Feb. 4 is the first day to apply

Utah has a healthy black bear population. If you'd like to hunt bears during the state's annual black bear season, it's time to apply for a permit.

Starting Feb. 4, you can apply for a permit to hunt or pursue black bears in Utah this year.

Photo by Lynn Chamberlain

Apply starting Feb. 4

You can apply for a bear hunting or a bear pursuit permit starting Feb. 4.

(Pursuit permits allow you to pursue bears with hounds, but you may not take the bears you pursue.)

To be included in the draw for permits, your application must be received through the website no later than 11 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Results of the 2013 Utah black bear draw will be available by March 14.

Apply for a bonus point

If you're not going to hunt bears in 2013, you can still apply for a bonus point. Bonus points increase the chance you'll draw a bear permit in the future.

Applications for bonus points will also be accepted from Feb. 4 until 11 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Get a free guidebook

Everything you need to know to apply for a permit is available in the 2013 Utah Black Bear Guidebook.

The free guidebook is available online.

More information

If you have questions about applying for a 2013 Utah black bear hunting permit, call the Utah Hunt Application office at 1-800-221-0659 or the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office.