will continue its surveil- See page 20 for more information or visit wildlife.utah.gov/harvestreporting. wildlife.utah.gov lance for chronic wasting disease and may be 4 5 2021 SEASON DATES 2021 SEASON DATES Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021

General-season dates Extended archery Hunt Dates Hunt Dates season dates Extended archery deer Sept. 18– Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-23 (either sex) in the following Nov. 30 General archery deer Aug. 21–Sept. 17 You do not need to apply for an additional extended archery areas: General muzzleloader Sept. 29–Oct. 7 permit to hunt during the extended archery • Herriman South Valley deer seasons. As long as you obtain an archery deer • Ogden Early general any legal Oct. 13–17 or elk permit in 2021—and you complete the • Southwest Desert, weapon (rifle) deer required extended archery ethics course—you Cedar Valley may also hunt any of Utah’s extended archery General any legal Oct. 23–31 • Uintah Basin weapon (rifle) deer areas during the seasons listed below. • Utah Lake Limited-entry deer and elk archery hunters • Wasatch Front General archery any Aug. 21–Sept. 22 who don’t harvest during the limited-entry bull elk • West Cache season will also be allowed to hunt extended General archery spike Aug. 21–Sept. 10 archery areas. Extended archery deer Sept. 18– elk (either sex) in the following Oct. 15 The online archery ethics course is an extended archery areas: General any legal Oct. 9–21 annual requirement for all archers who want to

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field • Nine Mile, Green River weapon (rifle) spike hunt the extended areas and seasons. To take Valley and any bull elk* the course, visit wildlife.utah.gov/extendedar- • Pine Valley, New General muzzleloader Nov. 3–11 chery before the extended seasons begin. After Harmony elk you successfully complete the course, print • Sanpete Valley Youth general (rifle) Sept. 18–26 your completion certificate and keep it with • South Wasatch any bull elk you while hunting. * On all Book Cliffs units, the any legal weapon spike Reminder: If you are hunting in an Extended archery elk Aug. 21– bull elk hunt will only run from Oct. 9–13, 2021. extended archery elk area during the extended (either sex) in the following Dec. 15 extended archery areas: archery elk season (Aug. 21–Dec. 15), you CWMU season dates may harvest any bull elk or antlerless elk. • Uintah Basin The Utah Wildlife Board has established (This applies even if the extended archery area • Wasatch Front timeframes for hunting on Cooperative Wildlife overlaps a spike bull elk unit.) • West Cache Management Units (CWMUs). Hunters should expect to hunt at least five days for bucks/bulls and three days for antlerless big game within these timeframes. To see the timeframes and learn more

about the CWMU program, see the article on wildlife.utah.gov page 40 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/cwmu. wildlife.utah.gov 6 7 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Sportsman License fees Nonresident license fees Reminder: License, permit and application Discounted licenses and statewide Resident license fees for disabled veterans conservation permit fees for nonresident hunters increased on July 1, 2020. The increased license fees are listed in the To thank our servicemen and season dates License Fee table below. For a complete list of Utah’s license servicewomen, the Division offers For more information about sportsman per- 365-day hunting license $11 and permit fees, visit wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/ discounted hunting and combination mits, see the information box on page 12. (age 13 and under) fees.html. licenses to Utah veterans who were disabled in the line of duty. Hunt Dates 365-day hunting license $16 (ages 14–17) License Fee The discounted hunting license is Deer, elk and pronghorn Aug. 21–31, $25.50, instead of the $34 full price. 365-day hunting license $34 365-day hunting license $29 on any open unit with 2021 Likewise, the discounted combination archery equipment*‡ (ages 18–64) (age 17 and younger) license is $28.50, instead of the $38 full Deer and elk on any Sept. 1, 2021– 365-day hunting license $25 365-day hunting license $72 (age 65 and older) (age 18 and older) price. Either license is good for 365 days open unit with any legal Jan. 15, 2022 from the day you buy it. Discounted weapon*‡ Multi-year hunting $71 per year, up 365-day hunting license $25.50 licenses are available online or from all for disabled veterans license (age 18 and to five years Pronghorn and moose on Sept. 1–Nov. Division offices listed on page 2. any open unit with any 15, 2021 (see the box on page 9) older) To purchase a discounted hunting legal weapon 365-day combination* $33 Multi-year hunting $33 per year, up or combination license, you must be Bighorn sheep and moun- Sept. 1–Dec. license (age 18 and to five years license (age 17 and older) younger) a Utah resident and have a qualifying Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field tain goat on any open unit 31, 2021 service-connected disability of at least with any legal weapon*‡ 365-day combination* $98 365-day combination* $20 20 percent. license (ages 14–17) license (age 18 and Bison on any open unit Aug. 2, 2021– To apply for a license online, please with any legal weapon‡ Jan. 31, 2022 older) 365-day combination* $38 visit wildlife.utah.gov/disabledvet and license (ages 18–64) Multi-year combination* $97 per year, up Turkey on any open unit April 1–May complete the online form. If you need 31, 2021 license (age 18 and to five years 365-day combination* $29 older) assistance, please call the nearest Divi- Black bear on any open During the license (age 65 and sion office. older) unit season dates * A combination license allows you to hunt or fish in If you choose to visit a Division office listed in the 365-day combination $28.50 Utah. It also allows you to fish with a second pole. 2021 Utah to purchase your license, simply bring license for disabled the verification of service-connected dis- Black Bear veterans (see the box on Permit fees Guidebook for page 9) Reminder: License, permit and application ability documentation that the Depart- that unit ment of Veterans Affairs issued to you. fees for nonresident hunters increased on July 1, Multi-year combination* $37 per year, up You can find additional resources for Cougar on any open unit During the license (age 18 and to five years 2020. The increased nonresident permit fees are or any harvest-objective season dates older) listed in the following table. For a complete list hunters and anglers with disabilities at unit that has been closed listed in the wildlife.utah.gov/disabled-access. after meeting its objective 2020–21 of Utah’s license and permit fees, visit wildlife. * A combination license allows you to hunt or fish in utah.gov/licenses/fees.html. Utah Cougar Utah. It also allows you to fish with a second pole. Guidebook for that unit Permit Resident Nonres. wildlife.utah.gov General deer $40 $398 * You may not take an elk or Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep on the Box Elder, Pilot Mtn hunting unit. General any $50 $593 ‡ Antelope Island is not an open unit. There are only a bull elk or couple of permits that authorize hunting on the island. spike bull elk

Multi-season $150 $800 general any bull or spike

wildlife.utah.gov bull 8 9 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 BASIC REQUIREMENTS Approximately four to six weeks after you Keep your license on complete the course, you will receive your blue Are you planning to hunt big game in Utah this year? Before you apply for or obtain a per- your phone or tablet card by mail. mit, make sure you meet Utah’s age, hunter education, license and permit requirements. We’ve made it easier for you to keep You should also keep the following in Are you old enough? Adults must accompany young hunt- track of your hunting or combination mind: Utah Code § 23-19-22 ers license and know when it’s about to • Hunters who are age 15 and younger To hunt big game in Utah, you must be at Utah Code § 23-20-20 expire. must be accompanied by an adult while least 12 years old. While hunting big game, a person under With our convenient mobile app, hunting. If you are least 11 years old, you can apply 16 years old must be accompanied by his or you can now download your license to a • All hunting regulations, including season for or obtain any big game permits for which her parent, legal guardian or other responsible smartphone or tablet. dates and bag limits, will apply. you are eligible, including limited-entry and person who is 21 years of age or older and who If a conservation officer asks to see • Hunters who are planning to hunt out once-in-a-lifetime permits. Any 11-year-olds has been approved by the parent or guardian. your license, you can produce the digital of state should allow enough time for who apply must be 12 by Dec. 31, 2021. The Division encourages adults to be copy, which is just as valid as a paper their hunter education card to arrive in Remember: You cannot hunt until familiar with hunter education guidelines or to license. the mail. you are 12 years old. complete the hunter education course before If you use the app, you will be able to If you’re younger than 18, you can apply accompanying youth into the field. easily see when your license expires. New to Utah? If you become a Utah resident, and you’ve to participate in the Utah Hunter Mentoring While in the field, the youth and the adult The app is available for both Apple completed a hunter education course in Program. For details on the program, see the must remain close enough for the adult to see and Android devices. You can download another state, province or country, you must box on page 36 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/ and provide verbal assistance to the young it at wildlife.utah.gov/mobileapp.

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field obtain a Utah blue card before you can buy a mentoring. hunter. Using electronic devices, such as Please remember that licenses are resident hunting license. You can obtain a Utah If you’re 12 years old or older, you can also walkie-talkies or cell phones, does not meet different from permits. If you have a blue card at any Division office by providing participate in the Trial Hunting Program. For this requirement. permit for a big game or antlerless hunt, details, see the box below. you must carry it with you while hunting. proof that you’ve completed a hunter educa- Have you passed tion course approved by the Division. Utah’s Trial Hunting hunter education? How to take hunter Utah Code § 23-19-11 & Utah Admin. Rule R657-23 Do you have a license? education Utah Code §§§ 23-19-1, 23-19-22 and 23-20-3 Program If you were born after Dec. 31, 1965, you Utah Admin. Rule R657-68 To get started, you should visit wildlife. You must have a current Utah hunting or must provide proof that you’ve passed a hunter Have you ever wanted to bring your utah.gov/huntereducation. You’ll see links to combination (hunting and fishing) license education course approved by the Division spouse, child or friend along on a hunt various traditional and online hunter educa- before you can apply for any big game permits, before you can apply for or obtain a hunting and give them a chance to try hunting? tion courses. Follow the instructions on the bonus points or preference points. Licenses are license or a big game permit. Now, they can join you on your next big website to obtain a hunter education registra- available at wildlife.utah.gov and from license The only exception to this law is for indi- game hunt. tion certificate (required) and to register for a agents and Division offices. viduals who are participating in the Division’s Utah’s Trial Hunting Program allows course online. As long as your license was valid on the Trial Hunting Program. You can find details anyone age 12 or older to try hunting for If you need assistance, please contact your date you submitted your big game permit about the program in the information box to a few years—while accompanied by a local Division office or call 801-538-4727. the left or by visiting wildlife.utah.gov/trial. licensed hunter age 21 or older—before When you finish the course, your instructor

Residency wildlife.utah.gov taking a Hunter Education course. Proof of hunter education will verify your course completion in the online Utah Code §§ 23-13-2(37) & 23-13-2(13) The program applies to hunts You can prove that you’ve completed hunter education system. At that point, you Before you apply for a big game for many different species, including hunter education by obtaining a hunter educa- will be able to apply for or obtain permits in hunt, it’s important to know whether general-season deer and elk. To sign up tion card (called a “blue card” in Utah) or if you the Division’s hunt drawing, and your hunter you are a legal resident of the state of for the program or to learn more about have a verified hunter education number on education registration certificate will become Utah. See the definition of Resident on it, visit wildlife.utah.gov/trial. file with the Division. The number is assigned your hunting license. page 63 to determine whether you are when you complete hunter education and your a resident or a nonresident. blue card is issued. wildlife.utah.gov 10 11 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Do you have a permit? APPLY FOR AN ANTLERLESS PERMIT When to apply for a Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-18 sportsman permit To participate in any of Utah’s big game or Looking for Utah’s antlerless field regula- Long season dates—and the ability antlerless hunts, you need to obtain a hunting tions? You’ll find them in this guidebook (see Boundary descriptions to hunt almost every hunting unit in permit. page 34). only available online Utah—make sportsman permits the Most of the big game permits have already If you’re looking for the information you You’ll find detailed maps and bound- most sought-after permits offered to been issued through the big game drawing, need in order to apply for an antlerless permit, ary descriptions online for all hunting Utah’s public hunters. but some will be available for over-the-counter please visit wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks, start- units. The application period for 2022 will purchase in July 2021: ing May 20, 2021. There, you’ll find application Visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner run from Oct. 20 to Nov. 10, 2021. Only • July 8: General-season archery elk dates, rules, hunt tables, maps, boundaries and to download and print your boundaries Utah residents can apply for sportsman permits (adults and youth) other essential information. today. permits. • July 8: Remaining limited-entry big If you are planning to apply for a 2021 ant- You also have the option of using the For more information about these game permits, if available lerless permit, please be aware of the following Utah Hunting and Fishing app to view permits, and the few restrictions that • July 8: Over-the-counter bison permits dates and deadlines. the boundaries of any permits you’ve drawn. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/mobileapp apply, please visit wildlife.utah.gov in for the Nine Mile unit (see page 31 for May 20: Review online antlerless hunt mid-October 2021. to download the app to your phone or details) resources tablet. • July 13: General-season any bull elk Beginning May 20, 2021, you can visit application, you don’t have to purchase a new permits (adults and youth) wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks to review all of license for the actual hunt. • July 15: Remaining general-season deer

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field the application rules, hunt tables, season dates, • Antlerless hunting permits permits, if available (also youth archery For example, assume that your license maps, boundaries and other information you’ll • An antlerless moose permit or bonus deer permits) expires on June 21, 2021. If you applied for need in order to apply for an antlerless permit. point • July 20: All antlerless permits, if available permits on Feb. 28, 2021, then you do not The antlerless application information will • A ewe bighorn sheep permit or bonus • July 22: General-season spike bull elk have to purchase a new license for your hunt be available online only—there will not be a point permits (adults and youth) in the fall. separate printed Antlerless guidebook. • Antlerless preference points For more information about July permit New this year: Starting July 1, 2021, If you do not have access to the Internet, You can also apply by calling any Division sales, see the article on page 14. there will be restrictions on fishing and please visit or call a Division office. office. hunting license purchasers for nonpayment of Many of Utah’s antlerless permits will be child support. For details, see the information issued through the antlerless drawing. You can May 27: Apply online for an antlerless June 17: Deadline for antlerless box on page 28. apply for those permits from May 27–June 17, permit permit applications Please keep in mind that Utah hunting 2021. For more information about application Starting May 27, 2021, you can visit wildlife. You must apply online or by phone no and combination licenses are valid for 365 deadlines and how to apply for antlerless utah.gov to apply for the following items: later than June 17, 2021. There’s an 11 p.m. days from the date of purchase. You also have permits, see page 13. MDT deadline for online applications and a 5 the option of purchasing a multi-year license Reminder: All license, permit and appli- p.m. MDT deadline for phone applications. To that’s valid for up to five years. cation fees for nonresident hunters increased Depredation hunts apply, simply visit wildlife.utah.gov or call any Reminder: All license, permit and appli- on July 1, 2020. For details, see page 9 or When big game animals cause dam- Division office. cation fees for nonresident hunters increased visit wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/fees.html. age to agricultural crops, the Division

