Livestock grazing permits

Bidding for permits on DWR lands

Most years, the Division of Wildlife Resources has allowed livestock owners to bid for grazing permits on certain Wildlife and Waterfowl Management Areas. In selected areas, carefully planned grazing is a useful tool in managing wildlife habitat.

Bids are currently open for the following areas:

Central Region

Black Hill WMA, Sanpete County – PDF (3.7 MB)
Updated Jan. 30, 2026
Deep Creek WMA, Juab County – PDF (4.2 MB)
Updated Jan. 30, 2026
Santaquin WMA (Steel Ranch), Juab County – PDF (4 MB)
Updated Jan. 30, 2026

Bids will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026. Send your bid to:

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Attention: Mark Farmer
1115 N. Main St.
Springville, UT 84663
801-361-3744
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Southern Region

Elbow Ranch WMA, Piute County – PDF (864.66 KB)
Updated Feb. 13, 2026
Fillmore WMA, Millard County – PDF (1.1 MB)
Updated Feb. 13, 2026
Kingston Canyon WMA, Piute County – (0 KB)
Updated Feb. 13, 2026
Parowan Valley WMA, Iron County – PDF (412.67 KB)
Updated Feb. 13, 2026
Parowan Front WMA, Iron County – PDF (769.21 KB)
Updated Feb. 13, 2026

Bids will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.

If submitting bids for the Fillmore WMA, send your bid to:

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Attention: Kendall Bagley
1470 N. Airport Road
Cedar City, UT 84721
435-633-5522
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If submitting bids for the Elbow Ranch, Kingston Canyon, Parowan Front-Summit and Parowan Valley WMA's, send your bid to:

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Attention: Gary Bezzant
1470 N. Airport Road
Cedar City, UT 84721
435-691-2357
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Definitions

Read the definition terms used in the descriptions and applications.

Animal Unit Month (AUM): An animal unit month (AUM) is the basic unit of grazing capacity and is defined as potential forage intake of one animal unit (AU) for one month or 30 days. As a quantitative measure of carrying capacity, the AUM is further described as 750 pounds of air dry forage (2.5 percent of body weight x 1,000 pounds x 30 days).

Animal Unit: (AU) Defined as a 1,000-pound, non-lactating cow.

Animal Unit Equivalents: (AUE) 1,000-pound, non-lactating cow or its equivalent in potential intake.

Kinds, classes of animal	AUs
Mature cow, non-lactating, 1,000 pounds	1.00
Cow calf pair	1.35
Mature bull (over 1,700 pounds)	1.50
Sheep, mature non-lactating	0.20
Ewe and lamb pair	0.30

Fishing contest rules

If you're planning a fishing contest or tournament, you can now apply online

Fishing contests in Utah are governed by DWR Administrative Rule R657-58: Fishing Contests and Clinics. In 2021, the DWR simplified this rule and replaced the paper application with an online application portal.

Apply to hold a fishing contest

Ice angler sqatting on ice and snow, holding a caught yellow perch

Will I need a COR for my fishing tournament or contest?

A Certificate of Registration (COR) is required for fishing contests that include any of the following:

85 participants or more
Awards of $2,000 or more in cash, prizes or a combination of the two
A live fish weigh-in
Tagged fish

A COR is not required for a contest in which fish are not legally possessed by anglers. For example, a "catch-and-release" tournament, in which participants measure or take a photo of their fish after catching them and then immediately release them, does not require a COR.

How much does a COR cost?

A COR costs typically between $20 and $250, depending on the number of participants and the total prize value.

If your fishing contest requires a COR, you must apply for one through the online application portal and pay a nonrefundable $10 handling fee. If your contest is approved, the DWR will contact you and inform you of the COR fee.

What else do I need to know?

Applications must be received by the Division at least 45 days prior to the contest.
Fishing contests may not be held on free fishing day or legal holidays.
Multiple contests may not occur on the same day at the same waterbody. (See the list of current fishing contests.) The online application portal will inform you if the contest you would like to schedule conflicts with a previously scheduled contest.
Contest participants may not possess any fish species, amount of fish, or size of fish that have not been approved by the Utah Wildlife Board for the waterbody. See the current Utah Fishing Guidebook for rules for specific waters.
Coldwater fish (any fish in the family Salmonidae, salmon, trout, whitefish, char, grayling and associated hybrids) taken in approved fishing contests may not be culled or otherwise released alive after possession.
Tagging of fish for tagged fish contests must be conducted only by Division personnel, or by designated representatives working under the direct supervision of the Division.
Obtaining COR approval may take up to 14 days.

In addition, you must ensure that all contest participants decontaminate their boats, either professionally or according to the directions on the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) self-certification form, and display their proof of decontamination in the windshield of their boat for the duration of the fishing contest. (If you are running the contest, it is your responsibility as the contest sponsor to make sure every boat complies with Utah's AIS rules.)