Guidebooks
Last Updated on Friday, 24 February 2012 12:18
Your first, and possibly only, chance to obtain a Utah antlerless permit is through the state’s antlerless drawing. To apply for the drawing, you’ll need to:
1 Know what types of antlerless permits are available
2 Research your hunts using the online maps and boundaries
3 Know when, where and how to apply for a permit
4 Know how bonus points and preference points work
5 Understand the drawing process, waiting periods and refunds
Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-19
You can apply for all of the following antlerless permits in the 2011 drawing:
Multiple elk permits
Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-19, 23-19-22, R657-5-34
You may obtain a maximum of two elk permits each year—provided one or both of the permits are antlerless—but you can only apply for or obtain one antlerless elk permit in the drawing. You may obtain two elk permits in any one of the following combinations:
For the purposes of obtaining two elk permits, a hunter’s choice elk permit is considered a bull elk permit. An antlerless elk-control permit is considered an antlerless permit. Eligible hunters may purchase additional antlerless elk permits after the drawing, beginning July 21, 2011. The permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents and Division offices.
Note: If you drew a pronghorn permit in the 2011 big game drawing, you may not apply for a doe pronghorn permit or preference point. Likewise, if you drew a moose permit in the 2011 big game drawing, you may not apply for an antlerless moose permit or bonus point.
If you don’t draw an antlerless permit in 2011, you might still be able to participate in a depredation hunt or obtain a CWMU, elk-control or poaching-reported reward permit.
Elk-control permits available
Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-34
During the 2011 season, the Division wants hunters to harvest as many antlerless elk as possible from six of Utah’s hunting units:
If you obtained a permit (including general season) to harvest a buck, bull or once-in-a-lifetime species on any of the above units (not including CWMUs), you have the option of purchasing an antlerless elk-control permit.
The elk-control permit allows you to harvest an antlerless elk in the same unit where you’ll already be hunting an antlered big game animal. You may hunt the antlerless elk only during the season dates—and with the same weapon—listed on your buck, bull or once-in-a-lifetime permit.
To obtain an antlerless elk-control permit, please visit a license agent or any Division office beginning July 27, 2011.
Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-12, R657-62-19 and R657-42
Both residents and nonresidents can apply online for permits, bonus points and preference points. You can also apply by calling any Division office.
Applying as a group
Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-7
Instead of applying as an individual hunter, you and your friends and family can apply together as a group. Here’s what you need to need to know:
If your group is successful in the drawing, all of the applicants in your group who have valid applications will receive a permit.
To apply for a resident permit, you must be a resident on the date the permit is purchased. July 14, 2011 is considered the purchase date of the permit and the date by which you must establish residency in the state of Utah. (Please see the residency definition to learn whether you qualify as a resident.)
When you submit your application, you’ll be charged a nonrefundable $10 application fee for each species, bonus point or preference point you apply for.
Application fees, license fees and any donations you’ve authorized will be charged to your credit or debit card when you apply. Permit fees will be charged after the drawing, if you are successful.
You can use American Express, Discover, MasterCard and VISA credit or debit cards as payment, and they must be valid through August 2011. You can also use a pre-paid credit card. If you have questions about using a pre-paid credit card, check with your financial institution for more information. You will not be charged a permit fee unless you draw a permit.
Applications for antlerless hunting permits, bonus points and preference points must be submitted through wildlife.utah.gov no later than 11 p.m. on June 21, 2011.
Antlerless harvest reporting
Did you obtain an antlerless permit this year? If so, you’ll have the chance to participate in a voluntary harvest-reporting program after you complete your hunt.
This program will help the Division obtain more detailed information about the antlerless game harvested in 2011. It also gives you the chance to win a prize, just for reporting some basic information about your antlerless hunt.
After you finish your hunt (whether or not you harvest an animal), visit wildlife.utah.gov/harvestreporting and click the appropriate button at the top of the page. Then, you can log in and complete your antlerless online harvest report.
If you prefer to complete your harvest report over the phone, call 1-800-221-0659 at any time of day.
As soon as you submit your report—online or by phone—you will be automatically entered into a prize drawing. You don’t have to fill out a separate entry form.
To be entered into the prize drawing, you must submit your report by Feb. 29, 2012.
Although this program isn’t mandatory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Your efforts will help us obtain the information we need to better manage Utah’s big game herds.
Please remember that you must have a hunting license or a combination license to apply for permits and points. If you don’t already have one of these licenses, you can buy one online when you apply.
If you need help with your online application, please call any Division office before 6 p.m. on June 21, 2011. A Division employee will be available to help you!
Did you make a mistake in your online permit application? Simply withdraw your original online application and submit a new, correct application before 11 p.m. on June 21, 2011.
You must have your confirmation number, your customer ID and your date of birth in order to withdraw your application. For each new application you submit, you will be charged a $10 application fee.
If you need help with your online application, please call any Division office before 6 p.m. on June 21, 2011.
If you decide not to hunt, you can withdraw your online permit application until 11 p.m. on June 21, 2011.
Please remember that the fees you submitted with your application are not refundable.
You’ll be notified of the drawing results by e-mail. Beginning July 14, you can also see your drawing results online or call 1-800-221-0659 to obtain them.
Youth antlerless drawing process
Utah Code § 23-19-22 and Utah Admin. Rules R657-62-19 & R657-5-4
Twenty percent of the antlerless deer, antlerless elk and doe pronghorn permits are reserved for hunters who will be 18 years of age or younger on Aug. 20, 2011.