on July 1, 2020. For details, see page 9 or may hold hunts that are not listed in July 8: Antlerless drawing results wildlife.utah.gov visit wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/fees.html. Carry your permit this guidebook. These hunts are called available If you are successful in obtaining a big depredation hunts. They may occur on You’ll be notified of your drawing results game or antlerless permit, you must have it on short notice, involve small areas and are by email on or before July 8, 2021. You can also your person while hunting. You cannot alter often limited to only a few hunters. learn your drawing results by visiting wildlife. your license or permit, nor can you sell, transfer To apply for the depredation hunter utah.gov or by calling 1-800-221-0659. or loan either of them to another person. pool, submit an online application at wildlife.utah.gov/depredation. wildlife.utah.gov 12 13 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 WHEN PERMITS GO ON SALE Obtain up to three elk considered antlerless permits. If you obtain two antlerless elk permits Some big game permits for the 2021 utah.gov/licenses/fees.html for a complete list. permits Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-33 for the same area—but the permits are for season will be available in July. You can find A list of remaining big game permits will different seasons—you may harvest both the sales dates listed below. be posted at wildlife.utah.gov/remaining- A hunter can obtain up to three elk elk during the same season. Please keep in mind that you may only permits.html by May 31 at the latest. permits in Utah each year. And don’t forget: you may harvest an have one buck deer permit and one bull elk You must have a valid hunting license • A maximum of one permit can be for antlerless elk while hunting general-season permit per year. or a combination license to buy one of these a bull elk. buck deer or bull elk, as long as your permits Reminder: License, permit and applica- permits. A license agent list is available at • A maximum of one antlerless elk are for the same area and you use the tion fees for nonresident hunters increased on wildlife.utah.gov/licenseagents. Before you visit permit can be obtained through the weapon type listed on your general-season July 1, 2020. Please see the table on page 9 any of the agents, contact them to verify their antlerless drawing. permit. for a partial list of permit fees or visit wildlife. hours of operation. • A maximum of two antlerless elk permits can be obtained over the General-season bull elk permits will be July 8: General-season archery elk counter. These might include antlerless sold in July. See page 14 for the different Poaching-reported permits (adults and youth) elk-control permits, private-lands- sales dates, and then visit wildlife.utah.gov reward permits All general-season archery elk permits— only permits, mitigation and CWMU in early June to see exact purchase times Utah Admin. Rule R657-51 for both adults and youth—will be available vouchers or any permits that remain and locations. It pays to report big game poachers beginning July 8, 2021. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/ available after the antlerless drawing. Any remaining antlerless elk permits— in Utah. biggame in early June to see purchase times For the purposes of obtaining multiple and both the private-lands-only and antler- If you provide information that Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field and locations. elk permits, an archery elk permit (hunter’s less elk-control permits—will be available leads to the successful prosecution of General-season archery elk permits are choice) is considered a bull elk permit. Like- on July 20. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks another person for the wanton destruc- unlimited. You must have a valid hunting wise, general-season archery permits are starting in early June to learn more about tion (poaching) of any big game species, license or a combination license to buy one of also considered bull elk permits. Antlerless antlerless permits and to see purchase times you may receive a permit to hunt the these permits. elk-control or private-lands-only permits are and locations. same species on the same area where the violation occurred. July 8: Remaining limited-entry per- permits—will be available beginning July 13, All permits are available on a first-come, This program applies to once-in-a- mits (if available) and bison permits 2021. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/biggame in early first-served basis. You must have a valid hunt- lifetime animals as well as limited-entry Any limited-entry permits remaining June to see purchase times and locations. ing license or a combination license to buy one and general-season buck deer and bull after the big game drawing will be available All general-season any bull elk permits of these permits. elk. beginning July 8, 2021. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/ (muzzleloader and any legal weapon) are Reminder: If you obtain a general- To turn in a poacher, you can use any biggame in early June to see a list of remaining available on a first-come, first-served basis. season buck deer permit over the counter of the methods listed at wildlife.utah. permits as well as purchase times and loca- For additional information on multi-season (after the big game drawing), you will lose any gov/utip: tions. general elk permits, see page 26. preference points you’ve previously accrued for • Call our hotline: 1-800-662-3337 All remaining permits are available on a You must have a valid hunting license or a buck deer. However, a youth who purchases a • Submit a tip through the UTDWR first-come, first-served basis. You must have a combination license to buy a general-season youth archery deer permit will not lose any law enforcement app (new this valid hunting license or a combination license bull elk permit of any kind. preference points they’ve accrued for general- year) to buy one of these permits. season buck deer. • Text DWR conservation officers at July 8 is also the date that over-the-counter July 15: Remaining general-season wildlife.utah.gov 847411 (new this year) bison permits for the Nine Mile unit will be buck deer permits, if available (also July 20: Remaining antlerless permits • Submit an online report at wildlife. available. See page 31 for details about this youth archery deer permits) and all other antlerless elk permits utah.gov/utip hunt. Any general-season buck deer permits Any antlerless permits remaining after For details about this reward permit remaining after the drawing—as well as the drawing—as well as private-lands-only July 13: General-season any bull elk program, please visit wildlife.utah.gov/ youth archery deer permits—will be available and antlerless elk-control permits—will be earn-a-reward.html or see Utah Admin. permits (adults and youth) beginning July 15, 2021. Visit wildlife.utah. available beginning July 20, 2021. Visit wildlife. Rule R657-51 at wildlife.utah.gov/rules. All general-season any bull elk permits— gov/biggame in early June to see purchase utah.gov/guidebooks starting in early June to wildlife.utah.gov including the multi-season general any bull elk times and locations. 14 15 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 about Utah’s antlerless elk-control units, see MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG How will COVID-19 the map on page 61 and visit wildlife.utah.gov/ affect the big game huntplanner. HUNTERS hunts? Reminder: If you obtain a general- If you are 17 years old or younger on July 31, 2021, you may have more opportunities to Although the COVID-19 pandemic season antlerless elk permit over the counter hunt this fall. It all depends on what type of permit you obtain. (after the antlerless drawing) or a private- has drastically affected all of our lives, permit, you may hunt only during the general lands-only permit, you will lose any preference Any legal weapon deer permits there are currently no plans to close any archery deer season and the extended archery points you’ve previously accrued for antlerless If you are a youth and you obtain a of Utah’s 2021 big game hunts because deer season. elk. However, if you purchase an antlerless general-season any legal weapon deer permit, of the virus. During the general archery deer sea- elk-control permit, you will not lose any pref- you may hunt buck deer during the general With that said, there may be federal, son—which runs from Aug. 21–Sept. 17, erence points you’ve accrued for antlerless elk. deer seasons—in the unit listed on your state and local regulations beyond our permit—until you either harvest an animal or 2021—you may hunt in the unit printed on control, and we have no way to know July 22: General-season spike bull elk the season ends. your permit. exactly which regulations will be in permits (adults and youth) First, you may use archery tackle to archery During the extended archery deer season, place this fall. All general-season spike bull elk per- hunt the unit listed on your permit from Aug. you may hunt in any of the extended archery You can learn about those regula- mits—including the multi-season general 21–Sept. 17, 2021. areas after completing the online archery tions—and stay informed about any spike bull elk permits—will be available If you haven’t harvested a deer by the time ethics course. For more information on the other pandemic-related changes—by beginning July 22, 2021. Visit wildlife.utah. the archery season ends, you may hunt the extended archery hunt, or to take the course, visiting wildlife.utah.gov/covid. gov/biggame in early June to see purchase same unit during the general muzzleloader visit wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery. We will also use email and our Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field times and locations. and general any legal weapon deer seasons— Additional youth archery deer permits social media channels to communicate All general-season spike bull elk permits including the early-season hunt, if it’s will be available beginning July 15, 2021. Visit changes that may affect you and your (muzzleloader and any legal weapon) are offered on your unit—using the appropri- wildlife.utah.gov/biggame in early June to see hunt. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/stay-con- available on a first-come, first-served basis. ate equipment. (See the box on page 52 for purchase times and locations. nected.html to sign up for email updates For additional information on multi-season details.) Important: Youth who purchase these and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, general elk permits, see page 26. You also have the option of hunting in additional youth archery deer permits will not Instagram and YouTube. You must have a valid hunting license or a the extended archery areas, starting Sept. 18, lose any preference points they’ve accrued for We hope you and your loved ones combination license to buy a general-season 2021. To do so, you must complete the archery general-season buck deer. have fun, successful hunts in 2021— bull elk permit of any kind. ethics course available at wildlife.utah.gov/ The Utah Wildlife Board has approved an stay safe out there! extendedarchery, carry your course-completion additional 20 percent of the archery quota for Definition of youth certificate in the field and use the appropriate each unit to provide additional permits and archery tackle. For more information on the opportunity for young archers. learn more about antlerless permits and to see For the purposes of big game hunt- extended archery hunt, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ For more information, please call the near- purchase times and locations. ing, a youth is someone who is 17 years extendedarchery. est Division office. Remaining antlerless permits are available old or younger on July 31 of any given on a first-come, first-served basis. You must year. Muzzleloader deer permits General-season elk permits have a valid hunting license or a combination This year, you will be considered a If you obtain a general-season muzzle- New this year: In 2021, there will be an license to buy one of these permits. youth if you are 17 years old or younger loader deer permit, you may hunt only during unlimited number of general-season any bull Under certain circumstances, you must on July 31, 2021. the general muzzleloader season, which runs elk permits (any legal weapon, muzzleloader wildlife.utah.gov obtain written permission before you can use from Sept. 29–Oct. 7, 2021. You must use or multi-season) available for youth who will a private-lands-only antlerless elk permit. For muzzleloader equipment and hunt the unit be 17 years of age or younger on July 31, 2021. details, see wildlife.utah.gov/private-lands- listed on your permit. You may not hunt during These permits are not for the youth only-permits.html. the general archery or any legal weapon any bull elk hunt that runs from Sept. For detailed information about how seasons. 18–26, 2021. (Youth had to draw a permit antlerless elk-control permits work and when in the big game drawing for that hunt.) you may use one, please visit wildlife.utah. Archery deer permits Visit wildlife.utah.gov/biggame in early gov/antlerless-elk-control.html. To learn more If you obtain a general-season archery deer wildlife.utah.gov June to see purchase times and locations. 16 17 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 CHECKING FOR CHRONIC WASTING BIG GAME HUNTS DISEASE Utah offers several different big game hunts each year. Depending on the permit you ob- tain, you could hunt deer, elk, pronghorn, bison, bighorn sheep, moose or mountain goat. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a locations of the CWD check stations will be The following section describes the species you can hunt, the weapons you can use and the serious—but relatively rare—disease that at- posted at wildlife.utah.gov/cwd closer to the types of permits that are available. tacks the nervous system and brain of infected 2021 hunting season.) deer, elk and moose. At the check station, we will assess the age Buck deer hunting General-season buck The Division has been monitoring for CWD of your deer, collect some biological informa- deer hunts since 1998. In that time, 131 mule deer and tion and take a small tissue sample to test for Utah has four general-season buck deer three elk have tested positive for CWD in Utah. CWD. hunts: The Division conducts CWD surveillance You can find the results online within six • Archery hunt in Utah’s deer hunt units on a rotational basis. to eight weeks at wildlife.utah.gov/cwdtesting. • Muzzleloader hunt This fall, the Division will be conducting CWD If your animal tests positive for CWD, we will • Early any legal weapon (rifle) hunt surveillance in the following units: contact you directly. • Any legal weapon (rifle) hunt • Book Cliffs To learn more about CWD, the testing Please see wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner • Box Elder process and precautions you can take, please for all hunt boundaries. • Central Mtns visit wildlife.utah.gov/cwd. • Chalk Creek General-season archery • East Canyon Random, mandatory A “buck deer” is a deer with antlers that are longer

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field buck deer hunt • Kaiparowits testing to begin in than five inches (R657-5-2(2)(e)). Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-23 • Monroe 2021 The following regulations apply to all of Utah’s general-season archery buck deer • Morgan-South Rich Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-43 Utah’s buck deer hunts. hunt runs from Aug. 21–Sept. 17, 2021. • Mt Dutton Random, mandatory testing for deer har- If you obtained a general-season archery • Nine Mile vested on certain hunting units is scheduled to Hunter orange buck deer permit, you may use archery equip- • Oquirrh-Stansbury begin in the fall of 2021. Utah Code § 23-20-31 ment to take one buck deer within the hunting You are required to obey Utah’s hunter • Plateau We will use email and our social media unit and season dates listed on your permit. orange laws, unless your hunt is among • Southwest Desert channels to share more information about this the exceptions. For example, archery and • West Desert process closer to hunting season. Visit wildlife. Extended archery deer hunts muzzleloader general-season deer hunters If you haven’t taken a deer by the time If you harvest a deer in one of the above utah.gov/stay-connected.html to sign up for are not required to wear hunter orange unless your archery buck hunt ends, you can continue units this fall, please take a few minutes to email updates and to follow us on Facebook, the other hunts occurring in the area are for your archery hunting in the state’s extended stop by a Division check station. (The exact Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. general-season any legal weapon buck deer or archery areas. bull elk. For additional details, see page 42. In the Herriman South Valley; Ogden; Southwest Desert, Cedar Valley; Uintah Special restrictions Basin; Utah Lake; Wasatch Front and West If you participate in Utah’s buck deer hunt, Cache extended archery areas, you may use please keep in mind that some areas are closed

