The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Dinosaur National Monument and several local, state and federal organizations and volunteers are working together to host this year’s annual Sandhill Crane Viewing Day. Come and scope out the local hot spots for seeing migratory sandhill cranes in the Uintah Basin! This event is free, and it is a great outing for the whole family.

What to bring:

• Your vehicle. Driving to viewing sites will be required during both event times.
• Binoculars or spotting scopes. We will supply a limited amount of gear, but we encourage you to bring your own. Disinfectant wipes will be provided to clean the supplied gear between users.
• A camera. Use a telephoto lens for quality images.
• Snacks and water. Come prepared for a long day outside, and make sure to dress appropriately for the weather.

Schedule of Events:

To maximize viewing opportunities in different parts of the basin, we are offering two different viewings at the beginning and end of the day. Please register for this event so we can accurately get a count to prepare for the number of vehicles that will be attending. You may choose to attend one or both times/locations for this event. Locations may produce varying numbers of birds.

• 7–9 a.m. event: Meet at Jensen Park, and then travel to fields near the Green River in Jensen, Utah.
• 5–7 p.m. event: Meet at the commuter parking lot at the intersection of Highway 40 and State Route 88 (Ouray turn-off) between Vernal and Roosevelt, and then travel to Ouray National Wildlife Refuge and Pelican Lake.

Directions:

7–9 a.m. event: Jensen Park (8775 E. 6000 South, Jensen, UT).

• Tucked just off the highway between Naples, Utah, and the Colorado border is Jensen Park. The park offers access to a pavilion, electricity, water, horseshoe pits and a basketball court. Restrooms are available nearby.

5–7 p.m. event: Please meet at the commuter parking lot at the intersection of Highway 40 and State Route 88 (Ouray turn-off) between Vernal and Roosevelt.

• From Vernal: Drive east on Highway 40 approximately 12 miles to the Ouray turn-off at State Route 88. The parking lot is located on the south side of Highway 40 at the intersection.
• From Roosevelt: Drive west on Highway 40 approximately 13 miles to the Ouray turn-off at state Route 88. The parking lot is located on the south side of Highway 40 at the intersection.

For both viewing times, look for DWR event signs as you get close to direct you to the meeting area.

Event Contacts:

Tonya Kieffer-Selby | 801-995-2972 | tonyakieffer@utah.gov

Anthony Christianson | 435-828-0008 | achristianson@utah.gov

Partners:

Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and Dinosaur National Monument (NPS).

Join the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for a Pheasant Hunting 101 seminar at our Central Region office in Springville! This free seminar will be especially helpful for beginner and youth hunters and will take place on Oct. 15 from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.

Seminar topics:

• Hunting equipment, safety and regulations.
• The pheasant habitat.
• The Utah Pheasant Release Management program.
• Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas (WMAs) in central Utah.
• Utah Lake Wetland Preserve areas (ULWPs) in central Utah.
• Hunting with and without a dog.
• How to quickly field dress pheasants.

Please come with questions, and you will leave with a solid foundation for pheasant hunting! See you there.

Event Contact:

Nicole Passeri | 385-277-2966 | npasseri@utah.gov

Michael Packer | 385-225-4322 | michaelpacker@utah.gov

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are hosting a free pheasant hunt for beginner hunters on private property near Cedar City. SFW is providing birds so that novice hunters will have an increased opportunity to successfully harvest pheasants.

Requirements:

• Participants must be 17 years of age or younger, or be a novice hunter with three years or less of hunting experience.
• The hunt is limited to 50 hunters (25 per session). Hunters must register in advance to attend.
• Hunters must verify they have completed hunter education or have a trial hunting program number. They must also have a valid hunting or combination license.
• All participants must have a ticket and sign the waiver form provided. This includes adults attending to supervise youth, observers/helpers staying at the event to provide transportation, dog handlers and all beginners who will be hunting. No one will be permitted at the event unless they have a ticket and have agreed to the online waiver.

What to expect:

• Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled hunt to attend the safety briefing and disperse before shooting begins. The hunt leader will take you to the hunting location.
• The morning session will start at 8 a.m. (arrive by 7:30) and the afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. (arrive by 12:30 p.m.).
• Everyone going afield, youth or adults, must wear hunter orange on their head and body.
• Please review and download to your phone the 2026–27 Utah Upland Game & Turkey Guidebook for bag and possession limits. https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/upland_turkey_guidebook.pdf
• Do not bring dogs that are not well-trained for upland game hunting. If dogs create an unsafe or poor hunting environment, they must be restrained or removed from the location by their handler.
• You will be emailed a survey within a week after your hunt occurs. Please check your email to provide your much-appreciated feedback.

New This Year:

• Cedar City Trap Club is offering every participant an opportunity to practice shooting before the event.
• There will be no charge to the participants. However, participants will need to bring their own ammunition and proof that they have registered for the hunt.
• To set up an appointment participants can call the club at 435-691-1869.

Coordinates: 37.60046, -113.1124

Directions:

Take I-15 to the South Cedar exit (exit 57). At the end of the offramp, turn east on Main Street. At the light/intersection, turn south/southwest onto S Old Hwy 91, and follow for 2.3 miles. You will then turn south onto Tipple Rd, and follow that for 4.6 miles. When the pavement ends, you will turn southeast onto a dirt road, where you will arrive at the hunt area. Please contact me with any questions.

