Permit FAQ

If there’s any chance you might not hunt, surrender the permit to the DWR as soon as possible. Important: If you surrender a permit less than 30 days before the hunt opening date, you will lose all previously acquired bonus/preference points for that species, and you will not accrue a point for the current year.

If you surrender a permit at least 30 days before the start of the season, you'll get all of your previously accrued bonus or preference points for that species/permit back, but you will not earn a point for the current year. Any applicable waiting period will be waived as long as you surrender the permit before the hunt opening date.

If you’re part of a group, all group members must surrender their permits at least 30 days before the hunt opening date in order to have their previously acquired bonus/preference points reinstated. They will not accrue points for the current year. Important: If any member of the group surrenders their permit less than 30 days before the hunt date, then all group members will lose their bonus/preference points for that species/permit. Any applicable waiting period will be waived so long as the permit is surrendered before the hunt opening date.

If you are surrendering a permit for medical reasons, you must provide verification of illness or injury from a physician, and it must be on the physician's office letterhead. The physician’s statement must include all of the following information:

The nature and date of the illness/injury
Why the illness/injury prevents you from hunting
The last date the physician treated you
The patients name and date of birth
The physician's signature and the date of signing

If you are also seeking a refund for the permit you cannot use due illness/injury, please see the Refunds section of the DWR website and complete the refund application form as well as the permit surrender form.

The DWR does not usually issue refunds for permits, licenses or certificates of registration. There are some exceptions, however, and refunds can occur under certain circumstances (for example, military deployment, illness, injury or death). If you are eligible for a refund, you must submit all required forms and accompanying paperwork within 90 days of the season ending in order to qualify for a full refund. If it is a limited-entry permit or once-in-a-lifetime permit — and you surrender it 30 days or more before the season opens — you will be refunded the cost of the permit, minus a $25 handling fee. See if you're eligible and download the refund request form.

If you are unable to use a CWMU permit you drew in one of the hunt drawings, you can choose to surrender it. In order to have your previously acquired bonus/preference points reinstated, you must do all of the following:

Surrender the permit no later than 30 days before the hunt dates given to you by the CWMU operator. (You will not accrue a point for the current year.)
You must also provide a notarized statement from the operator with your hunt dates, or the original email/paperwork from the operator which lists your hunt dates.

Important: If you are surrendering less than 30 days before your given hunt dates due to injury/illness, death or military deployment, you must provide one of the operator document options listed above in #2, in addition to the required refund paperwork.

If you purchase any general-season buck deer permit that's available after the big game drawing, you will lose any preference points you have for general-season buck deer. Important: This does not apply to youth who purchase over-the-counter youth archery permits.

If you are successful in drawing a limited-entry permit for deer or elk, your waiting period will be five years. If you are successful in drawing a limited-entry pronghorn permit, your waiting period will be two years.

Utah's big game application period opens in late March. Check the wildlife calendar for exact dates.

No. To improve overall drawing odds, the Utah Wildlife Board approved a rule change in December 2024 that allows you to apply for either a Dedicated Hunter COR or a general-season buck deer permit, but not both. Preference points will remain separate for each, but you must apply for either the Dedicated Hunter program or a general-season buck deer permit each year.

Yes, group applications, including those for once-in-a-lifetime hunts, are accepted for bonus points during the big game application period.

Yes, because there are fewer than 30 days between when your permit is mailed out and when your hunt season begins, you will have until the day before the hunt begins to surrender your spring or multi-season bear permit. Your previously accrued bonus points will be reinstated, but you will not accrue a new bonus point for the year. Note: All other bear permits will follow the 30-day rule (see "FAQs for all hunting permits" above).

No, completion of a bear orientation course is not required before you can apply for or obtain a bear permit or bonus point. However, if you are successful in obtaining a bear permit, then you must take the orientation course prior to going out into the field. You may take the course here.

If you're 11 years old, but you'll turn 12 during the application year, you can apply for and use a bear permit.

No, group applications are not allowed.

No, there are no age restrictions to apply for hunting permits for these bird species. You are still required to have completed hunter education or be a current participant in the Trial Hunting Program. And you must have a hunting or combination license before applying. You must also follow any special age-related field regulations listed in Utah's Upland Game & Turkey or Waterfowl guidebooks.

Yes, you are required to take the swan orientation course every year before you can apply for a tundra swan permit or preference point.

Yes, if 20 trumpeter swans are illegally harvested during the season, the tundra swan hunt will immediately close. This has occurred multiple years in a row. If this happens, you will not receive a refund or a reinstatement of preference points.

No, trumpeter swans are now illegal to harvest. If you accidentally or intentionally harvest a trumpeter swan, you are required to check it in at a Division office or the Bear River Bird Refuge. A DWR conservation officer will take possession of your swan, and you will incur a waiting period (5 years for adults, 3 years for youth) before you can apply to hunt tundra swan again.

Yes. Because there are fewer than 30 days between when your permit is mailed out and when your hunt season begins, you will have until the day before the hunt begins to surrender your permit. Your previously accrued preference points will be reinstated, but you will not accrue a new preference point for the year. Note: All other sandhill crane permits will follow the 30-day rule (see "FAQs for all hunting permits" above).