archery equipment to take a deer of either sex wildlife.utah.gov to hunting or have special restrictions. For a list (hunter’s choice) from Sept. 18–Nov. 30, 2021. of those areas, see page 46. In the Nine Mile, Green River Valley; Pine Obtaining other deer permits Valley, New Harmony; Sanpete Valley and If you obtained a buck deer permit of any South Wasatch extended archery areas, you kind, the only other deer permit you can obtain may use archery equipment to take a deer of is an antlerless deer permit. Please see page either sex (hunter’s choice) from Sept. 18–Oct. 34 for more information on antlerless deer 15, 2021. wildlife.utah.gov hunts. 18 19 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Before hunting any of the extended • Kamas Premium limited- Handgun-archery- archery areas, you must complete the Division’s • Nine Mile entry and limited- muzzleloader-shotgun- archery ethics course. For more information, • North Slope (new) entry buck deer hunts only (HAMS) buck deer see page 7 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/extend- • Panguitch Lake Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-26 hunts edarchery. • Pine Valley Utah’s premium limited-entry and limited- Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-48 • Plateau, Fishlake General-season entry deer units are managed for older, bigger For 2021, the Utah Wildlife Board approved • Zion three handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shot- muzzleloader buck deer bucks. These hunts will run from Oct. 13–17, A premium limited-entry buck deer permit gun-only (HAMS) hunts for buck deer. These hunt 2021. The goal of these hunts is to reduce hunts will occur from Nov. 13–28, 2021 and are Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-25 allows you to hunt on one of the best limited- crowding and give hunters the opportunity to considered limited-entry hunts. Utah’s general-season muzzleloader buck entry buck deer units in Utah—the Henry hunt deer and general-season elk at the same If you obtained a permit for one of these deer hunt runs from Sept. 29–Oct. 7, 2021. Mtns unit or the Paunsaugunt unit. time. hunts, you may take one buck deer in the If you obtained a general-season muzzle- A limited-entry buck deer permit allows season and unit identified on your permit. loader buck permit, you may use a muzzle- General-season any legal you to hunt on a high-quality unit that is The 2021 HAMS hunts will take place in the loader to take one buck deer in the hunting managed for a higher buck-to-doe ratio than weapon (rifle) buck deer following units: unit listed on your permit. general-season units are managed for. hunt • Book Cliffs, Floy Canyon Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-24 If you obtained a premium limited-entry • Kaiparowits Early general-season buck The general-season any legal weapon (rifle) or limited-entry buck deer permit, you may • Morgan-South Rich deer hunts buck deer hunt runs from Oct. 23–31, 2021. use the weapon listed on your permit to take one buck deer within the area and the season Important: You may not use scopes or Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field For 2021, the Utah Wildlife Board approved If you obtained a general-season any legal other optics on any weapons during this hunt. early general-season any weapon buck deer weapon buck permit, you may use any legal specified on your permit. You may only use the following weapons on a hunts on the following general-season buck weapon to take one buck deer in the hunting Late-season muzzleloader handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shotgun-only deer units: unit listed on your permit. You may also choose • Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South deer hunts hunt: to use a crossbow, an airgun, a draw lock or a For 2021, the Utah Wildlife Board approved Rich muzzleloader. Handgun • Fillmore late-season, limited-entry muzzleloader deer hunts on all general-season buck deer units. Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-9 & R657-5-48 The handgun you use must be legal for These hunts will occur at the same time as buck deer, with no attached scope. (See the Mandatory reporting If you harvested an animal, this is also the general muzzleloader elk hunt, running Firearms and archery equipment section that If you obtained a premium limited- an ideal time to return your tooth packet. from Nov. 3–11, 2021. begins on page 42.) The handgun must also: entry, limited-entry, management buck Returning your tooth packet does not fulfill Important: If you are successful in • Have no more than a single barrel 15 deer, cactus buck deer, CWMU, conserva- the harvest survey requirement. obtaining a permit for one of these hunts, you inches or less in length, including the tion, sportsman, expo or once-in-a-lifetime You can report information about your will lose your bonus points and incur a waiting chamber permit, you must complete a harvest survey hunt at wildlife.utah.gov/harvest or by call- period of five years. questionnaire within 30 days after your ing 1-800-221-0659. • Have a single rear handgrip without hunt ends. This information is required even Reporting your hunt information is Multi-season hunts any form of any of the following: if you didn’t harvest an animal. important. If you don’t report your hunt Multi-season hunts allow the permit • A fixed, detachable or collapsible buttstock Attention limited-entry archers: information within 30 days of the end of the holder to hunt buck deer during all three wildlife.utah.gov Although you do not need to submit a hunt, you won’t be allowed to apply for a seasons (archery, muzzleloader and any legal • An apparatus or extension behind survey for the extended archery season, you once-in-a-lifetime, premium limited-entry, weapon) on select limited-entry or premium the rear grip that’s capable of must submit your limited-entry harvest sur- limited-entry, management buck deer or limited-entry units. being used to steady the handgun vey within 30 days of the final day of your CWMU permits, or bonus points in 2022. If you have obtained a permit for one of against the body while firing limited-entry season. these hunts, you must use the appropriate • A vertical foregrip weapon type for the season. Finally, the handgun can be no more than 24 inches in overall length. wildlife.utah.gov 20 21 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Archery equipment Obtaining and using a management cactus buck deer during the season, in the area, To learn more about hunting buck deer on Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-11 buck deer permit and with the weapon type specified on the CWMUs, read the article on page 40 and visit The archery equipment you use must be le- Management buck deer permits are distrib- permit. wildlife.utah.gov/cwmu. gal for buck deer. (See the Firearms and archery uted through the big game drawing process. If Important: If you obtained a cactus buck equipment section that begins on page 42.) you were successful in drawing a management deer permit, that is the only buck deer permit Bull elk hunting buck deer permit, you must complete an online you may obtain for the 2021 season. You will Muzzleloader lose your bonus points and incur a waiting Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-10 orientation course before you will receive your The muzzleloader you use must be legal permit. This course is also open to anyone who period of five years. for buck deer, with no attached scope. (See the wants to learn more about what a management If you drew a cactus buck permit, you must also complete a mandatory harvest survey once Firearms and archery equipment section that buck looks like. To take the online course, visit your hunt ends, even if you did not harvest. begins on page 42.) wildlife.utah.gov/biggame. A management buck deer permit allows you Visit wildlife.utah.gov/harvest and complete the Shotgun to take one management buck deer. You must harvest survey questionnaire within 30 days Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-8 use the weapon listed on your permit to hunt after the end of your hunt. The shotgun you use must be legal for buck within the unit and season specified on your If you successfully harvest a cactus buck, deer, with no attached scope. (See the Firearms permit. you must bring its head and antlers to a Divi- and archery equipment section that begins on After taking your buck deer, you must bring sion office for inspection no later than 48 hours A “bull elk” is an elk with antlers that are longer than page 42.) its head and antlers to a Division office for after the date of kill. five inches (R657-5-2(2)(g)). inspection no later than 72 hours after the date If the buck you harvested does not meet the A “spike bull” means a bull elk which has at least Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field More opportunity for definition of a cactus buck listed above, you will one antler beam with no branching above the ears. archers of kill. Branched means a projection on an antler longer than Please keep in mind that bringing your not be allowed to keep it. Limited-entry archery deer hunters who one inch, measured from its base to its tip (R657-5- deer to a Division office does not meet your 2(2)(r). don’t harvest during the limited-entry season harvest survey requirement. Visit wildlife.utah. CWMU buck deer will be allowed to hunt the extended archery Utah has four general-season elk hunts: gov/harvest and complete the harvest survey hunts areas after completing the online extended • Archery hunt questionnaire within 30 days after the end of Utah Admin. Rule R657-37 archery course. For details, see page 7 or Cooperative Wildlife Management Units • Any legal weapon hunt your hunt. visit wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery. (CWMUs) are private lands that the landowners • Muzzleloader hunt Important: If you obtained a manage- And don’t forget: You must submit your have opened to a limited number of public and • Multi-season hunt ment buck deer permit, that is the only buck harvest survey within 30 days of the final day private hunters. You may not hunt buck deer on These hunts are held on two types of units: deer permit you may obtain for the 2021 sea- of your limited-entry season. You do not need a CWMU unless you obtain a buck deer permit any bull elk units and spike bull elk units. son. You will lose your bonus points and incur a to submit a survey for the extended archery for that CWMU. If you obtain an archery permit, you can waiting period of five years. season. hunt on all of the open any bull and spike bull Obtaining and using a cactus buck Plan on sharing the units in the state. Management and cactus If you obtain a general-season any legal buck deer hunts deer permit mountain Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-47 As much as you’d like to have Utah’s weapon or muzzleloader permit, you must Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-46 A “cactus buck” is one that still has velvet hunt on the type of unit specified on your A “management buck” is a buck deer with backcountry to yourself, you share it covering at least 50 percent of his antlers during permit. For example, if you obtain an any bull 3 points or less on at least one antler, above with campers, hikers, photographers and wildlife.utah.gov the season dates set by the Wildlife Board. elk permit, you may hunt only on any bull elk and including the first fork, but not including other hunters. Some of those hunters are There are quite a few cactus bucks on the units. If you obtain a spike bull permit, you the eye guard. The eye guard does not count after big game—just like you—while Paunsaugunt unit and the Alton CWMU, and may hunt only on spike bull units. as a point. A point is a projection that’s longer others are pursuing black bear, forest they have unique antler growth that many If you obtain a multi-season permit, than one inch, measured from its base to its grouse and other species. hunters find fascinating. you may hunt during the archery, any legal tip, including damaged or broken antlers. Everyone shares the landscape, so Cactus buck deer permits are distributed weapon and muzzleloader seasons, but you New this year: Management buck deer please be patient and considerate when through the big game drawing process. If you must hunt on the type of unit specified on your hunts on the Henry Mountains have been encountering others on public land. drew a cactus buck permit, you may take one permit—either spike or any bull—and you wildlife.utah.gov discontinued for the 2021 season. 22 23 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 must use the appropriate weapon type for the General-season archery permit or an any bull permit. season. elk hunt If you obtain a general-season any legal Permits for the general-season elk hunts Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-28 weapon bull elk permit, you may use any legal will be available on different days in July 2021. Utah’s general-season archery spike elk weapon to take your bull elk. See the article on page 14 for the exact sales hunt runs from Aug. 21–Sept. 10, 2021. The You may use a crossbow, an airgun, a draw dates and visit wildlife.utah.gov/biggame in general-season archery any bull elk hunt runs lock or a muzzleloader. early June to see purchase times and locations. from Aug. 21–Sept. 22, 2021, except on the If you obtain a spike bull elk permit, you state’s extended archery areas, where the may take a spike bull elk on a general-season Regulations for all bull elk season runs later into the year. spike bull elk unit. You may not hunt on the hunts Legal in a spike bull unit. If you obtain a general-season archery elk any bull elk units. Please keep in mind that The following regulations apply to all of permit, you may use archery equipment to some limited-entry bull elk hunts overlap the Utah’s bull elk hunts. take only one of the following animals: general-season spike elk hunt. Hunter orange • One elk of either sex on a general-season Important: On all Book Cliffs units, the Utah Code § 23-20-31 any bull elk unit any legal weapon spike bull elk hunt will only You are required to obey the state’s hunter • An antlerless elk or a spike bull elk on a run from Oct. 9–13, 2021. orange laws, unless your hunt is among the general-season spike bull elk unit If you obtain an any bull elk permit, you exceptions. For example, archery and muzzle- • Only a spike bull on the Book Cliffs unit may take a bull elk of any size, including a spike loader hunters are not required to wear hunter • One elk of either sex on the extended bull, on a general-season any bull elk unit. You orange unless the other hunts occurring in the archery elk areas may not hunt on spike bull units. Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field New this year: In 2021, there will be an area are for general-season any legal weapon Extended archery elk buck deer or bull elk. For details, see page 42. Legal in a spike bull unit. unlimited number of general-season any bull hunts elk permits (any legal weapon, muzzleloader or CWMU bull elk hunts If you haven’t taken an elk by the time your multi-season) available for youth who will be 17 Utah Admin. Rule R657-37 archery hunt ends, you may continue hunting years of age or younger on July 31, 2021. These Cooperative Wildlife Management Units in the Uintah Basin, Wasatch Front and West permits are not for the youth any bull (CWMUs) are private lands that the landowners Cache extended archery elk areas during the elk hunt that runs from Sept. 18–26, have opened to a limited number of public and extended archery elk season, which runs from 2021. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/biggame in early private hunters. You may not hunt bull elk on a Aug. 21–Dec. 15, 2021. June to see purchase times and locations. CWMU unless you obtain a bull elk permit for To hunt any of the extended archery areas, See the general-season bull elk hunt that CWMU. you must complete the Division’s archery ethics reference map on page 58, and the boundary To learn more about hunting bull elk on course and carry your archery ethics course descriptions at wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner, CWMUs, read the article on page 40 and visit certificate of completion with you while you’re to learn where spike bull units and any bull elk wildlife.utah.gov/cwmu. Legal in a spike bull unit. hunting. For more information, see page 7 units are located in the state. or visit wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery. Special restrictions If you participate in Utah’s bull elk hunt, General-season any legal General-season muzzle- please keep in mind that some areas are closed weapon (rifle) bull elk loader elk hunt to hunting or have special restrictions. For a list Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-30 wildlife.utah.gov hunt The general-season muzzleloader elk hunt of those areas, see page 46. Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-29 runs from Nov. 3–11, 2021 within the general- Utah’s general-season any legal weapon Obtaining other elk permits season elk units. elk hunt consists of the any bull elk hunt and If you obtained a bull elk permit of any kind, To hunt during the general season for the spike bull elk hunt. These hunts run from the only other elk permits you can obtain are muzzleloader elk, you must obtain either a Oct. 9–21, 2021. antlerless elk permits. Please see page 35 for muzzleloader spike bull elk permit or a muzzle- To hunt during the general-season elk more information on antlerless elk hunts. loader any bull elk permit. hunt, you must obtain either a spike bull wildlife.utah.gov NOT legal in a spike bull unit. 24 25 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 If you obtain a muzzleloader any bull elk tinue hunting in the Uintah Basin, Wasatch Bull elk hunt opportunities 18–26, 2021 — you may use any legal weapon permit, you may use a muzzleloader to take a Front and West Cache extended archery for youth to take a bull elk or antlerless elk of any size on bull elk of any size, including a spike bull, on a elk areas during the extended archery elk Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-31 any general-season any bull elk unit in Utah. general-season any bull elk unit. You may not season, which runs from Aug. 21–Dec. 15, New this year: In 2021, there will be an Important: A permit for the youth any hunt on spike bull elk units. 2021. unlimited number of general-season any bull bull elk hunt is not valid during the general- If you obtain a muzzleloader spike bull elk To hunt any of the extended archery elk permits (any legal weapon, muzzleloader season any bull elk hunts. permit, you may use a muzzleloader to take a areas, you must complete the Division’s or multi-season) available for youth who will Please remember that although you may spike bull elk on a general-season spike bull archery ethics course and carry your archery be 17 years of age or younger on July 31, 2021. take a spike bull elk during this hunt, you may elk unit. You may not hunt on the any bull ethics course certificate of completion with Remember, you cannot hunt until you are at not hunt on a spike bull elk unit. elk units. you while you’re hunting. For more informa- least 12 years old. You may obtain only one youth any bull Please see the general-season bull elk tion, see page 7 or visit wildlife.utah. The general-season any bull elk permits go elk permit in your lifetime. gov/extendedarchery. on sale July 13, 2021. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/big- hunt reference map on page 58 and the Limited-entry bull elk boundary descriptions at wildlife.utah.gov/ Reminder: If you are hunting in an game in early June to see permit purchase times extended archery elk area during the ex- and locations. hunts huntplanner to learn where spike bull units Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-32 and any bull elk units are located in the state. tended archery elk season, you may harvest The general-season any bull permits any bull elk or antlerless elk. (This applies referenced above are not for the youth A limited-entry bull elk permit allows you Multi-season general bull even if the extended archery area overlaps a any bull elk hunt that runs from Sept. to use the weapon listed on your permit to elk hunt spike bull elk unit.) 18–26, 2021. Permits for that hunt were only take one bull elk of any size within the area Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-29 available through the big game drawing. and season specified on your permit.

