Apply for a 2008 Sportsman permit

Applications for Utah's most prized hunting permits accepted soon

Applications for next year's most prized Utah hunting permits—2008 Sportsman permits—will be available by Nov. 1.

Only Utah residents may apply for Sportsman permits. One Sportsman Permit is offered for each of the following species: Desert bighorn ram, Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, buck deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk, bull moose, hunter's choice bison, hunter's choice Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, cougar, sandhill crane and wild turkey.

If you draw a Sportsman Permit, the dates you can hunt vary, but in most cases they're longer than the regular season dates.

You can also hunt on almost any unit that's open to hunting the species you drew a permit for. The only exceptions are the person who draws the bison permit may not hunt on Antelope Island; the person who draws the elk permit may not hunt on the Pilot Mountain unit; and the person who draws the desert bighorn sheep permit may not hunt on the Pine Valley, Virgin River unit.

Highly prized

"Sportsman permits are highly prized," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "If you're one of the lucky hunters who draw one, you'll have plenty of days—and plenty of areas—to hunt."

The only way to apply for a Sportsman Permit is online at wildlife.utah.gov. You can start applying on Nov. 1.

Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 15 to be entered in the draw for permits. Draw results will be posted by Dec. 6.

If you draw a permit, you'll also receive a letter in the mail. "Not many hunters draw these permits," Tutorow says. "If you receive a letter in the mail, I'm sure you'll want to frame it!"

For more information, see pages 31 and 32 of the 2007 Utah Big Game Proclamation or call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office. You can also call the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.