Dedicated Hunter Program FAQ

What's changing?

The Beaver unit has been split into two different general-season hunt units: Beaver, East and Beaver, West.

• Beaver, East unit will continue to have standard weapons definitions.
• Beaver, West unit will allow restricted weapons only for the general-season muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon (rifle) hunts. (Standard archery definitions still apply.)

What are my options?

If you are enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter Program with the Beaver unit as your selected hunting unit, you must decide which new unit (Beaver, East or Beaver, West) you want to hunt for the remainder of your participation in the program.

• We recommend that you view the new hunt boundary maps and descriptions for Beaver, East and Beaver, West in the Utah Hunt Planner.
• You will not be able to hunt both units.
• If you select the Beaver, East unit, standard weapons definitions will apply.
• If you select the Beaver, West unit, you must comply with the new restricted weapons definitions for general-season muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon (rifle) hunts; there are no new restricted definitions for archery equipment on this hunt unit.
• If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office or send directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What's changing?

Starting in 2025, the Boulder/Kaiparowits unit will allow restricted weapons only for the general-season muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon (rifle) hunts. (Standard archery definitions still apply.)

This change is part of a multiyear research study on whether hunting restrictions based on weapons technology can improve mule deer population performance, hunting opportunity and/or hunter satisfaction. The research study went out to the public for feedback before the Utah Wildlife Board approved it in December 2024.

What are my options?

• If you plan to hunt during the general-season muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon (rifle) hunts on the Boulder/Kaiparowits unit, make sure you comply with the new restricted weapons requirements.
• If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office or send directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What's changing?

Starting in 2025, the Cache unit will allow restricted weapons only for the general-season muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon (rifle) hunts. (Standard archery definitions still apply.)

This change is part of a multiyear research study on whether hunting restrictions based on weapons technology can improve mule deer population performance, hunting opportunity and/or hunter satisfaction. The research study went out to the public for feedback before the Utah Wildlife Board approved it in December 2024.

What are my options?

• If you plan to hunt during the general-season muzzleloader and any-legal-weapon (rifle) hunts on the Cache unit, make sure you comply with the new restricted weapons requirements.
• If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office or send directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What's changing?

Some hunting units in this area — West Desert, West; Oquirrh-Stansbury; and West Desert, Tintic — have been reconfigured and renamed. The unit formerly named Oquirrh-Stansbury no longer exists, and portions of the unit are now incorporated into two new units: Oquirrh/Tintic and Cedar/Stansbury.

The Oquirrh Mountains area has been combined with the Tintic unit to form the new Oquirrh/Tintic unit. The Stansbury Mountains have been combined with the Cedar Mountains area (previously included in the former West Desert, West unit) to form the new Cedar/Stansbury unit.

What are my options?

• If you chose the Oquirrh-Stansbury unit when you enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter Program, you may pick either the Oquirrh/Tintic unit or Cedar/Stansbury unit, beginning in 2025.
• We recommend that you view the new hunt boundaries and descriptions in the Utah Hunt Planner before making your decision.
• You will not be able to hunt both units.
• If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office or send directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What's changing?

The entire Thousand Lakes unit has been converted from a general-season hunt to a limited-entry hunt. The new Thousand Lakes limited-entry unit will be restricted weapons only for archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunts.

Because this general-season unit has been discontinued (and effectively canceled), all Dedicated Hunters who chose the Thousand Lakes unit upon enrollment will be withdrawn from the program.

What are my options?

A portion of both your original participation fee and preference points will be restored, as long as you don't already have two harvests on your record. Details vary, depending on when you joined the program.

• Dedicated Hunters who joined in 2023

  Once you've been withdrawn from the program, you will automatically receive:

  • A refund of one-third of your original participation fee
  • One-third of the preference points you used to draw the permit

  Important: If you already have two harvests on record, you will not receive a refund or point reinstatement.

• Dedicated Hunters who joined in 2024

  Once you've been withdrawn from the program, you will automatically receive:

  • A refund of two-thirds of your original participation fee
  • Two-thirds of the preference points you used to draw the permit

You will be eligible to reapply for a different general-season hunt in the 2025 Big Game application.

What's changing?

Some hunting units in this area have been reconfigured and renamed. The unit formerly named West Desert, Tintic is now called the Oquirrh/Tintic unit. The unit boundary has also changed: It now includes both its original area and the Oquirrh Mountains area within the unit boundaries. (This means your hunting unit is now larger.)

Do I need to do anything in response to this change?

No. No further action is necessary on your part; if you chose the West Desert, Tintic unit when you enrolled as a Dedicated Hunter, you will hunt the Oquirrh/Tintic unit beginning with the 2025 season. We encourage you to visit the Utah Hunt Planner to view a map of the new Oquirrh/Tintic unit hunt boundaries.

What's changing?

Some hunting units in this area — West Desert, West; Oquirrh-Stansbury; and West Desert, Tintic — have been reconfigured and renamed.

• The unit formerly named West Desert, West no longer exists, and portions of the area are now incorporated into two new units: West Desert, Swasey and Cedar/Stansbury.
• The Cedar Mountains area of this former unit is now incorporated in the Cedar/Stansbury unit.
• The remaining portion of the unit will now be called the West Desert, Swasey unit.

What are my options?

• If you chose the West Desert, West unit when you enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter Program, you may pick either the West Desert, Swasey or Cedar/Stansbury unit beginning in 2025.
• We recommend that you view the new hunt boundaries and descriptions in the Utah Hunt Planner before making your decision.
• You will not be able to hunt both units.
• If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office or send directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The following general-season units have restricted weapons hunts (seasons with technology restrictions are in parentheses):

• Cache (muzzleloader, rifle)
• Beaver, West (muzzleloader, rifle)
• Boulder/Kaiparowits (muzzleloader, rifle)

In addition to the standard equipment and weapons requirements for big game hunting in Utah that you are likely already familiar with, the specific restrictions that apply to restricted weapons units are:

See Utah Admin. Rule 657-5-48 for details.