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field Obtaining a multi-season bull elk The Utah Wildlife Board approved a multi- If you drew a permit for the youth general- Multi-season hunts permit season general bull elk hunt for the 2021 season any bull elk hunt — which runs from Sept. There are multi-season hunts that allow the Multi-season general bull elk permits hunting season. permit holder to hunt bull elk during all three will be available on different days in July Your hunting season dates and hunt areas seasons (archery, muzzleloader and any legal 2021. See the article on page 14 for the Avoid harvesting depend on whether you choose a multi- weapon) on select limited-entry units. exact sales dates and visit wildlife.utah.gov/ collared wildlife season spike bull elk permit or a multi-season If you have obtained a permit for one of biggame in early June to see purchase times The Division has placed radio and GPS any bull elk permit. For details, see the table at these hunts, you must use the appropriate and locations. collars on bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, the bottom of this page. weapon type for the season. Permits will come out of the same per- moose, mountain goats and pronghorn Extended archery elk hunts mit quota as the general-season any legal in various areas across the state. The Handgun-archery-muzzleloader- If you haven’t taken an elk by the time weapon and muzzleloader bull elk permits. Division is monitoring these animals in a shotgun-only (HAMS) bull elk hunts your multi-season hunt ends, you may con- handful of ongoing studies about migra- (new) tion and survival. Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-48 Multi-season Multi-season If possible, please avoid harvesting For 2021, the Utah Wildlife Board ap- Season dates spike bull elk permit any bull elk permit a collared animal. It is an expensive and proved new handgun-archery-muzzleloader- Aug. 21–Sept. 10, 2021 Use archery equipment to take an antlerless elk or spike bull elk time-consuming process to capture and shotgun-only (HAMS) hunts (Oct. 1–Nov. 15, Archery season on a general-season spike unit collar replacement animals. 2021) on these seven limited-entry elk units:

If you do harvest a collared animal, wildlife.utah.gov Aug. 21–Sept. 22, 2021 Use archery equipment to take an antlerless elk or any bull elk •Box Elder, Sawtooth please remove the collar without cutting Archery season on a general-season any bull unit •Cache, North it, pull the front two incisors (for aging •Nine Mile, Anthro Oct. 9–21, 2021 Use any legal weapon to take Use any legal weapon to take purposes) and contact your local Division •Oquirrh-Stansbury Any legal weapon a spike bull elk on a general- any bull elk on a general- office for information on how to return •Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits season season spike unit season any bull unit the collar. •Southwest Desert, North Nov. 3–11, 2021 Use muzzleloader equipment Use muzzleloader equipment To learn more about collared wildlife •West Desert, Deep Creek Muzzleloader season to take a spike bull elk on a to take any bull elk on a studies and the Utah Wildlife Migration general-season spike unit general-season any bull unit Initiative, visit wildlifemigration.utah.gov. wildlife.utah.gov 26 27 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Important: You may not use scopes or Muzzleloader other pronghorn permit except one that’s other optics on any weapons during this hunt. Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-10 issued to address a depredation situation. New ways to report You may only use the following weapons on a The muzzleloader you use must be legal If you obtained a buck pronghorn permit, poachers handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shotgun-only for bull elk, with no attached scope. (See the you may use the weapon listed on your permit Utah Admin. Rule R657-51 hunt: Firearms and archery equipment section that to take one buck pronghorn within the area If you witness an in-progress wildlife begins on page 42.) and season specified on your permit. violation—or you’re aware of a previ- Handgun You may use a crossbow, an airgun, a draw ously committed wildlife crime—you Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-9 & R657-5-48 Shotgun lock or a muzzleloader with a magnifying now have new ways to contact our The handgun you use must be legal for bull Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-8 scope during the any legal weapon (rifle) hunt. conservation officers. These new options elk, with no attached scope. (See the Firearms The shotgun you use must be legal for bull Note: Only archery equipment may be make it much easier to report wildlife and archery equipment section that begins on elk, with no attached scope. (See the Firearms used during the buck pronghorn archery hunt. crimes, and you can do so anonymously, page 42.) The handgun must also: and archery equipment section that begins on If you’d like to hunt from a blind, please contact if needed. • Have no more than a single barrel 15 inches page 42.) the public agency that manages the land you’ll Visit wildlife.utah.gov/utip to learn or less in length, including the chamber More opportunity for archers be hunting on to learn about any regulations more about your four contact options, • Have a single rear handgrip without any Limited-entry archery elk hunters who you must follow to construct a blind. which are listed below in order of form of any of the following: don’t harvest during the limited-entry season urgency: • A fixed, detachable or collapsible Hunter orange will be allowed to hunt the extended archery 1. Call our hotline at 1-800-662-3337 buttstock Utah Code § 23-20-31 areas after completing the online extended ar- 2. Submit a tip through the UTDWR • An apparatus or extension behind the You must obey Utah’s hunter orange chery course. For details, please see page 7 law enforcement app (new this year)

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field rear grip that’s capable of being used regulation (see page 42). Archery and or visit wildlife.utah.gov/extendedarchery. 3. Text a conservation officer at to steady the handgun against the muzzleloader hunters are not required to wear And don’t forget: You must submit your 847411 (new this year) body while firing hunter orange unless the other hunts occurring harvest survey within 30 days of the final day 4. Submit an online report at • A vertical foregrip in the area are for any legal weapon general- of your limited-entry season. You do not need wildlife.utah.gov/utip Finally, the handgun can be no more than 24 season buck deer or bull elk. to submit a survey for the extended archery When you visit wildlife.utah.gov/utip, inches in overall length. season. CWMU buck pronghorn you can access the Apple and Android download links for the new UTDWR app Archery equipment hunts and see which regional office code you Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-11 Buck pronghorn Utah Admin. Rule R657-37 The archery equipment you use must be legal Cooperative Wildlife Management Units should include in a text to officers. (The hunting codes ensure that texts get to the regions for bull elk. (See the Firearms and archery equip- Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-34 (CWMUs) are private lands that the landown- ment section that begins on page 42.) ers have opened to a small number of public and officers who are in the best position and private hunters. You may not hunt buck to respond.) We encourage you to report any New child support law pronghorn on a CWMU unless you obtain a buck pronghorn permit for that CWMU. poaching activities immediately and in effect on July 1 To learn more about hunting buck prong- truly appreciate your help in protecting In 2020, the Utah Legislature passed horn on CWMUs, read the article on page 40 Utah’s wildlife. H.B. 197, which places restrictions on and visit wildlife.utah.gov/cwmu. fishing and hunting license purchasers wildlife.utah.gov for nonpayment of child support. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2021. For additional information — or to arrange a “Buck pronghorn” means a pronghorn with horns that payment schedule — please contact the are longer than five inches (R657-5-2(2)(f)). Office of Recovery Services at 801-536- 8500. To hunt buck pronghorn, you must possess a buck pronghorn permit. If you obtain a buck pronghorn permit, you may not obtain any wildlife.utah.gov 28 29 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 at wildlife.utah.gov and at license agent loca- ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME HUNTS Report your harvest tions and Division offices. All of Utah’s bison, bull moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat permits are considered If you obtain an antlerless permit this Important: If you purchase a permit once-in-a-lifetime permits. That’s because you can draw a permit for each of these species year, don’t forget to complete a harvest for this hunt, you will forfeit any future op- only once in your lifetime. report after your hunt ends. portunities to apply for a bison permit in the within the area and the season listed on your Visit wildlife.utah.gov/harvest and big game drawing. You can, however, continue Bison hunting click the Report Your Harvest button near Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-38 permit. to purchase this permit annually as long as the If you obtained a cow bison permit, you the top of the page. Then, you can log in permit is offered. may use the weapon type listed on your per- and complete your harvest report. mit to take only a cow bison within the area If you prefer to complete your Bull moose hunting Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-37 and the season listed on your permit. harvest report over the phone, call Note: You may obtain only one bison per- 1-800-221-0659. mit—of any kind—during the 2021 season. Before the hunt begins, Utah State Parks Online orientation course will notify you about the date, time and loca- If you drew a cow bison permit, you must tion of the course. You’ll receive your permit complete the online orientation course located after you successfully complete the course. at wildlife.utah.gov/biggame. You’ll receive Because the Antelope Island hunt is ad- your permit after you successfully complete To hunt bison, you must possess a bison ministered by Utah State Parks, your hunt will Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field the course. permit. You may obtain a bison permit include some extra park-related fees. For more through the big game drawing only once in Antelope Island information, please call 801-725-9263. A “bull moose” is a moose that has antlers that are your lifetime. longer than its ears (R657-5-2(2)(h)). If you drew an Antelope Island bison Nine Mile bison opportunity If you obtained a hunter’s choice bison permit, the Utah Division of Parks and Recre- In 2020, the Utah Wildlife Board approved To hunt bull moose, you must possess permit, you may use the weapon type listed ation (Utah State Parks) may require you to a bison hunting opportunity for the Nine Mile a bull moose permit. You may obtain a bull on your permit to take one bison of either sex complete a course before you can hunt. unit. This unit is extraordinarily rugged and moose permit through the big game drawing difficult to access. The odds of a successful hunt only once in your lifetime. Possible changes to trail mer through the Regional Advisory Council are fairly low. Your bull moose permit allows you to use camera rules process. You will have an opportunity to Important: The boundary for this bison the weapon type listed on your permit to take At the direction of the Utah Legislature, voice your opinion about any proposed hunt (#BI6527) has changed in 2021. See one bull moose within the hunting unit and the Utah Wildlife Board will be considering changes. wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner for detailed season specified on your permit. possible changes to the state’s trail camera If board members choose to pass boundary information. Note: You may obtain only one moose rules in 2021. changes to Utah’s trail camera regula- Hunters who are willing to give up any permit—of any kind—during the 2021 The Division realizes this is a complex tions, those changes might go into effect future opportunities to apply for a bison per- season. before the hunts this fall. If that occurs, the issue—with evolving technologies—and mit in the big game drawing may purchase an CWMU bull moose hunts that people have strong feelings about Division will use multiple communication over-the-counter bison hunting permit for this Utah Admin. Rule R657-37

when, where and how trail cameras should channels—including email, news releases area. There is a mandatory online course before Cooperative Wildlife Management Units wildlife.utah.gov be used for scouting and hunting game and social media—to share information you can purchase a permit. The course explains (CWMUs) are private lands that the landown- animals. about the changes. the access issues in detail and is very direct in ers have opened to a limited number of public A public survey about trail cameras Visit wildlife.utah.gov/stay-connected. describing the challenges of the hunt. For ad- and private hunters. You may not hunt on a has been completed, and the Utah Wildlife html to sign up for email news updates and ditional details about this hunt and to take the bull moose CWMU unless you obtain a bull Board has asked the Division to propose to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram course, visit wildlife.utah.gov/biggame. moose permit for that CWMU. regulations for trail cameras. Those propos- and YouTube. Permits will be available for purchase To learn more about hunting bull moose als will go out for public feedback this sum- starting July 8, 2021. You can buy the permits on CWMUs, read the article on page 40 and wildlife.utah.gov visit wildlife.utah.gov/cwmu. 30 31 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Ram desert bighorn Ram desert bighorn sheep hunts and ram Mountain goat and ram Rocky Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep hunts are con- hunting Possible habitat work sidered separate once-in-a-lifetime hunts. For in your hunt area Mountain bighorn Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-40 example, if you obtain a ram desert bighorn Throughout the year, the Divi- sheep hunting sheep permit, and you’ve never obtained a ram sion works with other government Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-39 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit before, agencies—including the U.S. Forest you can continue applying for a ram Rocky Service and the Bureau of Land Manage- Mountain bighorn sheep permit. ment—to complete thousands of acres A hunter may obtain a maximum of one of habitat-improvement work on Utah’s Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit and one public lands. desert bighorn sheep permit in the same year, Those projects range from plant but both permits may not be obtained through removal to prescribed burns and from the big game drawing. helicopter reseeding to large-scale plant- A ram bighorn sheep permit allows you to ing projects. They help restore habitat for use the weapon type listed on your permit to To hunt a mountain goat, you must possess mule deer, elk, sage-grouse and other take one ram within the area and the season a mountain goat permit. species, giving them the food and cover A “ram” is a male desert bighorn sheep or a male specified on your permit. You may use the weapon listed on your they need to thrive on the landscape. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (R657-5-2(2)(q)). After taking your ram, you must bring its permit to take one mountain goat within the Please be aware that projects occur horns to a Division office within 72 hours of area and the season specified on your permit. across the state, year round. This means

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field To hunt a ram desert bighorn sheep or a leaving your hunting area. When you come to that sometimes a project may occur in ram Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, you must You may obtain a mountain goat permit the office, a Division staff person will perma- a portion of your hunt area, during the possess a permit for the species you wish to through the big game drawing only once in nently affix a numbered plug to the horn. This hunt. hunt (i.e., a ram desert bighorn sheep permit your lifetime. plug certifies that the sheep was taken legally. If this is something you’re concerned to hunt desert bighorn sheep, or a ram Rocky If you obtained a hunter’s choice mountain about, you may want to contact the Mountain bighorn sheep permit to hunt Rocky goat permit, you may use the weapon type land-management agency for your hunt Mountain bighorn sheep). listed on your permit to take one goat of either sex within the area and the season listed on area this summer. They may be able to give you a tentative list of projects for outside of Utah on federal orders your permit. New options for active, 2021, which will give you more informa- from military command If you obtained a female mountain goat deployed military tion in planning your hunt. personnel • Not have previously received a bonus permit, you may use the weapon type listed on your permit to take only a female goat within You can also see a list of past, current In 2020, the Utah Wildlife Board ap- or preference point for the species the area and the season listed on your permit. and proposed restoration projects at proved two proposals that provide new op- and hunt type in the same year Note: You may obtain only one mountain watershed.utah.gov. portunities for active, deployed members • Otherwise be eligible to receive a goat permit—of any kind—during the 2021 of the military. bonus or preference point season. If you qualify, you can now purchase • Pay a $10 application fee per point a bonus or preference point, even if received Online orientation course • Submit an application for the

you missed an application period while If you obtained a mountain goat permit, wildlife.utah.gov exemption to the Division no later deployed. And when you make that point you must complete the online orientation than Dec. 31 of the qualifying year of purchase, the Division will waive the re- course located at wildlife.utah.gov/biggame. being deployed quired combination or hunting license fee. You’ll receive your permit after you successfully For additional information and the To qualify for these exemptions, a military complete the course. member must: application form, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ • Be a resident of Utah military. • Be deployed for 90 days or longer wildlife.utah.gov 32 33 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 ANTLERLESS HUNTS Antlerless elk hunting Obtain three elk permits Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-33 You can obtain up to three elk permits in Utah offers antlerless hunts each year. These hunts help ensure that populations remain at Utah each year. sustainable, manageable levels, and they remove animals that pose depredation problems. • A maximum of one permit can be for a Depending on the permit you obtain, you could hunt antlerless deer, elk or moose, doe bull elk. pronghorn or ewe bighorn sheep. This section describes the species you can hunt, the • A maximum of one antlerless elk permit weapons you can use and the types of permits that are available. can be obtained through the antlerless Additional opportunity drawing. Antlerless deer • A maximum of two antlerless elk permits There is some flexibility if you are an ant- hunting can be obtained over the counter. lerless deer permit holder who also possesses Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-27 For the purposes of obtaining multiple a permit to hunt any one of the following elk permits, an archery elk permit (hunter’s seasons: An “antlerless elk” is an elk without antlers or with choice) is considered a bull elk permit. Likewise, • General-season buck deer (archery, antlers five inches or shorter (R657-5-2(2)(b)). general-season archery permits are also con- muzzleloader, any legal weapon or To hunt antlerless elk, you must possess an sidered bull elk permits. Antlerless elk-control dedicated hunter) antlerless elk permit. This permit allows you to or private-lands-only permits are considered • General-season bull elk (archery, use the legal weapon listed on your permit to antlerless permits. muzzleloader, any legal weapon or take one antlerless elk in the area and season You may apply for only one antlerless elk multi-season) specified on your permit. permit in the antlerless drawing.

