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The Utah Hunting and Fishing app (available for iOS and Android) makes it easy to download, read and search Utah's hunting and fishing guidebooks on your mobile device. Make sure to check the app regularly for the most up-to-date guidebook editions.
Rules & regulations
These guidebooks contain the information you must know to hunt or fish in Utah. We highly recommend that you either download electronic versions or pick up printed copies. We distribute free printed guidebooks at Division offices and licensing agents.
- Hunt boundary maps: View interactive maps of most hunt unit boundaries.
- Wildlife statutes & administrative rules: The regulations written into the wildlife guides are largely taken from state statute and division administrative rules.
- Wildlife calendar: Take a quick look at application dates, deadlines and season dates.
Fishing Guidebook
The Utah Fishing Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern fishing in Utah.
Previous editions
Big Game Application Guidebook
The Utah Big Game Application Guidebook provides information and instructions hunters need to know to apply for bucks, bulls and once-in-a-lifetime hunts.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 71: In the CWMU buck deer hunt table, the Plymouth Peak CWMU (DB1276) was listed in error. That property combined with Washakie CWMU (DB1306) last year.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated to remove the reference to Plymouth Peak CWMU.
Page 50: In the limited-entry buck deer muzzleloader hunt table, the beginning date of the Cache, Crawford Mtn hunt (DB1026) was listed incorrectly as Nov. 9. The correct dates for this hunt are Nov. 8-23, 2025.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with the correct date.
Page 28: In the timeline of application dates, the "2nd chance to apply for big game bonus/preference points" date was listed as starting June 6. The actual dates are June 4-18, 2025, which align with the antlerless application period.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with the correct dates.
Page 67: In the Once-in-a-lifetime Mountain Goat Hunts table, the Wasatch Mtns, Timpanogos hunt (#GO6820) was printed in blue text. The hunt name and number has been corrected to black text, indicating that there is a nonresident permit available in this year's application.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with the correct text color.
Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook
The Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern big game hunting in Utah.
Previous editions
View field regulation updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 29: In the list of Salt Lake County restrictions, the bullet point referring to hunting on the Red Butte Research Natural Area was deleted. That area remains closed to public access. (Dec. 1, 2025)
Page 33: The sentence stating you may not donate big game in the field was struck from the guidebook to align with rule language regarding donations.
Page 38: The dates for the restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle deer hunts were interchanged in the printed edition of the guidebook. The correct dates are:
- Restricted muzzleloader deer hunts: Sept. 24-Oct. 2, 2025
- Restricted rifle deer hunts: Oct. 18-26, 2025
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Updates
The Utah Legislature recodified all Chapter 10 code citations as follows, effective May 7, 2025:
| Previous | New |
|---|---|
| 76-10-502 | 76-11-102 |
| 76-10-503 | 76-11-302 |
| 76-10-504 | 53-5a-3 |
| 76-10-505 | 76-11-204 |
| 76-10-508 | 76-11-208 |
| 76-10-512 | 76-11-303 |
| 76-10-523 | 53-5a-108 |
| 76-10-528 | 76-11-217 |
The digital editions of all Utah hunting guidebooks have been updated with the new code citations throughout. (Nov. 13, 2025)
Page 19: In the table listing youth-only elk permits, a row was added to note when youth can hunt with a Uinta Basin private-lands-only permit. To accommodate this addition, the table and footnotes were reorganized to fit in the guidebook layout.
Page 70: The definition of "Restricted muzzleloader equipment" was updated to include a bullet point clarifying that equipment must meet the requirements for muzzleloaders detailed in Utah Admin Rule subsections R657-5-10(1) and (2).
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with these clarifications and corrections.
Pages 25-26: The italicized text below was removed from Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-11 in the past and was inadvertently included in the printed 2025-26 guidebook. The online edition of the guidebook has been updated to remove the following text:
You may not possess or be in control of a rifle, shotgun, airgun, muzzleloader, crossbow or draw-lock while in the field during an archery hunt. For the purposes of this section, "field" means a location where you are likely to find the species listed on your permit. (You are not considered to be in the field if you are in an established camping area or traveling in a fully enclosed automobile or truck.)
This restriction does not apply to the following people:
- Hunters who are lawfully hunting upland game or waterfowl
- Hunters who are licensed to hunt big game species, bear or cougar during rifle or muzzleloader hunts that coincide with the big game archery hunt
- Livestock owners who are protecting their livestock
- Individuals who are carrying a concealed weapon (You may not use your concealed firearm to hunt or take protected wildlife.)
Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook
The Utah Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern upland game and turkey hunting in Utah.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Updates
The Utah Legislature recodified all Chapter 10 code citations as follows, effective May 7, 2025:
| Previous | New |
|---|---|
| 76-10-502 | 76-11-102 |
| 76-10-503 | 76-11-302 |
| 76-10-504 | 53-5a-3 |
| 76-10-505 | 76-11-204 |
| 76-10-508 | 76-11-208 |
| 76-10-512 | 76-11-303 |
| 76-10-523 | 53-5a-108 |
| 76-10-528 | 76-11-217 |
The digital editions of all Utah hunting guidebooks have been updated with the new code citations throughout. (Nov. 13, 2025)
Waterfowl and Migratory Game Birds Guidebook
The Waterfowl and Migratory Game Birds Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern waterfowl and other migratory game bird hunting in Utah.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 18: There was an incorrect reference to swan harvest reporting procedures in the print edition of the guidebook. Hunters must check in their swan within 72 hours of harvest and complete a harvest survey within 30 days of the conclusion of the swan hunt (visit wildlife.utah.gov/harvest or call any Division office for assistance). Having your swan checked in by DWR or Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge staff does not fulfill the harvest reporting requirement.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Updates
The Utah Legislature recodified all Chapter 10 code citations as follows, effective May 7, 2025:
| Previous | New |
|---|---|
| 76-10-502 | 76-11-102 |
| 76-10-503 | 76-11-302 |
| 76-10-504 | 53-5a-3 |
| 76-10-505 | 76-11-204 |
| 76-10-508 | 76-11-208 |
| 76-10-512 | 76-11-303 |
| 76-10-523 | 53-5a-108 |
| 76-10-528 | 76-11-217 |
The digital editions of all Utah hunting guidebooks have been updated with the new code citations throughout. (Nov. 13, 2025)
Pages 4–5: The paragraph outlining swan check-in and reporting requirements was moved from page 5 to page 4 (under "What's new") to highlight important information about new reporting procedures for swan checks. Hunters must complete their online harvest report (wildlife.utah.gov/harvest) prior to or at the time they check in their swan. The page cross-reference for more information was updated to pages 18–19 (instead of page 33).
