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 (DB1802) will continue to have standard weapons definitions.
• Beaver, West unit (DB1803) will allow restricted weapons* only for the general-season muzzleloader and rifle hunts. (Standard archery definitions still apply.)

Your options: select a unit or withdraw from the program

Because the unit has been split, all Dedicated Hunters who had the Beaver unit now have a choice to make by 5 p.m. (MST) on March 7. You can either:

• Choose to hunt in the Beaver, East unit (DB1802) for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. (Standard weapons definitions will apply.)

OR

• Choose to hunt in the Beaver, West unit (DB1803) for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: The new Beaver, West unit is a restricted weapons* unit for both the muzzleloader and rifle seasons. (See details below about the restricted weapons requirement.)

OR

• Withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program. To do so, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office.
• Important: If you choose this option, you will not receive a refund for program fees or service hours — whether purchased or worked — and no points will be restored.

What's changing?

Starting in 2025, the Boulder/Kaiparowits unit will allow restricted weapons* only for the general-season muzzleloader and 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.

Your options: select a unit or withdraw from the program

• Choose to stay in the Boulder/Kaiparowits unit (DB1787) for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: The Boulder/Kaiparowits unit is now a restricted weapons unit for both the muzzleloader and rifle seasons.

OR

• Choose a different general-season unit for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: Any service hours you've already purchased or worked will be transferred to the new unit. (See details below if you're considering a different unit.)

OR

• Withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program. To do so, fill out a surrender form and return it to any DWR office.
• Important: If you choose this option, you will not receive a refund for program fees or service hours — whether purchased or worked — and no points will be restored.

Before you switch to a different unit

If you want to select a different unit, you have until March 7 at 5 p.m. (MST) to do so, and there are a few things to keep in mind:

• You will be able to select three unit options, in order of preference (e.g., first choice, second choice, etc.).
• The Pine Valley and Southwest Desert units already have full quotas for the Dedicated Hunter Program, so they are not among the unit options.
• Units will be filled — as space allows — on a first-come, first-served basis. If a unit's quota of Dedicated Hunters is full, you will not be assigned that unit. No unit choices are guaranteed.
• There's no guarantee that family members and friends will be in the same unit.

What's changing?

Starting in 2025, the Cache unit (DB1771) will allow restricted weapons only for the general-season muzzleloader and 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.

Your options: select a unit or withdraw from the program

Because the unit's weapons requirements are changing, all Dedicated Hunters in the Cache unit have a choice to make by March 7, 5 p.m. (MST). You can either:

• Choose to stay in the Cache unit (DB1771) for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: The Cache unit is now a restricted weapons unit for both the muzzleloader and rifle seasons. (See details below about the restricted weapons requirement.)

OR

• Choose a different general-season unit for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: Any service hours you've already purchased or worked will be transferred to the new unit. (See details below if you're considering a different unit.)

OR

• Withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: If you choose this option, you will not receive a refund for program fees or service hours — whether purchased or worked — and no points will be restored.

Before you switch to different unit

If you want to select a different unit, you have until March 7 at 5 p.m. to do so, and there are a few things to keep in mind:

• You will be able to select three unit options, in order of preference (e.g., first choice, second choice, etc.).
• The Pine Valley and Southwest Desert units already have full quotas for the Dedicated Hunter Program, so they are not among the unit options.
• Units will be filled — as space allows — on a first-come, first-served basis. If a unit's quota of Dedicated Hunters is full, you will not be assigned that unit. No unit choices are guaranteed.
• There's no guarantee that family members and friends will be in the same unit.

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.

Your options: select a new unit or withdraw from the program

You must submit your new unit choice by March 7, 2025, at 5 p.m. (MST).

We recommend that you carefully review the new hunt boundaries and descriptions in the Utah Hunt Planner before making your decision. You will only be able to hunt within one of the new units:

• Cedar/Stansbury (DB1804)

OR

• Oquirrh/Tintic (DB1805)

Important: You will not be able to hunt both units.

If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program instead of selecting one of the two units, please complete a surrender form and return it to your nearest DWR office.

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 (DB1108) 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 and you must choose your new option preference by March 7 at 5 p.m. (MST).

Your options: select a new unit or withdraw from the program

• Choose a different general-season unit for the remainder of your enrollment in the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: Any service hours you've already purchased or worked will be transferred to the new unit.

OR

• Withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program. Important: If you choose this option, you will not receive a refund for program fees or service hours — whether purchased or worked — and no points will be restored.

Before you select a new unit

If you decide to select a new unit, you have until March 7 at 5 p.m. (MST) to do so, and there are a few things to keep in mind:

• You will be able to select three unit options, in order of preference (e.g., first choice, second choice, etc.).
• The Pine Valley and Southwest Desert units already have full quotas for the Dedicated Hunter Program, so they are not among the unit options.
• Units will be filled — as space allows — on a first-come, first-served basis. If a unit's quota of Dedicated Hunters is full, you will not be assigned that unit. No unit choices are guaranteed.
• There's no guarantee that family members and friends will be in the same unit.

What's changing?

Some hunting units in this area have been reconfigured and renamed (West Desert, West and Oquirrh-Stansbury), which affected the West Desert, Tintic unit. Because of this reconfiguration, the West Desert, Tintic unit has changed to the Oquirrh/Tintic unit (DB1805). 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 (DB1805) 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.

Your options: select a new unit or withdraw from the program

You must submit your new unit choice by March 7, 2025, at 5 p.m. (MST).

We recommend that you carefully review the new hunt boundaries and descriptions in the Utah Hunt Planner before making your decision. You will only be able to hunt within one of the new units:

• Cedar/Stansbury (DB1804)

OR

• West Desert, Swasey (DB1806)

If you prefer to withdraw from the Dedicated Hunter Program instead of selecting one of the two units, please complete a surrender form and return it to your nearest DWR office.