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field • Premium limited-entry buck deer (ar- If you have an any legal weapon (rifle) If you do not obtain an antlerless elk chery, muzzleloader, any legal weapon An “antlerless deer” is a deer without antlers or with permit, you may use a crossbow, an airgun, a permit in the drawing, you may be eligible to antlers five inches or shorter (R657-5-2(2)(a)). or multi-season) draw lock or a muzzleloader with a magnifying purchase up to two antlerless elk permits over To hunt antlerless deer, you must possess • Limited-entry buck deer (archery, scope during the rifle hunt. the counter. an antlerless deer permit. A person may obtain muzzleloader, any legal weapon or You may not hunt antlerless elk on a Co- Over-the-counter antlerless elk permits only one antlerless deer permit or one two-doe multi-season) operative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) include all of the following: antlerless deer permit through the antlerless • Limited entry bull elk (archery, unless you obtain an antlerless elk permit for • Antlerless elk-control permits (for drawing. muzzleloader, any legal weapon or that CWMU. detailed information about these permits, An antlerless deer permit allows you to multi-season) see wildlife.utah.gov/antlerless-elk- use the legal weapon listed on your permit to • Antlerless elk control.html) take one antlerless deer in the area and season If your antlerless deer permit is for Antlerless season dates • Private-lands-only permits (for detailed specified on your permit. the same area as one of the permits listed online information about these permits, see A two-doe antlerless deer permit allows above—and you use the appropriate weapon To review the 2021 antlerless season wildlife.utah.gov/private-lands-only- you to use the legal weapon listed on your type specified for your current hunting sea- dates—as well as information about ant- permits.html) permit to take two antlerless deer in the area son—you may use your antlerless deer permit lerless hunting options, permit numbers, • Mitigation vouchers and season specified on your permit. during the season listed on your other permit. application dates, maps and hunt bound- • CWMU vouchers If you have an any legal weapon (rifle) If you harvest a buck deer, bull elk or ant- aries—visit wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks. • Any general-season permits that remain permit, you may use a crossbow, an airgun, a lerless elk—and you have an unfilled antler- These tools and resources will be available available after the antlerless drawing wildlife.utah.gov draw lock or a muzzleloader with a magnifying less deer permit—you may continue hunting online by May 20, one week before the Please keep in mind that both antlerless scope during the rifle hunt. antlerless deer during the buck deer, bull elk antlerless application period begins. elk-control and private-lands-only permits have You may not hunt antlerless deer on a or antlerless elk season listed on your other You can apply for antlerless permits special usage requirements. Do not purchase Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) permit. However, you may not use a permit for from May 27 to June 17, 2021. either of the permits until you understand and unless you obtain an antlerless deer permit for a buck deer or bull elk during the antlerless For more information on the antlerless can meet those requirements. that CWMU. season, unless it’s during the timeframe when application period, see page 13. You may obtain only one antlerless deer the two seasons overlap. permit for the 2021 antlerless season. wildlife.utah.gov 34 35 muzzleloader, any legal weapon or If you obtain a doe pronghorn permit, you If you already have a 2021 moose permit, Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Hunter Mentoring multi-season) may not obtain any other pronghorn permit you may not apply for or obtain an antlerless program • Antlerless deer or elk, excluding antler- except one that’s issued to address a depreda- moose permit or bonus point. The Utah Hunter Mentoring program less elk-control permits tion situation. You may not hunt antlerless moose on allows any qualifying adult to share their If your antlerless elk permit is for the same A doe pronghorn permit allows you to use a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit hunting permits with resident youth. area as one of the permits listed above—and the legal weapon listed on your permit to take (CWMU) unless you obtain an antlerless moose Permits that are eligible for sharing you use the appropriate weapon type specified one doe pronghorn in the area and season permit for that CWMU. under the Hunter Mentoring program for your current hunting season—you may use specified on your permit. include all big game permits as well your antlerless permit during the season dates A two-doe pronghorn permit allows you to Ewe bighorn sheep as black bear, cougar, turkey, greater authorized for your other permit. use the legal weapon listed on your permit to hunting sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse Please keep in mind, you may continue to take two doe pronghorn in the area and season Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-39.5 permits. Only swan and sandhill crane hunt for antlerless elk during the season dates specified on your permit. permits may not be shared because listed on your buck or bull permit, even after If you have an any legal weapon (rifle) they are subject to conflicting federal you have harvested your buck or bull. However, permit, you may use a crossbow, an airgun, a regulations. you may not use a permit for a buck deer or draw lock or a muzzleloader with a magnifying To learn more about program bull elk during the antlerless season, unless it’s scope during the rifle hunt. eligibility and requirements and to during the timeframe when the two seasons If you already have a 2021 pronghorn download the application form, visit overlap. permit, you may not apply for a doe pronghorn wildlife.utah.gov/mentoring. If you obtain two antlerless elk permits for permit or preference point. Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field the same area—but the permits are for differ- You may not hunt doe pronghorn on a Co- The units where you can use these permits ent seasons—you may harvest both elk during operative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) unless you obtain a doe pronghorn permit for A “ewe” is a female bighorn sheep or any bighorn may change every year. (For example, the same season. sheep younger than one year of age (R657-5-2(2)(m)). the South Slope, Yellowstone unit is not an that CWMU. antlerless elk-control unit this year.) See the Doe pronghorn Hunters will have the relatively new option map on page 61 to view all of the antlerless hunting Antlerless moose of applying for ewe bighorn sheep permits elk-control units. Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-35 hunting in 2021. For details, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-36 guidebooks in late May to research antlerless Additional opportunity hunting options and application information. There is some flexibility if you are an To hunt either a ewe desert bighorn sheep antlerless elk permit holder who also possesses or a ewe Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, you a permit to hunt any one of the following must possess a permit for the species you wish seasons: to hunt (i.e., a ewe desert bighorn sheep per- • General-season buck deer (archery, mit to hunt female desert bighorn sheep, or a muzzleloader, any legal weapon or ewe Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit to dedicated hunter) hunt female Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep). • General-season bull elk (archery, A “doe pronghorn” is a pronghorn without horns or A ewe bighorn sheep permit allows you to muzzleloader, any legal weapon or with horns five inches or shorter (R657-5-2(2)(j)). An “antlerless moose” is a moose without antlers or use the weapon type listed on your permit to wildlife.utah.gov multi-season) with antlers shorter than its ears (R657-5-2(2)(c)). take one ewe within the area and the season • Premium limited-entry buck deer (ar- To hunt a doe pronghorn, you must possess specified on your permit. chery, muzzleloader, any legal weapon or either a doe pronghorn permit or a two-doe To hunt antlerless moose, you must first If you obtain a ewe permit, you may multi-season) pronghorn permit. A person may obtain only obtain an antlerless moose permit. This permit not hunt desert bighorn or Rocky Mountain • Limited-entry buck deer (archery, one doe pronghorn permit or one two-doe allows you to use any legal weapon to take bighorn sheep during any other sheep hunt muzzleloader, any legal weapon or pronghorn permit through the antlerless one antlerless moose in the area and season or obtain any other sheep permit during that multi-season) drawing. specified on your permit. hunt year. • Limited entry bull elk (archery, wildlife.utah.gov 36 37 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 PERMIT SURRENDERS, REFUNDS AND Dedicated Hunters Exchanging a permit If you’re enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter You may exchange your general-season EXCHANGES program, and you decide to surrender your buck deer permit for one that’s available in Utah Code § 23-19-38 & Utah Admin. Rule R657-42-4 permit, you must return it to the Division another unit, but it must be for the same What happens if you obtain a permit and then realize you won’t be able to use it? You have a few before Aug. 21, 2021 (the day the general- species and sex. For example, you cannot options, some of which have recently changed. season archery deer hunt opens). exchange a buck deer permit for a bull elk Groups permit. Surrendering a permit Private landowner and You may also exchange your general- If you need to surrender your permit—and How permit surrender affects a CWMU permit holders season bull elk permit for another available your hunting season hasn’t started—you group’s bonus and preference points If you obtain a limited-entry landowner general-season bull elk permit. For example, should consider surrendering the permit as soon Reminder: If you obtain a permit through permit or a private CWMU permit, you can you could exchange an any bull elk permit for as possible. If you surrender early enough, you’ll a group application—and then you decide to surrender it. a spike bull elk permit, if a spike bull permit be able to keep your bonus points or preference surrender it—you will not have your bonus Limited-entry private landowner permits was available. points and avoid a waiting period. or preference points reinstated unless your must be surrendered before the season the You may also exchange a general-season Reminder: If you want to surrender your entire group meets the following conditions: permit was issued for opens. bull elk permit to obtain an available bull big game permit, you are strongly encouraged • All group members must surrender their To surrender a private CWMU permit, there elk permit for a different weapon type. For to do so at least 30 days before the sea- permits are two options. If possible, you should sur- example, you could exchange a general- son opens. The surrender process has changed • Permit surrenders must occur at least 30 render your CWMU permit before the CWMU season any legal weapon bull elk permit for a and could result in the loss of previously accrued days before the start of the season season opening dates listed on page 41. To general-season archery bull elk permit.

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field bonus or preference points. Learn more below Note: Even if you meet the above condi- surrender your permit after the CWMU season Any exchange must occur at a Division or visit wildlife.utah.gov/refund. tions, you will not earn a point for the current has started, but before you hunt, you and the office, before the season opening date on the Individuals year. CWMU operator must both sign an affidavit permit you originally obtained. Important: If some of your group stating that you did not hunt with the permit. You must also pay a $10 handling fee to How permit surrender affects an indi- members surrender their permits less than Both of the signatures must be notarized. exchange a permit. vidual’s bonus and preference points 30 days from the season opener, all group After the signatures are notarized, submit Reminder: If you surrender a big game members will lose all of their bonus or prefer- the affidavit and the unused permit to the Duplicate licenses permit at least 30 days before the start of the ence points. Division. Utah Code § 23-19-10 & Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-5 season, you’ll get all of your previously accrued Members of the group may not surrender If your unexpired license or permit is bonus or preference points for that species/per- their permits individually unless the surrender Obtaining a refund destroyed, lost or stolen, you can obtain a du- mit back, but you will not earn a point for the occurs because of: The Division rarely issues refunds for plicate from a Division office or a license agent current year. Important: If you surrender • Activation in the military permits, licenses or certificates of registration, for $10 or half of the price of the original a big game permit less than 30 days • An injury/illness that will prevent the but there are some exceptions. To see if you’re license or permit, whichever is less. before the season opens, you will lose individual from hunting eligible for a refund, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ If you drew a license or permit, but you all of your previously accrued bonus or • Death refund. never received it, the Division may waive the preference points for that species/per- Reminder: If you are eligible for a fee that you would normally have to pay to mit and you will not earn a point for the How permit surrender affects waiting refund, you must submit all required forms get a duplicate.

current year. periods and accompanying paperwork within 90 days Keep in mind that you can also use the wildlife.utah.gov As long as you surrender a big game permit If members of a group surrender their of the season ending in order to qualify for a Utah Hunting and Fishing app to legally carry before the season opens, any applicable waiting permits before the season begins, the waiting full refund. hunting or combination licenses on a phone period(s) will be waived. period will be waived. General-season permits or tablet for all the members of your family. are not subject to waiting periods. To download the app, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ mobileapp. wildlife.utah.gov 38 39 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 COOPERATIVE WILDLIFE feel that you haven’t received equal Hunt Dates treatment, please contact your regional MANAGEMENT UNITS Division office. Muzzleloader hunts for Sept. 1–Oct. 31, buck deer 2021 Utah Admin. Rule R657-37 • A copy of the CWMU’s rules. CWMUs are More than 60 percent of the rangelands that Utah’s big game animals rely on in the winter are on allowed to develop rules of conduct for Muzzleloader hunts for Sept. 1–Oct. 31, private land. Utah’s Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) program works with landown- their unit. Examples of these rules may bull elk 2021 ers to preserve these lands, improve the habitat and provide more access to public hunters. include: no preseason scouting; checking into and out of the unit daily; limited Some deer and elk CWMUs have hunting (Please allow 10 to 14 days for processing.) How the program works vehicle access; no overnight camping; seasons outside of these timeframes. For all If you obtain a CWMU permit, you may The CWMU program provides landowners a marksmanship test; and limiting the CWMU hunt season dates, operator names hunt only on the CWMU that’s specified on with an economic incentive to keep their pri- number of hunting companions. If you and contact numbers, visit wildlife.utah.gov/ your permit. You may take only one animal of vate range and forest lands as wildlife habitat fail to abide by these rules, you might be CWMU. instead of developing them. the species and sex listed on the permit. You’ll asked to leave the CWMU. You can also CWMUs comprise more than two million also incur a waiting period for the species review these rules online at wildlife.utah. Reporting your harvest acres of land in Utah. They’ll provide more than you obtained a permit for. (Please see pages gov/cwmu. success 4,500 big game and antlerless hunting permits 20–21 in the 2021 Utah Big Game Application If you obtain a CWMU permit for an in 2021. Approximately one-third of those Guidebook for more information about waiting Season dates antlered animal, you must report information permits are available to the general public periods.) The Utah Wildlife Board has established about your hunt within 30 days after it ends. through the state’s big game drawing. You may not obtain more than one moose, timeframes for hunting on CWMUs (see chart Please see page 20 for more information

