Upcoming events

Every year from February to June, great blue herons nest in a rookery near the Eccles Wildlife Education Center parking lot. Join the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for a chance to see these striking birds rearing their young!

What to expect:

• Viewing of great blue herons and their babies.
• Utah DWR staff will be on site to provide information on great blue herons.
• Family-friendly activities and crafts! Including egg decorating!
• We will have viewing scopes and binoculars available for use but you are welcome to bring your own too!

Event contact:

Hayley Pace | 385-515-6447 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Come work on your shooting skills in this friendly and informative free hands-on shotgun shooting clinic for women! Instruction includes shotgun shooting safety and practical experience handling and firing shotguns at clay targets, also known as trap shooting. Open to female participants ages 12 and older of all skill levels!

What to expect

• Firearm safety instruction given by Jenny McGowan, Spanish Fork Gun Club manager.
• Straight away trap - clay targets will be thrown for shooters to practice and gain experience. Shooters will rotate to accommodate other participants.
• 12 gauge and 20 gauge shotshells will be provided by DWR.

What to bring with you

• Participants will need to provide their own shotgun, as well as their own eye and ear protection.
• If you do not have the above equipment, you may pay a fee to rent those items at the facility.
• Ammunition and entrance to the park are provided by DWR.
• Please dress prepared for the weather (evenings can be chilly on the mountain), including a jacket and closed-toe footwear appropriate for the field.

This event is designed to give women a supportive, encouraging and comfortable atmosphere where they can learn more about handling firearms and improve their shooting skills.

Participation is limited to the first 30 women, ages 12 and older, who register online.

For questions about this event, please contact:

Michael Packer | 385-225-4322 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This free, family-friendly event will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Swasey's Boat Ramp area of the Green River, located just outside Green River, UT.

What to expect:

• Meet Utah DWR personnel at Swasey's Boat Ramp to learn about Utah's Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
• There will be a chance to see bighorn sheep along the river and mountain side, mostly female sheep known as ewes, and their new lambs.

• Restrooms are available onsite.

• This location requires traveling approximately six miles on a relatively flat dirt road.

What to bring:

• Viewing equipment, such as binoculars or a spotting scope (we will have a limited supply for free use).

• Water, a hat, jacket and camera!

Please note: Bring your binoculars and scan the mountain side to spot these unique animals located along the Green River. Please remember to view these animals from a safe distance.

See you there!

Event Contact:

Ashley Kennedy at 435-630-2484 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Brandon Behling at 435-650-2081 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Join the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources at the Mineral Mountains for an opportunity to see bighorn sheep!

This free family-friendly event will take place on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00am-1:00pm. We will meet at the Pahvant Travel Stop, west of exit 135 (Cove Fort) at 10:00am and drive about 12 miles west to the viewing location.

What to expect:

• There will be a chance of seeing as many as 20 bighorn sheep—or more— on the mountain side.
• Utah DWR staff will have binoculars and spotting scopes for use to view sheep.
• Due to the distance of the sheep from the road, viewing them with binoculars may be difficult. A spotting scope will provide the best viewing opportunity.
• Hiking closer to the sheep for better visibilty may be an option for those who choose to do so.
• Utah DWR personnel will be on-site to answer questions about Utah's desert bighorn sheep.
• Restrooms are not available.

What to bring:

• Viewing equipment such as binoculars or a spotting scope (a limited supply will be provided for free use).
• Proper clothing for weather conditions (hat, jacket, etc).
• Water.

Please note: The sheep in this area are visible year-round, so if you cannot make the event —or if we are at capacity— feel free to visit the area on your own time! Bring your binoculars/spotting scope and scan the mountain side to spot these unique animals located on the Mineral Mountains. Please remember to view these animals from a safe distance.

See you there!

Event Contact:

JC Ballard at 435-868-8205, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It's that time of year again! The Utah Hunting Skills Challenge, previously part of the NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge, will take place June 20 -21, with events at the Lee Kay Public Shooting Range in Salt Lake City, Utah. This fun, hands-on challenge is a great event for beginner to advanced shooters of all ages. If you've completed a hunter education course, you're eligible to participate!

Please register by May 30, so we can plan accordingly.

Participation

Due to the amount of equipment and staffing required to put on the event, we will require a minimum of 35 participants. The number of participants will determine how many events are set up. An email will be sent out the week before the event to inform those registered what (if any) changes will take place.

Cost

$35 per participant. Please register via Eventbrite with a credit card.

NOTE: We will accept cash for those registering day of the event. Please bring exact change.

As a special incentive, if an adult/alumnus also registers a first-time youth competitor, they can get $10 off their registration! Please contact Troy Anderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and to receive your $10 off.

