Young deer hunters: hunt all three seasons

If you're a teenage deer hunter, you may want to consider getting a rifle or muzzleloader permit for this fall's general hunts.

If you obtain one of these permits, you can hunt all three seasons this fall—archery, muzzleloader and rifle.

Photo by Jodie Anderson

But if you obtain a general statewide archery permit, you can hunt only during the archery season.

"Rifle and muzzleloader deer hunting is restricted to specific regions," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

"If a young hunter obtains a statewide archery permit, we have no way of knowing which region he should be hunting in during the rifle and muzzleloader seasons," she says. "That's why young hunters who obtain a general archery permit can't hunt during the rifle and muzzleloader seasons."

Details

Giving young hunters a chance to hunt all three seasons began in Utah in 2000. The goal was to get more of Utah's young people interested in big game hunting by giving them a chance to hunt during the various seasons.

To qualify for the youth hunting opportunity, young hunters must be 18 years of age or younger on Aug. 16, 2008 (the beginning of the state's general archery buck deer hunt).

Young hunters are reminded that they may take only one buck deer each season, so the chance to hunt all three seasons will end as soon as they take a deer.

Young hunters who obtain a general rifle or muzzleloader deer permit can hunt in any of the state's five general season regions during the general archery hunt. During the muzzleloader and rifle hunts, they must hunt in the region they obtained a permit for.

Deer hunters are reminded that they may not hunt on limited entry units. Limited entry units are open only to those who obtain a limited entry permit.

Must apply by Jan. 31

Applications for 2008 Utah big game hunting permits will be accepted until Jan. 31. You can apply through the Internet (wildlife.utah.gov) until 11 p.m. on Jan. 31.

You can also apply over the phone at (801) 538-4700. Phone-in applications will be must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 31.

For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.