See you there!

Event Contact:

JC Ballard | 435-590-6725 | jcballard@utah.gov

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are offering a free pheasant hunt for beginner hunters on the Pahvant Wildlife Management Area near Fillmore, Utah. SFW is providing the birds so that novice hunters will have an increased opportunity to successfully harvest pheasants.

Requirements:

• Participants must be a novice hunter with three years or less of hunting experience.
• The hunt is limited to 100 hunters (50 per session). Hunters must register in advance to attend.
• Hunters must verify they have completed hunter education or have a trial hunting program number, as well as a valid hunting or combination license.
• All participants (including observers) must have a ticket and agree to the online waiver.

What to expect:

• Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled hunt to attend the safety briefing and disperse before shooting begins.
• The morning session will start at 8 a.m. (arrive by 7:30 a.m.) and the afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. (arrive by 12:30 p.m.).
• Everyone going afield, youth or adults, must wear hunter orange on their head and body.
• All participants must have a ticket and sign the waiver form provided. This includes adults attending to supervise youth, observers/helpers staying at the event to provide transportation, dog handlers and all youth who will be hunting. No one will be permitted at the event unless they have a ticket and have agreed to the online waiver.
• Please review —and download to your phone — the 2026–27 Utah Upland Game & Turkey Guidebook for bag and possession limits. https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks
• We welcome your feedback! Supervising adults and adult participants will be emailed a survey within a week after your hunt occurs. Please check your emails the week following the hunt to provide your much-appreciated feedback.

Note: Do not bring dogs that are not well-trained for upland game hunting. If dogs create an unsafe or poor hunting environment, they must be restrained or removed from the location by their handler.

Directions:

From the south: Take I-15 north to Fillmore. Take the South Fillmore exit (163) and turn west on W. 850 South. Continue west for about 12 miles, then turn right (north) on 2800 West. Continue north; 2800 West becomes state Highway 100. Turn east on W. 4700 North between mile marker 10 and 11; continue to the top of the hill.

From the north: Take I-15 south to Holden. Take the North Holden exit (178) and turn west, staying on Highway 50 (You have to take a right just before Holden to stay on Hwy 50). Turn South on Highway 100. Turn east between mile marker 10 and 11; continue to the top of the hill.

The link below will show where the WMA is located:

https://goo.gl/maps/EtucsFvM18eND1zV6

For questions or registration issues, please contact JC Ballard at 435-590-6729 or email at jcballard@utah.gov. For directions or questions on the day of the hunt, contact Tyrell Orme at 435-691-5703.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are hosting a free youth pheasant hunt at the Annabella Wildlife Management Area. SFW will provide birds so that novice youth hunters can have an increased opportunity to successfully harvest pheasants.

Requirements:

• Youth participants must be 17 years of age or younger to attend.
• The hunt is limited to 60 youth hunters (30 per session). Hunters must register in advance to attend.
• Youth hunters must verify they have completed hunter education or have a trial hunting program number, as well as a valid hunting or combination license.
• All participants must have a ticket and sign the waiver form provided. This includes adults attending to supervise youth, observers/helpers staying at the event to provide transportation, dog handlers and all youth who will be hunting. No one will be permitted at the event unless they have a ticket and have agreed to the online waiver.

Be prepared:

• Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled hunt to check in, attend the safety briefing, pick up prize drawing tickets, practice shooting clay pigeons and disperse before shooting begins.
• Participants are expected to bring their own firearms, ammunition and safety equipment for practice and the hunt.
• Please review —and download to your phone — the 2026–27 Utah Upland Game & Turkey Guidebook for bag and possession limits. https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks
• Do not bring dogs that are not well-trained for upland game hunting. If dogs create an unsafe or poor hunting environment, they must be restrained or removed from the location by their handler.

What to expect:

• Paul Niemeyer, the hunt leader, will take you to the hunting location after your safety briefing and practice.
• The morning session will start at 8 a.m. (arrive by 7:30 a.m.) and the afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. (arrive by 12:30 p.m.).
• Everyone going afield (this includes both youth and adults) must wear hunter orange on their head and body.
• Free lunch will be provided at noon for both sessions, so please bring a camp chair.
• You will be emailed a survey within a week after your hunt occurs. Please check your email to provide your much-appreciated feedback.

Directions:

From the south: Start north on Interstate Highway 15. Turn onto I-70 (exit 132), heading east toward Richfield/Denver. Take exit 31 toward Elsinore. Turn right onto Main Street. Just east of town, take a right at the fork (Central Boulevard). Continue on Central Boulevard as it curves north through the town of Central Valley. Take a right onto 700 North/Nebeker Lane. If you get to 1200 East, you’ve gone too far.

From the north: Start south on Interstate Highway 15. Take exit 188, toward Scipio. Turn left onto 400 North. Turn right onto State Street/U.S. Route 50 East. Turn right onto state Route 260. Turn right onto state Route 24, and continue onto state Route 118. Turn left onto Elk Horn Road. Take the next right onto 1150 East, then left onto Annabella Road. Turn right onto 700 North/Nebeker Lane. If you get to Main Street, you’ve gone too far.

Coordinates: 38.71562, -112.0778

Pre-event Contact:

JC Ballard | 435-590-6729 | jcballard@utah.gov.

For questions or directions on the day of the hunt:

Vance Mumford | 435-979-2919.