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Hunter education
The Utah Hunter Education Program helps you learn essential safety skills and develop practical techniques useful for hunting. All courses offered by the Utah Hunter Education Program are nationally recognized.
Completion of a basic hunter education course is required to obtain a hunting license in Utah if you were born after Dec. 31, 1965.
There are two approved Utah Hunter Education course delivery options:
Option 1: Approved online course followed by a required in-person field day
Course details:
- The online course is self-paced (takes approximately 4-6 hours), and all sections must be completed before the field day.
- The online course is provided by a private vendor and is available in English or Spanish (although narration and interactive animations are available only in English).
- The required field day includes approximately 5 hours of attendance, completed over 1-2 days. During the in-person field day you must pass the final written test and a live-fire shooting exercise.
Cost: $12 (or $17 for a nonresident)* for a Hunter Education Registration Certificate + $24.95 for the online course.
What do I need to do?
- Complete the approved Utah online course. You must present the proof of completion to your instructor at the field day.
- Purchase a Hunter Education Registration Certificate online through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent.
- Find a field day in your area and register online.
- Reminder: You must complete the approved Utah online course before the field day, and present proof of completion to your instructor at the field day.
* Some facilities charge to rent a room or range, which may increase the cost. See the DWR fees table for nonresident hunter education registration certificate, furbearer and bowhunter education, and other fees.
Option 2: Entirely in-person instructor-led course
Course details:
- Typically takes 6-12 hours.
- Classes typically meet 1-2 nights a week over the course of 2-3 weeks.
- Includes all instruction, a final written test and the live-fire shooting exercise.
Cost: $12 (or $17 for a nonresident)* for a Hunter Education Registration Certificate
What do I need to do?
- Purchase a Hunter Education Registration Certificate online through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent.
- Find an instructor-led course in your area and register online.
- Complete the course and pass the final written test and live-fire target shooting exercise.
* Some facilities charge to rent a room or range, which may increase the cost. See the DWR fees table for nonresident hunter education registration certificate, furbearer and bowhunter education, and other fees.
New to Utah?
If you completed hunter education in another state or country and are now a Utah resident, you must transfer your out-of-state hunter education certification to a Utah certificate before applying for hunting licenses and permits as a Utah resident. To do so, please submit a Utah Hunter Education Program transfer affidavit.
How do I complete Hunter Education and obtain a Utah hunting license?
- Purchase a Hunter Education Registration Certificate ($12, or $17 for a nonresident), which is available through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent. The certificate is good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
- Complete an approved Utah Hunter Education course, which includes either in-person or online instruction on safety, ethics, skills and techniques; wildlife identification; hands-on exercises with practical skill application; the final written test and a live-fire shooting exercise. For students selecting the online instruction option, the hands-on exercises, final test and shooting exercise will be covered in a required, in-person field day.
- After you complete all requirements of the Hunter Education course — including the field day for online students — you will be issued a certificate of completion card (commonly known as a "blue card").
- Once you have obtained your certificate of completion card (blue card), you may complete your application for a Utah hunting or combination license through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent.
After you register
About using firearms
Hunting involves firearms or dangerous weapons, the possession and control of which are controlled by state and federal law. There are a few restrictions on possessing a firearm, including being a legal citizen of the United States or never having been convicted of a felony.
It is your responsibility to be aware of whether you can legally possess a firearm before you use or possess one in Hunter Education or hunting activities. Purchasing a hunting license from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will not allow you to legally possess or use a firearm if you are otherwise restricted from possessing a weapon under Section 76-10-503, a court order, or by the Board of Pardons and Parole.
In addition to the Hunter Education Program, we offer several other required courses for Utah hunters and trappers:
Furharvester education
This course is required for residents to obtain a furbearer license in Utah if you were born after Dec. 31, 1984. The course includes instruction in safe and responsible trapping. The course teaches proper trapping technique and device usage. You have two options for completing this course:
Bowhunter education
This course is not required to obtain a bowhunting permit in Utah. This is a comprehensive course for a national bowhunter certification that is required to bow hunt in Idaho, Montana, Alaska and several other states.
Extended archery season hunt orientation
Black bear annual orientation
Bison orientation courses
Mountain goat orientation
Management buck deer orientation
Predator Control Program training course and registration
For Hunter Education Program instructors:
- Login for Hunter Education Instructor Portal
- We're always looking for qualified instructors. Here's what you need to know.