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field Hunting on CWMUs provides both public one buck deer or one bull elk permit in a to the right). Within these timeframes, hunters about this important requirement. and private hunters with several advantages. year, but you can obtain antlerless deer and should expect to hunt at least five days for Among those advantages are a better chance antlerless elk permits as well as buck and doe bucks/bulls and three days for antlerless big Complaint process to take an animal and fewer hunters to pronghorn permits. More information about game. If you wish to lodge a complaint against compete with. antlerless permits is available on page 13. Please remember that Sunday does not a CWMU, you should contact the Division of Important: CWMU landowner as- count as part of the established hunting time- Wildlife Resources immediately. Biologists Obtaining a CWMU permit sociation members and operators—and their frame unless mutually agreed upon by both and conservation officers can supply you If you’re a Utah resident, there are two spouses and dependent children—cannot the hunter and the CWMU operator. with a complaint form, or you can make the ways to obtain a CWMU permit: you can apply apply for their own CWMU permits in the The CWMU operator may also allow you complaint in person or over the telephone. You for one in the state’s public drawing, or you can public drawing. to hunt additional days within the listed and the operator should make every effort to obtain a permit voucher from the landowner or timeframes. resolve your issues before they escalate to the operator of the CWMU you want to hunt. How to participate Before you apply for a CWMU permit, con- Division level. If you’re not a resident of Utah, you can- If you draw a permit to hunt a CWMU, it tact the operator to obtain general information If your problem cannot be resolved locally, not apply for a CWMU permit in the public is your responsibility to contact the CWMU about hunt dates, permitted weapons and it may be passed on to a CWMU Advisory Com- drawing. You can, however, obtain a permit operator to obtain the following: other rules. If you draw a permit, it is your mittee for review and possible action. voucher directly from the CWMU landowner • The dates you’ll be allowed to hunt responsibility to contact the CWMU operator to or operator. within the legal CWMU hunting season confirm your season dates. Learn more If you obtain a CWMU voucher, you can re- framework. Both you and the opera- To learn more about the CWMU program deem it for a permit by visiting wildlifelicense. tor must schedule around each of your Hunt Dates or to view maps of CWMU properties, visit wildlife.utah.gov utah.gov/hflo. individual needs—please be realistic Archery hunts for buck Aug. 21–Oct. 31, wildlife.utah.gov/CWMU. You can also redeem the voucher at any and patient. deer, buck pronghorn 2021 Division office or by mailing the voucher to: • A map of the CWMU, including access and bull elk CWMU Front Desk points. The CWMU will provide public Any legal weapon Sept. 1–Oct. 31, Division of Wildlife Resources hunters access to the entire CWMU, (rifle) hunts for buck 2021 P.O. Box 146301 except for areas that are closed to deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk and bull moose Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6301 both public and private hunters. If you wildlife.utah.gov 40 41 These restrictions do not apply to laser Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 FIELD REGULATIONS Are you allowed to Several rules have been established to regulate big game hunting in Utah. These rules range-finding devices or illuminated sight pins for archery equipment. possess a weapon? exist to ensure big game animals are hunted ethically and to help keep you safe in the Utah Code §§ 76-10-503 and 76-10-512 field. Please be familiar with the requirements for carrying and using firearms and archery Rifles, airguns, shotguns It is illegal under Utah Code §§ tackle. You should also know the different types of hunting methods that may and may not and crossbows 76-10-503 and 76-10-512 to possess or be used and what you’re required to do with any big game animal you take. Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-8 use a firearm, muzzleloader or any other You may use a rifle or shotgun to hunt big dangerous weapon if you have been Hunting hours and equipment used for hunting. You should game, but your firearm and ammunition must charged or convicted of certain offenses. Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-6 expect to encounter conservation officers and meet the following requirements: The purchase or possession of any You may take big game animals from 30 biologists checking hunters in the field and at • Your rifle must fire centerfire cartridges hunting license, permit, tag or certificate minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes checkpoints. and expanding bullets. of registration from the Division does not after official sunset. If you’re contacted by a conservation • Your shotgun must be 20 gauge or larger, authorize the holder to legally possess or officer, you must provide the officer with the and you may use only slug ammunition use a firearm, muzzleloader or any other Requirement to wear items he or she requests, including any licenses or buckshot that’s 00 or larger in size. dangerous weapon while hunting if they hunter orange and permits required for hunting, any devices You may only use an airgun or crossbow to are otherwise restricted from possessing Utah Code § 23-20-31 used to participate in hunting and any game take big game if you have an any legal weapon these weapons under Utah Code. You must wear a minimum of 400 square you’ve taken. These contacts allow the Division permit. You may not use an airgun or cross- To determine whether you are inches of hunter orange material on your head, to collect valuable information about Utah’s bow to take big game if you have an archery or allowed to possess a weapon, please

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field chest and back while hunting any species of big game animals. muzzleloader permit. (Please see Utah Admin. review the Utah Code sections listed big game, unless you are involved in one of the Rule R657-12-8 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5- above or contact the law enforcement following types of hunts: Firearms and archery 11 for exceptions to this rule. ) agency that oversees your case. • Participating in a once-in-a-lifetime, equipment If you use an airgun to hunt big game, that statewide conservation or statewide airgun must: sportsman hunt Prohibited weapons • Be pneumatically powered are at least 7/8-inch wide at the widest • Participating in an archery, muzzleloader Utah Code §§ 23-20-3 and 23-13-18 and Utah Admin. Rule point when the broadhead is in the open R657-5-7 • Be pressurized solely through a separate or HAMS hunt outside of an area where a position You may only use firearms and archery charging device general-season any legal weapon bull elk It is unlawful for any person to: tackle that are expressly permitted in this • Only fire a bolt or arrow or general-season any legal weapon buck • Hunt big game with an airgun or guidebook. Your arrows or bolts must be at least 16 deer hunt is occurring crossbow during a big game archery While hunting big game, you may not use: inches long and travel at least 400 feet per • Hunting on a cooperative wildlife man- hunt, except as provided in R657-12-8 • A firearm that’s capable of being fired second at the muzzle. They must also have ei- agement unit (CWMU), unless hunter and R657-5-11. fully automatic ther a fixed broadhead that is at least 7/8-inch orange is otherwise required by the • Carry a cocked crossbow containing an • Any light-enhancement device or aiming wide at the widest point or an expandable, operator of the CWMU arrow or a bolt while in or on any motor- device that casts a visible beam of light mechanical broadhead that is at least 7/8-inch • Participating in urban deer removal, as ized vehicle on a public highway or other • A firearm equipped with a computerized wide at the widest point when the broadhead authorized by Utah Admin. Rule R657-65. public right-of-way, except as provided targeting system that marks a target, is in the open position. A crossbow used to hunt big game must in R657-12-4. calculates a firing solution and automati- wildlife.utah.gov Checkpoints and have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds • Hunt any protected wildlife with a cally discharges the firearm at a point crossbow bolt that has any chemical, officer contacts calculated most likely to hit the acquired and a positive mechanical safety mechanism. Utah Code §§ 23-20-25 and 77-23-104 explosive or electronic device attached. target A crossbow arrow or bolt used to hunt big To help the Division fulfill its responsibil- A crossbow used to hunt big game during • A computer or other device to remotely game must be at least 16 inches long and have ity as trustee and custodian of Utah’s wildlife, an any legal weapon hunt may have a fixed or control the aiming and discharge of a at least one of the following: Division conservation officers and biologists variable magnifying scope. firearm or other weapon for hunting an • Fixed broadheads that are at least 7/8- monitor the taking and possession of big game animal. inch wide at the widest point animals and the required permits, firearms • Expandable, mechanical broadheads that wildlife.utah.gov 42 43 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Handguns • It can be loaded only from the muzzle. • Livestock owners who are protecting Please remember that your bow may be Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-9 • It may have open sights, peep sights or a their livestock equipped with a range-finding device. Also, if You may use a handgun to take big game variable- or fixed-power scope, including • Individuals who are carrying a concealed you carry arrows in or on a vehicle, the arrows animals, but the handgun must be a minimum a magnifying scope. weapon (You may not use your con- must be in an arrow quiver or a closed case. of .24 caliber and must fire a centerfire cartridge • It can have only one barrel, and the barrel cealed firearm to hunt or take protected If you obtain an archery permit—for with an expanding bullet. must be at least 18 inches long. wildlife.) either an archery-only season or a once-in-a- If you’re hunting deer or pronghorn, the • It cannot be capable of firing more than lifetime hunt—you may use only the archery handgun must develop at least 500 foot-pounds once without being reloaded. Archery equipment equipment authorized in this section to take Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-11 of energy at the muzzle. • The powder and bullet—or powder, the species listed on the permit. Archery equipment may be used during Reminder: If you have a handgun- sabot and bullet—cannot be bonded You may not possess or be in control of a any big game hunt except the muzzleloader archery-muzzleloader-shotgun-only permit to together as one unit for loading. rifle, shotgun, airgun, muzzleloader, crossbow hunt. hunt deer, there are other handgun regulations • It must be loaded with black powder or draw-lock while in the field during an To hunt big game with archery equipment, you must follow. For details, see page 21. or a black powder substitute. The black archery hunt. For the purposes of this section, your equipment must meet all of the following If you’re hunting elk, moose, bison, bighorn powder or black powder substitute can- “field” means a location where you are likely to requirements: sheep or mountain goat, the handgun must not contain smokeless powder, but may find the species listed on your permit. (You are • Your bow must have a minimum pull develop at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at contain some nitrocellulose. not considered to be in the field if you are in an of 30 pounds at the draw or the peak, 100 yards. • To hunt big game, you must use a lead established camping area or traveling in a fully whichever comes first. or expanding bullet or projectile that’s at enclosed automobile or truck.) • Your arrowheads must have two or more Muzzleloaders least 40 caliber in size. This restriction does not apply to the fol-

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-10 sharp-cutting edges that cannot pass • If you’re hunting deer or pronghorn, your lowing people: Muzzleloaders may be used during any big through a 7/8 inch ring. If you’re using bullet must be 130 grains or heavier, or • Hunters who are lawfully hunting upland game hunt, except the archery hunt. To hunt big expanding arrowheads, the arrowheads your sabot must be 170 grains or heavier. game or waterfowl game with a muzzleloader, your muzzleloader must have two or more sharp-cutting • If you’re hunting elk, moose, bison, • Hunters who are licensed to hunt big must meet all of the following requirements: edges that cannot pass through a 7/8 bighorn sheep or mountain goat, you game species during rifle or muzzle- inch ring when expanded. must use a 210-grain or heavier bullet, or loader hunts that coincide with the • Your arrows must be at least 20 inches a sabot bullet that’s at least 240 grains. archery hunt Hunters with long, from the tip of the arrowhead to If you obtain a muzzleloader permit, you • Livestock owners who are protecting disabilities the tip of the nock. may use only the muzzleloader equipment their livestock Utah Admin. Rule R657-12 You may not use any of the following authorized in this section to take the species • Individuals who are carrying a concealed Utah provides special hunting ac- equipment to take big game during the listed on the permit. weapon (You may not use your con- commodations for people with disabili- archery season: You may not possess or be in control of a cealed firearm to hunt or take protected ties. These accommodations include the • A crossbow or airgun (Please see Utah rifle or shotgun while in the field during the wildlife.) opportunity to hunt with a companion, Admin. Rule R657-12 and Utah Admin. muzzleloader hunt. For the purposes of this use a crossbow, hunt from a vehicle, use Rule R657-5-11 for exceptions to this section, “field” means a location where you are Loaded firearms in a a draw lock and use a scope on archery rule.) likely to find the species listed on your permit. vehicle equipment. • Arrows with chemically treated or (You are not considered to be in the field if you Utah Code §§§§ 76-10-502, 76-10-504, 76-10-505 and Hunters with disabilities may also explosive arrowheads 76-10-523 are in an established camping area or traveling wildlife.utah.gov apply for an extension to their season • A mechanical device that holds the bow You may not carry a loaded firearm in or on in a fully enclosed automobile or truck.) This if they have a 2021 big game hunting at any increment of draw (Please see a vehicle unless you meet all of the following restriction does not apply to the following permit in their possession and they meet Utah Admin. Rule R657-12 and Utah conditions: people: certain criteria. Admin. Rule R657-5-11 for exceptions to • You own the vehicle or have permission • Hunters who are lawfully hunting upland To learn more about hunting accom- this rule.) from the vehicle’s owner. game or waterfowl modations for people with disabilities, • A release aid that is not handheld or that • The firearm is a handgun. • Hunters who are licensed to hunt big please visit wildlife.utah.gov/disabled or supports the draw weight of the bow • You are 18 years of age or older. game species during archery or rifle hunts call any Division office. • A bow with a magnifying-aiming device A pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun is wildlife.utah.gov that coincide with the muzzleloader hunt 44 45 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 weapon or firearm under any of the following State waterfowl Native American trust Utah’s Walk-in Access circumstances: management areas lands Program • From a vehicle In 2021, you may hunt big game during To hunt on Native American trust lands, Utah Admin. Rule R657-56-13 • From, upon or across any highway the archery season on the following waterfowl you must obtain a permit from the Native The Walk-in Access (WIA) program • At power lines or signs management areas: Bicknell Bottoms, Browns American tribe that owns the land. You must provides hunters, anglers and trappers • At railroad equipment or facilities, Park, Clear Lake, Desert Lake, Locomotive also observe all of the tribe’s wildlife regula- access to privately owned land, streams, including any sign or signal Springs and Redmond. tions while hunting on these trust lands. rivers, ponds or reservoirs. • Within Utah state park camp or picnic You may hunt big game during the If you use Utah’s Walk-in Access (WIA) sites, overlooks, golf courses, boat ramps archery, muzzleloader and any legal weapon Military installations properties, remember to obtain your or developed beaches seasons on the Stewart Lake Waterfowl All of the military installations in Utah, annual WIA authorization number. • Without written permission from the Management Area. including Camp Williams, are closed to hunting The Division issues authorization owner or property manager, within 600 All of Utah’s other waterfowl management and trespassing unless you have authorized numbers to track the use of WIA proper- feet of: areas are closed to big game hunting. permission. ties throughout the year and to assess • A house, dwelling or any other the program’s value to the public. building State parks Salt Lake County To view maps of the Salt Lake County areas To obtain your authorization number, • Any structure in which a domestic Utah Code § 76-10-508 and Utah Admin. Rule R651-614-4 listed below, visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplan- visit wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess and animal is kept or fed, including a Hunting of wildlife is allowed within the ner. These areas have various restrictions, and click “Authorization numbers.” Follow the barn, poultry yard, corral, feeding boundaries of all state park areas, except you may not do any of the following: instructions and obtain your number. pen or stockyard those areas and hunts specifically closed by the Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field You can also request a number by calling Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation in • Hunt big game within one-half mile of 1-800-221-0659. Carrying a dangerous Utah Admin. Rule R651-614. For more informa- Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Also, remember that WIA properties weapon while under the tion, visit stateparks.utah.gov/resources/ • Hunt on the Red Butte Research Natural are private land and may have special influence of alcohol or hunting-at-state-park. Area, which is closed to public access. restrictions on season dates, allowable drugs State laws regarding the possession and • Hunt in Emigration Township with a rifle activities, species and weapon types. Visit Utah Code § 76-10-528 discharge of dangerous weapons apply in state or muzzleloader. This area is restricted wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess for details. You may not carry a dangerous weapon park areas open to hunting. For information to archery tackle only. Visit wildlife. or hunt big game while under the influence about discharging a dangerous weapon or utah.gov/huntplanner to view a map of the archery-only area in Emigration considered to be loaded when there is an of alcohol or drugs. Please see Utah Code § firearm in a state park, see the Areas where Township. unexpended cartridge, shell or projectile in the 76-10-528 at wildlife.utah.gov/rules for more you cannot discharge a firearm section above or • Hunt within the portion of Alta that is firing position. information. review Utah Code § 76-10-508. closed to hunting. Please contact the Pistols and revolvers are also considered National wildlife refuges town of Alta for hunt boundaries and to be loaded when an unexpended cartridge, Areas with special The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has other information. shell or projectile is in a position whereby the restrictions expanded general-season archery hunting • Hunt buck deer or bull elk with a rifle or manual operation of any mechanism once Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-12 opportunities for mule deer and pronghorn muzzleloader south of I-80 and east of would cause the unexpended cartridge, shell The following areas have certain restric- on the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge. I-15 (see map online at wildlife.utah.gov/ or projectile to be fired. tions. Please be familiar with them before heading into the field. For details, visit the refuge website at go.usa. huntplanner). A muzzleloading firearm is considered wildlife.utah.gov gov/xHpsz. Also, before hunting in the Salt Lake loaded when it is capped or primed and has a Counties and local County area, please check the Salt Lake County powder charge and ball or shot in the barrel or National parks and municipalities and local municipality ordinances regarding cylinders. Please check county and local municipal- monuments firearm and hunting restrictions. All of Utah’s national parks and monu- Areas where you cannot ity ordinances regarding firearm restrictions before hunting in these areas. ments—except the Grand Staircase-Escalante discharge a firearm and Bears Ears national monuments—are Utah Code § 76-10-508 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-12 closed to hunting. You may not discharge a dangerous wildlife.utah.gov 46 47 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 CWMUs and limited-entry orange or fluorescent paint—are clearly units Obtain permission to displayed at all corners, on fishing streams No drones allowed Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-14 There are a few restrictions that apply to hunt private property crossing property lines, and on roads, gates Although drones are growing in pop- CWMUs and limited-entry hunting units: The Division cannot guarantee access and rights-of-way entering the land. Or, they ularity, it is illegal to use them to scout or • You may not hunt on a CWMU unless to private land, and the agency does not are displayed in a manner that is visible to a hunt big game from 48 hours before any you obtain a permit to hunt a particular have the names of landowners who own person in the area. big game hunt begins through 48 hours species on that CWMU. property where hunts occur. You may not post private property you after any big game hunting season ends. • Archery hunters may not kill a cow elk on Under certain circumstances, you do not own or legally control or land that is the Book Cliffs hunting unit. must obtain written permission from open to the public as provided by Utah Code the landowner or the landowner’s § 23-21-4. In addition, it is unlawful to take have any of the following weapons in your Scott M. Matheson authorized representative before hunting protected wildlife or its parts while trespassing possession: Wetlands Preserve or trapping on private lands. Ideally, you in violation of Utah Code § 23-20-14. • Rifle You may use only archery equipment, should have permission before you You are guilty of a class B misdemeanor • Shotgun muzzleloaders or shotguns while hunting on apply for or obtain a permit. if you violate any provision described in this • Archery equipment the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve. If you obtain written permission in section. Your license, tag or permit privileges • Airgun advance, you know you’ll be able to use may also be suspended. • Crossbow Green River—Jensen, the permit if you draw it. • Muzzleloader Utah You can find and download a land- Prohibited hunting The use of a spotlight or other artificial You may not discharge a firearm, except owner permission card at wildlife.utah. methods light in any area where protected wildlife are Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field a shotgun or a muzzleloader, from, upon or gov/permission. Utah Code §§§§ 23-20-3, 23-16, 76-10-504, 76-10-523 and generally found is considered probable cause of across the Green River near Jensen, Utah (from Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-13 attempting to locate protected wildlife. the bridge on US-40 upstream to the Dinosaur directed not to do so by the owner or a The provisions of this section do not apply National Monument boundary). Baiting (new this year) person acting for the owner In 2021, the Utah Legislature passed a to the use of the headlights of a motor vehicle, • Obstruct any entrance or exit to private new law (H.B. 295 Wildlife Modifications) that illuminated sight pins on a bow or other arti- Motorized vehicle ficial light in a usual manner where there is no access on wildlife property prohibits the baiting of big game for hunting “Cultivated land” is land that is readily purposes throughout Utah. (See the full defini- attempt or intent to locate protected wildlife. management areas identifiable as land whose soil is loosened or tions of “bait” and “baited area” on page 62.) In addition, the above restrictions do not Utah Admin. Rule R657-6-14 broken up for the raising of crops, land used apply to concealed firearm carriers, provided Motorized vehicle travel on state wildlife Unless you have special permission from for the raising of crops, or a pasture that is the Division—in the form of a certificate of the person is not using the concealed firearm to management areas is restricted to county artificially irrigated. hunt or take wildlife. roads, parking areas, and areas marked or registration—it is now unlawful to do any of “Permission” means written authorization the following: posted open to motorized vehicle travel. from the owner or person in charge to enter Use of vehicle or aircraft • Bait big game for hunting purposes Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-14 Seasonal closures may occur. upon private land that is cultivated or properly • Take big game in a baited area You may not use an airplane, drone or posted. Permission must include all of the • Take big game that has been lured to or any other airborne vehicle or device, or any Trespassing following details: Utah Code §§ 23-20-14 and 23-20-3.5 is traveling from a baited area motorized terrestrial or aquatic vehicle (except a • The signature of the owner or person in While taking wildlife or engaging in If you have questions about this new law, vessel)—including snowmobiles and other rec- charge wildlife.utah.gov wildlife-related activities, you may not—with- please see our FAQ document, which will be reational vehicles—to take protected wildlife, • The name of the person being given out written permission—enter or remain on located at wildlife.utah.gov/biggame by late including big game. permission privately owned land that is: July or contact your local Division office. (See Also, you may not take protected wildlife • The appropriate dates • Cultivated the list of Division offices on page 2.) that are being chased, harmed, harassed, ral- • A general description of the land • Properly posted lied, herded, flushed, pursued or moved by an • Fenced or enclosed in a manner designed You can find an authorization form online Spotlighting You may not use a spotlight, headlight aircraft or any other vehicle or transportation to exclude intruders at wildlife.utah.gov/permission. or other artificial light to take or locate any device. In addition, you may not: “Properly posted” means that signs wildlife.utah.gov protected wildlife (including big game) if you • Enter or remain on private land when prohibiting trespass—or bright yellow, bright 48 49 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 In addition, you may not use any type of air- a graded or otherwise mechanically improved indicate the date the animal was taken and animal you harvested and you have a valid per- craft—from 48 hours before any big game hunt surface free of barriers or other hazards that is the sex of the animal. Then, attach the tag to mit that corresponds to the tag on the animal. begins in the area where you are flying through traditionally used by pilots for the purposes of the animal so that the tag remains securely The tag must be attached to the largest por- 48 hours after any big game hunting season ends air travel. fastened and visible. tion of the carcass. in the area where you are flying—to locate, You may not remove more than one notch If you didn’t harvest the animal, you must or attempt to observe or locate, any protected Use of dogs indicating the date or sex, or tag more than obtain a shipping permit from the Division be- Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-15 wildlife. one animal, using the same tag. Also, you may Dogs may not be used to take, chase, harm fore taking the animal or its parts out of Utah. The provisions of this section do not apply not hunt or pursue big game after any of the or harass big game. You may, however, use one to the operation of an aircraft, drone or other notches have been removed from the tag or Bringing big game into blood-trailing dog—controlled by leash—to airborne vehicle or device used for the purposes the tag has been detached from your permit. Utah track wounded animals and aid in recovery. You of transporting hunters, equipment or legally Your tag must remain with the largest por- Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-42 may only use the tracking dog within 72 hours harvested wildlife, provided the aircraft takes off tion of the animal’s meat until all of the meat Reminder: It is unlawful to import dead of shooting a big game animal and during law- and lands only from an improved airstrip, where has been eaten. elk, moose, mule deer or white-tailed deer— ful hunting hours. there is no attempt or intent to locate protected or their parts—from any state or province that Transporting big game has deer or elk diagnosed with chronic wasting wildlife. Party hunting Hunters who are transported by aircraft into Utah Code § 23-19-1 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-15 within Utah disease, except the following portions of the an area may not hunt protected wildlife until the You may not take a big game animal for Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-18 carcass: You must obey the following rules to following day. another person. For example, you cannot kill • Meat that is cut and wrapped, either transport big game in Utah: For the purposes of this section, “improved a big game animal, and then tag the animal commercially or privately