Schedule of Events

Friday, June 20: Lee Kay Public Shooting Range

• Check in — 11:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.: Come to the Lee Kay Public Shooting Range Main Building to finish your registration.

• Written Exam — 11:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.: After you finish registration, you will head directly to take the written exam. You will pause to have the opening ceremonies at 3 pm but will have a chance to finish after.

• Opening Ceremony — 3 p.m.

• Games & activities — 6:30 p.m.– close: We will start some fun games, and have a chance to hang out and chat. Information will also beprovided for those who want to explore Salt Lake City and the beautiful area.

Saturday, June 21: Lee Kay Public Shooting Range

• Opening and safety briefing — 8:30 a.m.

• Event breakouts — 9:15 a.m.: Break into our groups and rotations to finish the rest of the events.

• Awards ceremony — TBA. When everyone is finished with events, we will have an awards ceremony. The location is to be determined but we will have all the information for you when you show up and complete your registration.

Note: Dinner will be provided for participants on Friday night. Lunch will be provided for participants on Saturday. Family members may purchase additional meal tickets for $10 per person.

Rules and Regulations

There will be eight events set up, depending on participation numbers. At each event, participants will bring their specific equipment for that event. If a participant does not have their own equipment, some will be provided for them to use. Find the official rules for specific events and equipment limitations on the YHEC Regional Rules page. Participants are eligible to compete in the NRA National Youth Hunter Education Challenge competition held this year in Betonville, Arkansas.

For more information and practice help, visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Hunting Skills Challenge resource page.

The following events will take place:

.22 Long Rifle

This event will consist of six stations where five shots will be taken at each station (for a total of 30 shots). Shots will range from 0-75 yards. Each station may use a different shooting position (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone). Stations may use props or shooting scenarios (standing using a post, tripods, shooting from a ground blind, prone using a log, etc.). Targets will be standard rimfire silhouette targets (chicken, turkey, pig and ram).

Shotgun

This will be a sporting clays-style competition. Expect clay targets to be thrown from all directions. Most targets will be true doubles but some report pairs (second bird is launched at the sound of the first shot) may be thrown. A total of 30 shots will be taken. The best practice for this would be 5-stand or a walk-through sporting clays course.

Muzzleloader

The muzzleloader event will consist of 10-12 shots. You will shoot at metal silhouette or knockdown style targets. Shot distances will range between 0-75 yards. Each station may use a different shooting position (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone). Stations may use props or shooting scenarios (standing using a post, tripods, shooting from a ground blind, prone using a log, etc.). There will be a possibility for a written exam.

Archery

The archery event will be a walk through a 3D-style course. Targets will range from 0-40 yards. A total of 30 shots will be scored. Scoring will use the traditional 3D rings and will be scored 10-8-5. Targets will be standard Delta or Reinhart targets. Rangefinders are not allowed.

Written Exam

The written exam will consist of 60 questions. All questions will be taken from Utah Hunter Education Student Manual and Utah Hunting Guidebooks. The questions will go over everything from ethics to information on wildlife species. This will not be an open book test so be sure to study. Contact Troy Anderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for your free copy of The Utah Hunter Education Student Manual.

Safety Trail

The safety trail is designed to test the young hunter’s ability to make safe and ethical decisions. It will go over basic safety scenarios and have you react to each of them. You will find anything from crossing a fence or ditch properly to encountering animals in the wild. You may even be tested on judging an animal's distance in yards.

Orienteering

Orienteering is the ability to use a map and compass. You will be tested on how well you can use a compass to find waypoints along with how well you read a map to find different landmarks. Traditional and modern technology methods will be used.

Wildlife Identification

Wildlife identification is the ability to identify the game animals of North America. You could encounter all sorts of things from scat and tracks to a small piece of fur, skulls or bones. The best way to study is to study The Hunter's Guide, and visit different areas that have taxidermy mounts.

Divisions

• Junior Division: Under 15. Individuals turning 15 years of age on or before August 15 shall be in the Senior Division classification.

• Senior Division: Ages 15 to 18 years old.

• Adult/Alumni Division: Age 19 and above. Open to any adult that would like to compete.

Prizes

Overall prize eligibility is limited to registrants who observe all safety rules and event regulations.

Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories:

Junior Division

• First through 5th place in the individual events
• Top five overall

Senior Division

• First through 5th place in the individual events
• Top five overall

Adult/Alumni Division

• First through third

This event will be held regardless of the weather, please dress accordingly.

Event Lodging

Discounted hotels and camping options are available. Please contact Troy Anderson for more information.

Event contact:

Troy Anderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 385 280-5007