2023 remaining and over-the-counter big game permits

Over-the-counter permits for sale and remaining from the 2023 big game drawing

Buy a permit

Remaining permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must have a valid hunting license or a combination license to buy one of these permits. You can buy permits online, at license agent locations and DWR offices. Look up a license agent near you. Before you visit an agent, call ahead to verify hours of operation.

After these permits go on sale, the numbers listed on this page will not be updated to reflect the number of permits sold or still available. To see permits that are still available after they go on sale, visit our online permit sales site.

Reminder: Permits will be sold on different days. Please be sure to confirm the sales date of the permit you are wanting below.

Please be sure to review the Utah Hunt Planner before purchasing one of these permits.

Limited-entry buck deer

Available beginning July 11, 2023 at 8 a.m.

Limited-entry buck pronghorn

Available beginning July 11, 2023 at 8 a.m.

Over-the-counter bison

Available beginning July 11, 2023 at 8 a.m.

General-season bull elk

Available beginning July 11, 2023 at 8 a.m.

Available beginning July 11, 2023 at 8 a.m.
Must be 17 years of age or younger on July 31, 2023 to purchase the general-season youth elk permits.

Available beginning July 13, 2023 at 8 a.m.

Available beginning July 20, 2023 at 8 a.m.

General-season buck deer

Available beginning July 18, 2023 at 8 a.m.

Youth general-season archery buck deer

Available beginning July 18, 2023 at 8 a.m. You must be 17 years old or younger on July 31, 2023, to purchase these permits. (Note: These are bonus quotas of youth archery permits allocated in addition to the big game draw permits.)

General-season antlerless elk

Available beginning July 27, 2023 at 8 a.m.

Private-lands-only antlerless elk

Available beginning July 27, 2023 at 8 a.m. Please be sure to have written landowner permission before buying one of these; no refunds will be given if you're unable to use your purchased permit.

Antlerless elk-control permits

Available beginning July 27, 2023 at 8 a.m.

See Antlerless elk-control permits for details.

Pen-reared gamebirds

Possession and release guidelines

On June 12, 2025, the Wildlife Board accepted new regulations for pen-reared gamebirds. These changes include consolidation of the previous rule, clarification of disease testing, and improved consistency with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food's poultry and gamebird rule.

Significant changes include:

• Prohibiting the sale of gamebirds listed in this rule by feed stores
• Clarification of required licenses and/or permissions
• Adding the link to gamebird facility registration
• Clarification of disease control requirements to protect wild bird populations and Utah's commercial poultry industry

This page is only a summary of rules. Further details are available in Administrative Rule R657-4: Possession and release of pen-reared gamebirds.

Definition of pen-reared gamebird

A "pen-reared gamebird" is a species of the following that were bred from legally acquired captive stock, then hatched and raised in captivity:

• Chukar partridge
• Red-legged partridge
• Gray (Hungarian) partridge
• Pheasant (genus Syrmaticus, Chrysolophus and Phasianus)
• Bobwhite quail
• California quail
• Gambel's quail
• Waterfowl (family Anatidae)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has additional requirements for captive migratory birds (waterfowl), including an additional permit. See their website for more information.

Rock doves (aka pigeon, Columba livia) are not a controlled species. A permit is not required for possession or release of pigeons.

Any species not listed as a pen-reared gamebird is illegal to possess.

Disease testing

All birds being released must be tested for the following diseases prior to release, or must come from a facility that is NPIP-certified for these diseases:

• Avian influenza
• Salmonella pullorum-typhoid

The DWR may randomly sample gamebird flocks for Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae. This testing will be conducted at the DWR's expense.

Here are the number of birds that must be tested:

Current disease testing requirements are summarized in this document.

Types of pen-reared gamebird permits

Helpful links

Pen-reared gamebirds must be acquired according to DWR Administrative Rule R657-4. The person or group must have an invoice or bill of sale in their possession showing lawful personal possession or ownership of the pen-reared gamebirds. The seller must provide disease test results and certificates of veterinary inspection to the buyer; both parties must keep copies of these records.

Personal Pen-reared Gamebird Possession permit

A personal Pen-reared Gamebird Possession permit is available through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources licensing system.

• Visit https://wildlifelicense.utah.gov/hflo/ to log in and purchase the permit listed under the "OTHER" category.
• Once you buy a permit, you must also register your facility at this link.

Field Trial COR

A field trial Certificate of Registration is required regardless of property ownership, and pen-reared gamebirds may only be released in the area specified on the permit.

• The link to a field trial COR application can be found here. Please note that the application may take up to 60 days to process.

Commercial Hunting Areas

Commercial Hunting Areas are private businesses that are regulated, but not affiliated with nor endorsed, by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Hunter education or a trial hunting authorization is required to hunt on a CHA. Contact the CHA operator for more information on hours, prices, species available, reservations, etc.

View a map of Commercial Hunting Areas in Utah that are open to the public.

For operators:

• The application for a commercial hunting area is due on May 1 every three years and can be found here.
  • The annual fee is also due May 1 every year, though the application is only due every three years. A 30-day grace period may be granted for a late fee.
• The annual report for a commercial hunting area is due on May 1 and can be found here.
• A separate license for a commercial gamebird facility is required from UDAF if your facility houses 1,000 or more pen-reared gamebirds or eggs for 60 or more days.

Commercial Gamebird License

A Commercial Gamebird License is required for possession if 1,000 or more pen-reared gamebirds or eggs are held for 60 or more days. A separate COR for a Commercial Hunting Area is required to release birds.

• The Commercial Gamebird License is issued by UDAF. Please see the avian/poultry section of their webpage to apply.