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field • The head or sex organs of the animal airstrip” means a take-off and landing area with with a tag that belongs to one of your hunting • Quarters or other portions of meat (no you’ve taken must remain attached to companions. This practice is called “party hunt- part of the spinal column or head may be the largest portion of its carcass. ing,” and it’s illegal. attached to the meat) • If you take an elk on a spike bull unit, Finding a skull with The only exception to this rule is if a mentor • Meat that is boned out the antlers must remain attached to antlers or horns shares a permit and tag with a minor as part of • Hides with no heads attached the animal’s skull plate, and you must attached the Hunter Mentoring program. For details on • Skulls with antlers attached, so long as transport the skull plate and antlers with If you find a skull with the antlers this program, please see the box on page 37. all brain matter and spinal column mate- the carcass. or horns still attached, it’s possible the rial is removed • You must accompany the carcass of animal was poached. Do NOT pick Big game contests • Antlers with no meat or tissue attached Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-16 any big game animal you’ve harvested, up or move the skull, or disturb • Upper canine teeth (also known as You may not enter a contest or hold a and you must have a valid permit that any footprints or other evidence. buglers, whistlers or ivories) contest that is based on big game or its parts corresponds to the tag that’s attached to Instead, we encourage you to take the • Finished taxidermy heads and that offers cash or prizes totaling more than the carcass. following steps: You can learn which areas in North America $500. There is one exception to this rule: you • Take photos of the skull from a have been diagnosed with chronic wasting may transport a big game animal you did couple of angles disease (CWD) by visiting wildlife.utah.gov/cwd Tagging, transporting not take if you obtain a shipping permit or a • Pinpoint the location of the skull or any Division office. disposal receipt from the Division, or you have (preferably its GPS coordinates) and exporting big If you’re not a resident of Utah, you can a donation slip. You may not donate big game transport harvested elk, mule deer and • Call or visit a Division office to game wildlife.utah.gov in the field. report your find white-tailed deer from areas that have CWD. Tagging requirements For more information, please see Donating • Provide key details in your report However, you may not leave any part of the Utah Code § 23-20-30 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-17 big game on page 52. harvested animal in Utah, and you may not The Division will send a conservation After you’ve taken a big game animal, you stay more than 24 hours in the state. In addi- officer to investigate if the animal was must tag the animal before moving the carcass Transporting big game tion, your deer or elk may not be processed in poached. If it’s clear that the animal died or leaving the site of the kill. out of Utah Utah. of natural causes, we may allow you to To tag a big game animal, completely Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-19 keep your find. detach the tag from your big game permit You may transport big game or its parts wildlife.utah.gov and completely remove the three notches that out of Utah if you accompany the big game 50 51 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 Possession and use of A written statement of donation must be sold any time of the year. listed in the previous section (i.e., Pur- big game kept with the animal or its parts. The statement • Protected wildlife that the Division chasing or selling big game or its parts) must show: obtains may be sold or donated by the • From lawfully gathered antlers or horns Donating big game • The number and species of the wildlife or Division or its agents (usually Utah State shed by big game animals Utah Code § 23-20-9 parts donated Surplus) any time of the year. Also, you You may gather shed antlers or horns—or The following are the only places you may • The date of donation may purchase or receive protected wildlife parts of shed antlers or horns—statewide, but donate, or give, a big game animal or its parts • The permit number of the donor from the Division any time of the year. there are a couple of seasonal requirements. to another person: • The signature of the donor If you sell or buy antlers, heads, horns or From Feb. 1 to April 15, you need an antler- • The residence of the donor There is one exception to these rules. You untanned hides, you must keep a record that gathering certificate on your person while • The residence of the recipient may donate the hide of a big game animal to states all of the following information: collecting shed antlers or horns. You can obtain • A meat locker another person or organization at any location, • The name and address of the person who this certificate free of charge by visiting wildlife. • A storage plant and a donation slip is not required. harvested the animal utah.gov and completing an online education • A meat-processing facility • The date you sold or bought the items course. You do not need an antler-gathering Waste of game • The permit number of the person who certificate at any other time of the year. Utah Code § 23-20-8 Important: Do not trespass on closed Can youth hunt during You may not waste any big game animal harvested the animal areas or private lands to collect shed antlers or the early season? or permit it to be wasted or spoiled. (Waste There is one exception to this rule: scouting horns. If you’re a youth with an any legal means to abandon a big game animal or allow programs and other charitable organizations do “Shed antlers” are antlers that a big game weapon permit, you may only hunt the it to spoil or be used in a manner not normally not need to keep a transaction record if they’re early season if it’s offered on your unit. using untanned hides. animal has dropped naturally as part of its

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field associated with its beneficial use. For example, annual life cycle. Shed antlers have a rounded The following hunting units are the only using the meat as fertilizer or for trapping bait Possession of antlers and base that’s commonly called an antler button units with early-season any legal weapon is not considered a beneficial use of the meat.) buck deer hunts: horns or burr. You must immediately kill any animal you Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-21 • Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan- A “shed horn” is the sheath from the horn wound and tag the animal. You may possess antlers or horns—or parts South Rich of a pronghorn that the animal has dropped of antlers or horns—that were obtained: • Fillmore Purchasing or selling big naturally as part of its annual life cycle. Prong- • From lawfully harvested big game • Kamas horn are the only big game animals that shed game or its parts • By lawfully meeting the requirements • Nine Mile Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-20 their horns. • North Slope (new hunt) You may not buy, sell or offer, or possess for • Panguitch Lake sale, barter, exchange or trade, any big game Utah hunters helping National Park Service, Tracy Aviary, the U.S. • Pine Valley animal or its parts. The only exceptions are the condors Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife following: • Plateau, Fishlake Since 2012, more than 10,000 hunters Service to reduce lead on the landscape. • Antlers, heads and horns of legally taken • Zion have joined the Division in a voluntary Together, we offer incentives for hunters to big game may be bought or sold from If you’re a youth who has drawn an program to help California condors survive voluntarily use non-lead ammunition in the Feb. 1 through July 31. any legal weapon buck deer permit for in southern Utah. Condors, some of the Zion hunt unit, where condors spend most • Untanned hides of legally taken big one of the above units—and you do world’s rarest and largest birds, feed on of their time. game may be bought or sold from Aug. 1 not harvest a buck during the archery or dead animals, including the remains of If you obtain a Zion unit big game through Jan. 31. wildlife.utah.gov muzzleloader seasons—you may hunt harvested game species—both large and permit for 2021, you will be eligible to • Inedible byproducts of legally possessed the unit listed on your permit during the small. Unfortunately, lead ammunition obtain a $50 voucher for non-lead big game—except for hides, antlers and early season (Oct. 13–17, 2021). found in these remains can sicken and kill ammunition. We will email you details horns—may be bought or sold any time If your permit is not for one of the condors. about how to obtain and redeem your free of the year. units listed above, you must wait to hunt To keep condors from consuming lead as voucher. Watch for the email so you can • Tanned hides of legally taken big game the unit listed on your permit until the they scavenge game remains, the Division get your non-lead ammunition as soon as may be bought or sold any time of the general any legal weapon buck deer sea- has partnered with The Peregrine Fund, the possible. For more information, visit wildlife. son, which runs from Oct. 23–31, 2021. year. utah.gov/condors this summer. wildlife.utah.gov • Shed antlers and horns may be bought or 52 53

Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021

La La Sal,

Dolores

Triangle

●

Mtn

South

Slope,

Blanding

Diamond

San Juan,

Abajo Mtns

●

Monticello

North

Bluff

Moab

●

●

Book Cl iffs,

●

South

South Slope,

Vernal

Bonanza/Vernal

Book Cl iffs,

●

La La Sal,

Manila

La La Sal Mtns

●

●

Roosevelt

San Juan, Elk Ridge Elk Juan, San

River

Green

Nine Mile

Duchesne

●

North Slope Hanksville .

