Benefits, requirements & fees
What can you expect if you join the Dedicated Hunter Program?
As a Dedicated Hunter, you will receive the following benefits:
- The opportunity to hunt during all of the general-season buck deer hunts: archery, extended archery, muzzleloader and any legal weapon (rifle) during a three-year consecutive period.
- Opportunities to join with the DWR to help wildlife and promote wildlife recreation in Utah.
Requirements
If you join the Dedicated Hunter Program, you agree to do the following:
- Harvest no more than two deer during your three years in the program (with a maximum of one deer per year).
- Complete 32 service hours on DWR-approved service projects.
- Take an online conservation and ethics course.
- Have a current Utah hunting license when you apply for the program and during each year you obtain a Dedicated Hunter permit.
Want to know more? See common questions and answers or read the program rules.
Ready to apply? Here's how to begin.
Program fees*
When you apply to join the Dedicated Hunter program, you'll be charged a nonrefundable $10 application fee. If you are successful in the drawing, you will be charged one of the following fees:
Adult
Residents: $195
Nonresidents: $1,047
Youth (12 to 17 years old)
Residents: $120
Nonresidents: $814
Lifetime license holder
Adult: $75
Dedicated Hunter Program
Greater opportunities to hunt and contribute to Utah's wildlife
The Dedicated Hunter Program is a service-based hunting program that allows participants to have more time to hunt deer (general season) each year. This program:
- Promotes the overall hunting experience, rather than consistently taking an animal.
- Provides hunters with opportunities to contribute their time to wildlife-related service projects.
- Provides participants with additional education about wildlife management and ethics.
Dedicated hunters work on an important habitat rehabilitation project after a wildlife.
As a result of this program, many important projects for big game, upland game, fish and other wildlife are accomplished each year that, otherwise, could not be done.
Before you join
Dedicated Hunter participant guide
Accomplishments in 2025
Dedicated Hunters and other volunteers accomplish important projects year-round. The following numbers show the current totals* for the year 2025.
| Total projects offered |
Projects completed |
Volunteers |
Dedicated Hunter
service hours completed |
Other volunteer
service hours completed |
|
|
|
|
|
*Last updated April 26, 2025
Project types by hour
The following chart shows a breakdown of the total Dedicated Hunter service hours in 2024 by project type.
Want to learn more? Listen to the DWR "Wild" podcast!
DWR Dedicated Hunter and Walk-in Access Coordinator Bryan Christensen talks about Utah's Dedicated Hunter Program: what it is, how it works, why it is a win-win for wildlife conservation and avid hunters, and how to get involved. Note: Since this interview was recorded, there have been several administrative changes to the Dedicated Hunter program and enrollment process, and as of July 2023, the buyout time for one hour is now $40.
Search Wildlife
