DWR lands

Two horseback riders riding over a stream

Protecting and managing wildlands access for Utahns

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is the steward of over 600,000 acres of important fish and wildlife habitat across the state. We manage these lands to conserve and improve habitat for fish and wildlife, and to support wildlife-related recreational opportunities for the public.

The effective management of these lands is vital to maintaining Utah's rich and diverse wildlife resources for current and future generations.

Types of Division lands

Since the first land purchase in 1901, the DWR has continued to hold and manage land across Utah for wildlife, habitat and wildlife-related recreation.

The Division owns property in the form of waterfowl and wildlife management areas. Additionally, the DWR purchases access and conservation easements, which allow private landowners to maintain ownership and control of their land while also accommodating public access. Through these cooperative efforts, we can manage for critical habitat and wildlife purposes. DWR lands include:

Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas (WMAs)

The Division and its partners manage WMAs in Utah and implement habitat projects to help provide food and water to maintain healthy wildlife populations.

Walk-in Access

A Walk-in Access property is an area of private land on which the Division has leased certain hunting, trapping or fishing privileges.

Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs)

Landowners that have an interest in CWMU program must have a minimum of 5,000 contiguous acres to manage a deer, pronghorn or turkey and a minimum of 10,000 contiguous acres for elk or moose.

Habitat Council

The Wildlife Habitat Account — more commonly known as the Habitat Council — is one of the major funding mechanisms for supporting habitat improvement projects in Utah.

Funding land purchases, access and management

DWR land purchases are primarily funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. This program was created through federal legislation — the 1937 Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 — wherein hunters and anglers supported an excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment to directly fund wildlife conservation.

Additional funding comes from:

Fishing and hunting license sales
Hunting permit sales
Utah Habitat Council grants
Endangered Species Mitigation Fund
Public and private conservation partnerships
Other state and federal grant programs

When you visit DWR lands with the intent of hunting or fishing, you help pay for their use by purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, permits and equipment.

The DWR has also received donations of property from landowners who wish to see their land protected in perpetuity. If you are considering donating land for wildlife conservation, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Other uses of Division lands

Some ways that you can enjoy DWR lands are by hunting, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, hiking and photography.

Beyond those recreational activities, be aware that special rules apply to DWR-administered properties and easements that may differ from other state or federal lands. DWR lands have specific management objectives and goals, restrictions and limitations, and are managed according to Utah Administrative Rule R657-28, Use of Division Land, which lists allowed (and disallowed) uses of DWR lands.

If you are an individual or represent a group seeking the use of DWR land for a limited or temporary use, or for an easement or right-of-way, please keep the following in mind:

DWR lands are not multiple-use.
Only wildlife-related activities are permitted.
To determine if your proposed use is permitted, please review Utah Administrative Rule R657-28, Use of Division Land before you proceed with your request.
To request limited or temporary use of DWR land, you must apply for a Special Use Permit in accordance with the administrative rule. Contact the DWR Lands Program at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss your request and the application process.
If you think you need an easement or right of way to cross, construct or access DWR land, you may contact us via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to discuss your specific situation. Before contacting us regarding one of these types of accesses, please be sure to exhaust all other private and public land options. Note: Granting partial interest rights can be a complex, timely and costly process on DWR lands.

Contact us

Interested in donating land for wildlife conservation?
Not sure if your specific DWR land use request is permitted?

Contact the DWR Lands Program at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss your specific needs.

Dealing with drought

Drought affects many fish and wildlife species and can impact their population numbers. In a nutshell, it may lead some animals to seek food and water in urban areas, causing conflicts with humans. More animals may die due to competition for increasingly limited resources.

This page is a resource for describing the effects of Utah's current drought on wildlife in the state, as well as explaining how the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is working to try and mitigate these effects.

For more information on current drought conditions across the state, visit drought.utah.gov. For information on the 2021 drought impacts on wildlife, visit wildlife.utah.gov/drought/2021.html.

Wildlife

Pahvaunt Unit, Millard County, May 2021

Deer and other big game species can be severely affected by drought. The limited availability of food and water can lead to a reduced number of newborn fawns and fewer fawns that survive their first year. The harsh conditions can also reduce the number of huntable buck deer and result in lower overall deer population numbers.

Drought can also impact antler growth for buck deer because a sparse food supply provides fewer nutrients, which bucks need to grow antlers. Pregnant does also struggle with the decreased food supply during drought years, and if their body condition is poor during pregnancy, their male offspring may have relatively smaller antlers, even after reaching maturity.

Deer and other wildlife can end up in your yard or garden to find food, although there are ways to deter them. It is important that you not try to feed animals such as deer, moose or bear yourself, as you may cause more harm than good. The animals could become habituated and lose their natural fear of people, or they could attract predators.

The best way to help wildlife is to leave them alone and let them stay wild. If, however, you see an animal that looks sickly, is injured or is acting aggressively, you should report it to the nearest DWR office. (Here are other common wildlife scenarios where you should contact the DWR.)

Fish

Otter Creek, May 2021

Drought impacts fish by reducing the amount of water available in lakes, reservoirs and streams. Less water heats up more quickly and has less oxygen, stressing the fish and causing more to die. Trout in low-elevation waterbodies are most likely to be impacted by drought, although all fish species can be affected.

If you like to fish, you should visit your favorite lakes and reservoirs as early and as often as you can. Water levels at some places could be so low in the summer that boat ramps won't be functional. Also, go fishing in the mornings and evenings when temperatures are cooler. And if you release your fish, do it in deeper, cooler water so they are more likely to survive.