General season and limited-entry late muzzleloader buck deer units Limited-entry buck deer units Limited-entry late HAMS deer units Native American Trust Lands (closed) National Parks (closed)

Yellowstone

South Slope,

●

Price

●

Henry Mtns Henry Castle Dale Castle Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field

2021 buck deer reference map

Central Mtns,

●

Wasatch

Manti/San Manti/San Rafael

Mtns, East

Lakes

●

olph

Kamas

Rand-

Plateau,

Thousand

●

Coalville

Heber City Heber

●

Rich

●

●

●

Mtn

Fremont Jct Fremont

●

Kamas

Cache,

Chalk Creek/ Crawford

East East Canyon/

Morgan-South

Manti

Cache*

Fairview

Provo

●

●

●

Boulder

●

Spanish Fork Spanish

●

Loa

Nebo

Mtns,

Plateau,

Fishlake

Plateau,

Wasatch

Central

Mtns, West

Logan

●

●

Ogden

●

●

Morgan

Boulder/Kaiparowits

●

Farmington

●

Nephi

West

Tropic

Tintic

Scipio

Desert,

●

●

●

●

Monroe

City

Ogden

Junction

SALT LAKE CITY LAKE SALT

Tooele

●

Tremonton

Fillmore

●

Brigham

●

Mt Dutton

Richfield

Panguitch

●

Paunsaugunt

Fillmore

Kanab

LE

Island

●

●

Oquirrh-Stansbury

Beaver

Antelope

Fillmore,

Oak Creek

Beaver

Vernon

●

●

Delta

Lake

West West Desert,

Panguitch

Parowan

Great

●

Zion

Salt

Snowville

Lake

City

●

Cedar ●

wildlife.utah.gov

Milford

Box Elder

West

West

Desert,

St. George St.

Pine Valley

●

Southwest Southwest Desert

●

Grouse Creek Grouse

Modena

Wendover

●

●

Garrison ● During the general season, the Cache unit also includes the Cache, Crawford Mtn unit During Crawford the general season, Cache unit also includes the Cache, detailed boundary for units exclude hunt All descriptions. Please visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner only. general reference map is for This hunting. closed to and other areas Parks National Lands, Trust American Native deer CWMUs, * wildlife.utah.gov 54 55

Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021

La La Sal,

Dolores

Triangle

●

Blanding

●

Monticello

Roadless

Bluff

Moab

●

Book Cl iffs,

Little Creek

●

Book Cl iffs,

●

South Slope,

Diamond Diamond Mtn

Vernal

Bitter Creek/South

●

La La Sal,

Manila

La La Sal Mtns

●

North Slope,

Three Corners

●

Roosevelt

River

Green

San Juan Bull Elk Bull Juan San

Duchesne

●

Nine Mile, Anthro Hanksville

Limited-entry bull elk units Limited-entry HAMS elk units Native American Trust Lands (closed) National Parks (closed)

●

Price

● Castle Dale Castle

2021 limited-entry bull elk reference map ●

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field

Wasatch Mtns

●

olph

Rand-

●

Coalville

Heber City Heber

Cache,

●

●

●

●

Manti

Fremont Jct Fremont

●

Meadowville

Kamas

Central Mtns,

Manti

Fairview

Provo

●

●

●

Boulder

●

Spanish Fork Spanish

●

Nebo

Loa

Mtns,

Thousand Thousand Lakes

North

Central

Cache,

Plateau, Plateau, Fishlake/

Cache, South

Logan

●

●

Plateau, Boulder

●

Plateau, Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits

●

Morgan

●

Farmington

●

Nephi

Tropic

Scipio

●

●

●

●

Monroe

City

Ogden

Junction

SALT LAKE CITY LAKE SALT

Tooele

●

Tremonton

Fillmore

●

Brigham

Pahvant

Fillmore,

●

Mt Dutton

Richfield

Panguitch

●

East

Paunsaugunt

Kanab

Beaver,

●

●

Oquirrh-Stansbury

Beaver

●

●

Delta

Lake

Panguitch

Parowan

Great

●

Salt

Snowville

Lake

City

●

Cedar ●

wildlife.utah.gov

Milford

Sawtooth

Box Elder,

St. George St.

●

Southwest Desert, North

●

Box Elder,

Pilot Mtn

Grouse Creek Grouse

Box Elder,

Modena

Grouse Creek

Deep

West

Southwest Desert, South

Creek

Wendover

Desert,

●

●

Garrison ● exclude elk detailed boundary for units exclude hunt All descriptions. Please visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner only. general reference map is for This hunting. closed to and other areas Parks National Lands, Trust American Native CWMUs, wildlife.utah.gov 56 57

Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021

La La Sal,

Dolores

Triangle

●

Blanding

●

Monticello

Roadless

Bluff

Moab

●

Book Cl iffs,

Little Creek

●

Book Cl iffs,

●

Vernal

Canyon

Bitter Creek/South

San Juan,

Montezuma

●

La La Sal,

Manila

La La Sal Mtns

●

●

Roosevelt

River

Green

South Slope,

San Juan Bull Elk Bull Juan San

Duchesne

●

Nine Mile,

Range Creek

Nine Mile, Anthro

Bonanza/Vernal/Yellowstone Hanksville

Any bull units elk Any bull units elk Spike Native American Trust Lands (closed) National Parks (closed)

●

North Slope, Summit/West Daggett

Price

●

Henry Mtns Henry

San Rafael, South-Dirty Devil South-Dirty San Rafael,

San Rafael, San North Rafael, Castle Dale Castle

2021 general-season bull elk reference map ●

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field

Wasatch Mtns

●

olph

Kamas

Rand-

●

Cache,

Chalk Creek

East Rich

Coalville

Heber City Heber

Cache,

●

●

●

●

Manti

Fremont Jct Fremont

●

Meadowville

Kamas

Central Mtns,

Manti

Fairview

Provo

●

●

●

Boulder

●

Spanish Fork Spanish

●

Morgan-South Rich

Nebo

Loa

Mtns,

Thousand Thousand Lakes

North

Central

Cache,

Plateau, Plateau, Fishlake/

Cache, South

East East Canyon

Logan

●

●

Ogden

Plateau, Boulder

●

Plateau, Plateau, Barney Top/Kaiparowits

●

Morgan

Wasatch

●

Farmington

●

Mtns, North

Nephi

Tropic

Scipio

●

●

●

●

Monroe

City

Ogden

Junction

SALT LAKE CITY LAKE SALT

Tooele

●

Tremonton

Fillmore

●

Brigham

Pahvant

Fillmore,

●

Cache,

Mt Dutton

Richfield

Panguitch

●

Wellsville Mtns Wellsville

East

Paunsaugunt

Kanab

Beaver,

●

●

Oquirrh-Stansbury

Beaver

●

●

Fillmore,

Delta

Oak Creek

Lake

Panguitch

West West Desert, East

Parowan

Great

●

West

Zion

Salt

Beaver,

Snowville

Box Elder,

Lake

Hansel Mtn

City

●

Cedar

● Milford

wildlife.utah.gov

Sawtooth

Box Elder,

St. George St.

Pine Valley

●

Southwest Desert, North

●

Box Elder,

Grouse Creek Grouse

Modena

Grouse Creek

Deep

West

Southwest Desert, South

Creek

Wendover

Desert,

●

●

Garrison ● elk detailed boundary for units exclude hunt All descriptions. Please visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner only. general reference map is for This hunting. closed to and other areas Parks National Lands, Trust American Native CWMUs, wildlife.utah.gov 58 59

Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021

●

Blanding

●

Monticello

Bluff

Moab

●

●

●

Vernal

●

Manila

●

●

Roosevelt

River

Green

Duchesne

● Hanksville

Antlerless elk-control units (closed) Parks National Lands (closed) AmericanTrust Native

●

Price ●

Henry Mtns Castle Dale Castle

2021 Antlerless elk-control 2021 Antlerless units map ●

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field

● olph

Chalk Creek

Rand-

●

Coalville

Heber City Heber

●

●

● ●

Rich

Fremont Jct Fremont

●

Kamas Manti

Morgan-South

Fairview

Provo

●

●

● Boulder

East

●

Spanish Fork Spanish ●

Canyon

Loa

Logan

●

●

●

●

Morgan

●

Farmington

●

Nephi

Tropic Scipio West

Tintic ●

Desert,

●

●

●

City

Ogden

Junction

SALT LAKE CITY LAKE SALT

Tooele

●

Tremonton

Fillmore

●

Brigham

●

Richfield

Panguitch

●

Kanab

●

●

Beaver ●

West ● Desert,

Vernon Delta

Parowan

Great

●

Salt

Snowville

Lake

City

●

Cedar

● Milford

wildlife.utah.gov St. George St.

Pine Valley

●

●

Grouse Creek Grouse

Modena

Wendover

●

●

Garrison ● elk detailed boundary for units exclude hunt All descriptions. Please visit wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner only. general reference map is for This hunting. closed to and other areas Parks National Lands, Trust American Native CWMUs, wildlife.utah.gov 60 61 Utah Big Game Field Big Game Utah Regulations • 2021 DEFINITIONS of a conventional or compound bow at any limited-entry permits, cactus buck permits, Utah Code § 23-13-2 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-2 & R657-37 increment of draw, until released by the archer management buck permits, handgun-archery- using a trigger mechanism and safety attached muzzleloader-shotgun-only permits, conserva- Buck pronghorn means a pronghorn with The following definitions explain terms to the device. tion permits, expo permits, sportsman permits, horns longer than five inches. used in this guidebook. The 2021 Utah Big CWMU permits and limited-entry landowner Game Application guidebook (published in Drone means an autonomously controlled, Bull elk means an elk with antlers longer permits. aerial vehicle of any size or configuration that December 2020) also contains definitions than five inches. that focus on hunting, harvesting and is capable of controlled flight without a human Nonresident means a person who does not possessing big game. Bull moose means a moose with antlers pilot aboard. qualify as a resident. longer than its ears. Ewe means a female bighorn sheep or any Once-in-a-lifetime hunt means any hunt Any legal weapon means the weapons de- bighorn sheep younger than one year of age. that is identified as once-in-a-lifetime and scribed under Firearms and archery equipment Cactus buck means a buck deer with velvet covering at least 50 percent of the antlers listed in the hunt table of this guidebook, on page 42. Handgun-archery-muzzleloader- during the season dates established by the and that does not include general or limited- shotgun-only hunt (HAMS hunt) means Wildlife Board for a cactus buck deer hunt. entry hunts. Arrow quiver means a portable arrow case a limited-entry hunt with very specialized that completely encases all edges of the weapon requirements. Before you apply for Once-in-a-lifetime permit means any broadheads. Carcass means the dead body of an animal or its parts. one of these hunts, see page 21 or review permit obtained for a once-in-a-lifetime hunt Bait means intentionally placing food R657-5-48 at wildlife.utah.gov to confirm by any means, including conservation permits, Certificate of registration means a docu- whether the weapon you want to use is legal expo permits, sportsman permits, CWMU Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field or nutrient substances to manipulate the behavior of wildlife for the purpose of taking ment issued under any rule or proclamation for the hunt. permits and limited-entry landowner permits. of the Wildlife Board granting authority to or attempting to take big game. Bait does not Highway means the entire width between Permit means a document, including a include: engage in activities not covered by a license, permit or tag. property lines of every way or place of any stamp, which grants authority to engage • the use of salt, mineral blocks or nature when any part of it is open to the in specific activities under the Wildlife other commonly used types of livestock CWMU means Cooperative Wildlife Manage- use of the public as a matter of right for Resources Code or a rule or proclamation of the supplements placed in the field by agri- ment Unit. vehicular travel. Wildlife Board. cultural producers for normal agricultural purposes; or Domicile means the place: Hunter’s choice means either sex may be Possession means actual or constructive • standing crops, natural vegetation, har- • where an individual has a fixed perma- taken. possession. vested croplands or lands or areas where nent home and principal establishment; seeds or grains have been scattered • to which the individual if absent, intends Hunting means to take or pursue a reptile, Private lands means, for the purposes of solely as the result of a normal agricul- to return; and amphibian, bird or mammal by any means. this guidebook, any land owned in fee by an tural planting, harvesting, post-harvest • in which the individual and the individual or legal entity, excluding the fol- Limited-entry hunt means any hunt that manipulation or normal soil-stabilization individual’s family voluntarily reside, lowing types of lands: land owned by the is identified as limited-entry and listed in the practice. not for a special or temporary purpose, state or federal government; land owned by a hunt table of this guidebook, and that does not but with the intention of making a county or municipality; land owned by a Native Baited area means all land within a 50-yard include general or once-in-a-lifetime hunts. American tribe; land enrolled in a Cooperative

permanent home. wildlife.utah.gov radius of the site where bait is placed, includ- Wildlife Management Unit under R657-37; and To create a new domicile an individual Limited-entry permit means any permit ing the site where bait is placed. land where public access for big game hunting must: obtained for a limited-entry hunt by any has been secured. Big game means species of hoofed protected • abandon the old domicile; and means, including multi-season premium • be able to prove that a new domicile has wildlife. limited-entry permits, premium limited-entry Qualifying minor means a Utah resident been established. permits, multi-season limited-entry permits, who is under 18 at the time of application for Buck deer means a deer with antlers longer the Mentor Program and who is otherwise than five inches. Draw lock means a mechanical device used to hold and support the draw weight eligible to lawfully hunt. wildlife.utah.gov 62 63 Ram means a male desert bighorn sheep or ing, exchanging or trading. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep older than one year of age. Shed antlers are antlers that a big game animal has dropped naturally as part of its Resident means a person who has a domicile annual lifecycle. (fixed permanent home and principal establish- ment) in Utah for six consecutive months im- Shed horns are the sheaths from the horns mediately preceding the purchase of a license of a pronghorn that the animal has dropped or permit, AND DOES NOT claim residency for naturally as part of its annual lifecycle. Prong- hunting, fishing or trapping in any other state horn are the only big game animals that shed or country. their horns. An individual retains Utah residency if he or Spike bull means a bull elk which has at least she leaves Utah to serve in the armed forces of one antler beam with no branching above the the United States, or for religious or educational ears. Branched means a projection on an antler purposes, and does NOT claim residency for longer than one inch, measured from its base hunting, fishing or trapping in any other state to its tip. or country. Members of the armed forces of the United Spoiled means impairment of the flesh of States and dependents are residents as of the wildlife which renders it unfit for human

Utah Big Game Field Regulations • 2021 Regulations Utah Big Game Field date the member reports for duty under as- consumption. signed orders in Utah, if: • the member is NOT on temporary duty Tag means a card, label or other identification in Utah and does NOT claim residency for device issued for attachment to the carcass of hunting, fishing or trapping in any other protected wildlife. state or country. • the member presents a copy of his or her Take means to: assignment orders to a Division office to • hunt, pursue, harass, catch, capture, verify the member’s qualification as a possess, angle, seine, trap or kill any resident. protected wildlife; or A nonresident attending an institution of • attempt any of the above actions. higher learning in Utah as a full-time student Vessel means every type of watercraft, other may qualify as a resident if the student has than a seaplane on the water, used or capable been present in Utah for 60 consecutive days of being used as a means of transportation on immediately preceding the purchase of the water. license or permit and does NOT claim residency for hunting, fishing or trapping in any other Waste means to abandon protected wildlife state or country. or to allow protected wildlife to spoil or to be A Utah resident license or permit is invalid used in a manner not normally associated with if a resident license for hunting, fishing or trap- its beneficial use. ping is purchased in any other state or country. An individual DOES NOT qualify as a Wildlife document means a permit to hunt resident if he or she is an absentee landowner protected wildlife or Division-issued authoriza- paying property tax on land in Utah. tion to share such a permit.

Sell means to offer or possess for sale, barter, Youth means someone who is 17 years old or wildlife.utah.gov exchange or trade, or the act of selling, barter- younger on July 31 of any given year. 64