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.

How bonus and preference points work

Learn the difference between the two and how they increase your chances

Bonus points

Utah's bonus point system has been put in place to increase your chance of drawing a big game permit. Every time you apply for a limited-entry, CWMU or once-in-a-lifetime permit, and you don't draw one, you receive a bonus point for that species.

Here are a few helpful facts about bonus points:

• Bonus Points relate to limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime hunts.
• You earn a bonus point when your permit application is unsuccessful in the drawing.
• You can also choose to apply for a bonus point only. You may not, however, apply for both a bonus point and a limited-entry permit in the same drawing, for the same species. Likewise, you may not apply for both a bonus point and a once-in-a-lifetime permit in the same drawing, for the same species.
• Bonus points are awarded by species. For example, a bull elk bonus point is good for any future limited-entry bull elk hunt drawing.
• Bonus points for desert bighorn and Rocky Mountain bighorn are separate.
• If you are not eligible to apply for a permit for a species, then you cannot apply for a bonus point for that species either.
• You will forfeit your bonus points if you obtain a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime permit for that bonus point species through the drawing or after the drawing. In other words, if you have bull moose bonus points and you obtain a bull moose permit in or after the drawing, then you will forfeit your bull moose bonus points.
• Bonus points are not transferable.
• If members of a group application have bonus points, their bonus points are averaged and rounded down to the nearest whole number. (Learn more about group applications.)

For more information about bonus points, read Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-8 and R657-62-9.

Preference points

Utah's preference point system gives hunters who don't draw a general-season buck deer, antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit a better chance at drawing one the following year. Each time you apply for one of these permits and don't draw one, you'll receive a preference point.

Here are a few helpful facts about preference points:

• You will earn a preference point when your general-season buck deer, antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit application is unsuccessful in the drawing, or by choosing to apply for a preference point only.
• For general-season buck deer permits, you will earn a preference point if your drawing application is unsuccessful.
• You can also choose to apply for a preference point only. You may not, however, apply for both a preference point and a permit at the same time.
• A general-season deer preference point is good for any general-season deer hunt choice.
• If you draw a permit, you will forfeit your preference points for that species.
• If you are not eligible to apply for a permit for a species, then you cannot apply for a preference point for that species either.
• Preference points are not transferable.
• If members of a group application have preference points, their preference points are averaged and rounded down to the nearest whole number. (Learn more about group applications.)

For more information about preference points, read Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-10.