If you’ll be 18 years of age or younger on Aug. 20, you can participate in the youth drawing by submitting an application as an individual hunter. You won’t be included in the youth drawing if you apply as a member of a group.
If you draw a permit, you’ll receive your permit in the mail in August.
Please be aware that if you receive your permit, and then the credit card you used for payment is refused, your permit becomes invalid and you may not participate in the antlerless hunt. If this happens, please call 1-800-221-0659 to resolve the problem.
Any antlerless permits remaining after the drawing may be obtained online beginning at 7 a.m. on July 21, 2011. You may also visit license agents and Division offices to purchase one of these permits.
Note: The hours when license agents are open for business vary; you should contact the agent you plan to visit before July 21 to learn when they’re open for business.
Remaining permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and you must have a valid hunting or combination license. You may obtain a maximum of two elk permits.
Utah Admin Rule R657-62-8
In the antlerless drawing, bonus points apply to antlerless moose only. You receive a bonus point for each unsuccessful application to hunt antlerless moose.
You may apply for a bonus point only by selecting the appropriate hunt choice code (ANM) on the application and paying the $10 application fee.
You must have a current Utah hunting or combination license in order to apply for an antlerless moose bonus point.
If you are eligible for an antlerless moose permit, you are eligible to apply for an antlerless moose bonus point.
If you apply for both an antlerless moose permit and a bonus point, your application will be rejected.
Fifty percent (rounded down) of the permits for each hunt unit number are reserved for applicants with the most bonus points.
You receive one random drawing number for your antlerless moose application and one for every bonus point you have for antlerless moose. Your lowest random number is used in the drawing.
In the drawing for antlerless moose, applications are sorted into groups by the number of bonus points, from highest to lowest. There’s a group for hunters with three bonus points, one for hunters with two bonus points and so forth. Applications are sorted from lowest to highest draw number, and permits are awarded in order.
You may surrender an antlerless moose permit before the season opening date to waive the waiting period and reinstate your bonus points, including a bonus point for the current year (just as if a permit had not been drawn).
You cannot apply for a hunt or receive a bonus point if either of the following conditions apply:
The Division began issuing bonus points for antlerless moose in 2006.
Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-9
Preference points are used to ensure that applicants who are unsuccessful, or who apply for a preference point in the drawing for antlerless deer, antlerless elk and doe pronghorn, will have first preference in the next year’s drawing for the respective permits.
If you do not want to hunt antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn in the current year, you may apply for a preference point by inserting the appropriate hunt choice code on the application. You will be charged a $10 application fee for every preference point you apply for (limit one per species).
The application period is June 1–21, 2011. You must have a current Utah hunting or combination license in order to apply for preference points.
If you are eligible for an antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit, you are eligible to apply for a preference point for that hunt.
You cannot apply for both a permit and a preference point for the same species. A preference point will not be issued if you are successful in drawing for the respective permit.
You will not forfeit your preference points if you obtain a permit that remains available after the drawing.
The Division began issuing preference points for antlerless deer, antlerless elk and doe pronghorn in 2006.
In the drawing, the antlerless deer, antlerless elk and doe pronghorn applications are sorted into groups by the number of preference points, from highest to lowest. There’s a group for hunters with four preference points, one for hunters with three preference points and so forth. Within each group of preference points, the applications are then sorted from lowest to highest draw numbers. Permits are awarded in order, based on the hunt choice selected.
Preference points are averaged and rounded down when two or more applicants apply as a group. For example, if hunter A with three preference points and hunter B with zero preference points apply as a group, the preference points are averaged (1.5) and rounded down to one. Hunters with one preference point will be considered only after all groups or individuals with two or more preference points and before all groups or individuals with zero preference points.
In a second example, if hunter A with one preference point and hunter B with zero preference points apply as a group, the preference points are averaged (0.5) and rounded down to zero. This group with zero preference points will be considered after all groups or individuals with one or more preference points have been considered.
You may surrender your antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit before the season opening date to reinstate your preference points, including a preference point for the current year (just as if a permit had not been drawn).
You cannot apply for an antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit or a preference point if you are currently under wildlife license suspension for big game hunting.
Antlerless permits are drawn in the following order:
Beginning July 21, any remaining permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Waiting periods keep successful applicants out of the drawing for a few years. This gives unsuccessful applicants a better chance at drawing a permit in the future. The antlerless moose hunt is the only antlerless hunt with a waiting period.
Utah Admin Rule R657-62-19
The waiting period for antlerless moose is five years. However, if you buy an antlerless moose CWMU permit from a private landowner, the waiting period does not apply.
Utah Admin Rule R657-62-13
If you’re under a waiting period for a certain species, you can still obtain any permit that remains for that species after the drawing, but your waiting period will start over.
For example, if you have two years left on your antlerless moose waiting period, and you buy an antlerless moose permit that remains available after the drawing, you’ll begin a new five-year waiting period. The new waiting period will prevent you from applying for an antlerless moose permit for the next five years.
Utah Code §23-19-38 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-42
Some hunters successfully obtain permits and then realize—for one reason or another—that they won’t be able to use those permits. In most cases, the Division cannot refund the cost of the permit, but there are some exceptions. The Division may provide a refund under the following circumstances:
A refund may also be granted if the permit recipient dies before they can participate in the hunt.
