Hunting the extended archery season

If you didn't get your deer or elk earlier in the season, here's another chance.

If you haven't taken a deer or elk by the time the archery general-season or limited-entry hunt ends, you can continue your archery hunting in Utah's extended archery areas.

Before hunting in any of Utah's extended archery areas, though, you must complete the Division's Archery Ethics Course each year. You must carry your Archery Ethics Course certificate of completion with you while you're hunting.

This hunter ethics course is in addition to Utah's hunter education requirement. We also recommend that archery hunters complete bowhunter education.

Hunting in an extended archery area

After you successfully complete the course, you should print your certificate of completion. You must carry your Archery Ethics Course certificate of completion with you while you're hunting.

Limited-entry deer and elk archery hunters must still complete their harvest survey questionnaire within 30 days of the end of their limited-entry hunt.

Please download and read through the Utah Big Game Field Regulations guidebook for complete information regarding the extended archery hunts.

Extended archery season dates

Deer (either sex)

If you have an archery buck deer permit and haven't taken a buck by the end of your hunt — and you complete the required archery ethics course — you may hunt in the extended archery areas during the seasons listed below.

Elk (either sex)

If you have an archery elk permit and haven't taken an elk by the end of your hunt—and you complete the required archery ethics course—you may hunt in the extended archery areas during the seasons listed below.

Taking the Archery Ethics Course

The course takes about 30 minutes to complete. You must score 100 percent to pass the course, but if you answer a question incorrectly you will have an opportunity at the end of the test to answer the question again. You may take the course as many times as needed.

Take the course

Reprint your certificate of completion: If you have previously completed this course and wish to reprint your certificate of completion, follow the link and then click "Lookup Certificate of Completion..."

Applying for a hunting permit as a group

What hunters should know about group applications

Group applications allow you and your friends and family to apply together. A group application makes it possible for every member of the group to obtain a permit. If the application is not successful, however, then no one in the group will obtain a permit. For more information about group applications, read Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-7 and R657-62-19.

• To apply as a group, one member of the group must submit an initial application. They will receive a group code for each species once they submit the application. The group code will be found on the confirmation page and in their confirmation email.
• If you have a group code and want to join a group application, log into the application and select "Join Group" on the species selection page.
• To determine how many points a group has in the drawing, group members have their points averaged and then rounded down. For example: Suppose two hunters are applying as a group and one member has seven bonus points and the other member has two. Their points will be averaged, 4.5, and then rounded down to four.
• There are some rare circumstances where a group may be altered automatically if one member draws a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime permit during a different phase of the drawing.
• If you obtain a permit with a group, please be aware that there are special restrictions about surrendering your permit if you aren't going to use it. Please read Administrative Rule R657-42.
• Group applications for cougar, bear and sportsman permits are not accepted.
• Group applications for once-in-a-lifetime permits are accepted only for bonus point applications.

Groups with nonresidents

Residents and nonresidents can apply together in a group. However, some hunts may not have enough nonresident permits for your group size which could make your group unsuccessful in the drawing. Consider the following examples:

1. Your group is made up of one resident and two nonresidents. If there is only one nonresident permit available, your group can't draw the permit unless there are leftover resident permits. That circumstance is extremely rare.
2. Your group is made up of one resident and one nonresident. There are lots of resident permits and one nonresident permit. Because of the drawing process, the 1 nonresident permit will be issued randomly after the bonus point round. This means that there is almost no chance of this group drawing the permit. Look for a hunt that has at least two nonresident permits.

Youth-only groups

Up to 20% of the general-season buck deer, antlerless deer, antlerless elk and doe pronghorn permits through the draws are specifically reserved for youth aged 17 or younger as of July 31. Up to 15% of swan, sandhill crane, sharp-tailed grouse and greater sage-grouse permits are also reserved for youth 17 or younger as of July 31. Up to four youth can apply in youth-only groups and be considered for the reserved permits. Important: When you apply in a youth-only group, all hunters must meet the age requirement or the application will not be processed with the other youth applications.