Pages 18–19: Swan check-in and harvest reporting requirements were updated to clarify new reporting procedures when checking in swans. Hunters must complete their online harvest report (wildlife.utah.gov/harvest) prior to or at the time they check in their swan in order to finish the check-in process.
The online edition of the guidebook has been updated with this new information.
Page 12: A section of the text describing duck stamp requirements was updated to clarify that either a traditional (printed) duck stamp or electronic (digital) duck stamp must be purchased each year before a hunter goes into the field.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this information.
Page 12: The guidebook was updated to clarify that American crow, band-tailed pigeon, mourning dove, white-winged dove and sandhill crane hunters are not required to purchase a federal duck stamp.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with this information.
Black Bear and Cougar Guidebook
The Utah Black Bear and Cougar Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern black bear and cougar hunting and pursuit in Utah.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Updates
The Utah Legislature recodified all Chapter 10 code citations as follows, effective May 7, 2025:
| Previous | New |
|---|---|
| 76-10-502 | 76-11-102 |
| 76-10-503 | 76-11-302 |
| 76-10-504 | 53-5a-3 |
| 76-10-505 | 76-11-204 |
| 76-10-508 | 76-11-208 |
| 76-10-512 | 76-11-303 |
| 76-10-523 | 53-5a-108 |
| 76-10-528 | 76-11-217 |
The digital editions of all Utah hunting guidebooks have been updated with the new code citations throughout. (Nov. 13, 2025)
Corrections
Page 17: In the Bear pursuit season dates (units not designated as restricted) table in the guidebook, the fall season dates incorrectly included an early limited-entry hunt date range that does not apply to those hunts, as well as an asterisk referencing season dates for the Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/South unit, which is a restricted pursuit unit.
The incorrect dates and footnote were deleted from the digital edition of the guidebook. The correct fall bear pursuit season dates (for units not designated as restricted) remain the same as printed: Nov. 3-9, 2025.
The online edition of the guidebook has been edited to reflect these updates.
Cougar Guidebook
The Utah Cougar Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern hunting and pursuing cougars in Utah.
Note: Hunters may refer to the Cougar Guidebook or the 2025 edition of the Utah Bear and Cougar Guidebook for information about hunting and pursuing cougars through Dec. 31, 2025.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Updates
The Utah Legislature recodified all Chapter 10 code citations as follows, effective May 7, 2025:
| Previous | New |
|---|---|
| 76-10-502 | 76-11-102 |
| 76-10-503 | 76-11-302 |
| 76-10-504 | 53-5a-3 |
| 76-10-505 | 76-11-204 |
| 76-10-508 | 76-11-208 |
| 76-10-512 | 76-11-303 |
| 76-10-523 | 53-5a-108 |
| 76-10-528 | 76-11-217 |
The digital editions of all Utah hunting guidebooks have been updated with the new code citations throughout. (Nov. 13, 2025)
Page 15: The Utah Wildlife Board approved allowing the use of rimfire cartridges and ammunition to harvest cougars caught in traps. This change does not allow these types of cartridges and ammunition to harvest cougars not confined in traps.
Pages 15 and 18: In order to accommodate edits to the digital edition of this guidebook following the Jan. 9, 2025 Utah Wildlife Board meeting, the No drones allowed information box was moved from page 15 to page 18 of this guidebook.
Page 21: Cougar pelts and claws: The Utah Wildlife Board approved allowing the sale of green cougar pelts, and the sale of claws if they are attached to the hide. Any pelt still must have a permanent tag issued by the DWR within 48 hours of harvest.
The online edition of this guidebook has been updated with these changes.
Furbearer Guidebook
Taking, possessing, selling and purchasing furbearing animals — including bobcats and martens — and trapping cougars.
Previous editions
View guidebook updates
— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Updates
The Utah Legislature recodified all Chapter 10 code citations as follows, effective May 7, 2025:
| Previous | New |
|---|---|
| 76-10-502 | 76-11-102 |
| 76-10-503 | 76-11-302 |
| 76-10-504 | 53-5a-3 |
| 76-10-505 | 76-11-204 |
| 76-10-508 | 76-11-208 |
| 76-10-512 | 76-11-303 |
| 76-10-523 | 53-5a-108 |
| 76-10-528 | 76-11-217 |
The digital editions of all Utah hunting guidebooks have been updated with the new code citations throughout. (Nov. 13, 2025)
Pages 4, 10 and 13:
The digital edition of this guidebook was updated to confirm dates for the annual Utah Trappers Association Fur Sale, which in past years occurred in February. The UTA Fur Sale will be held in Nephi from March 10-12, 2026. Permanent tags will not be available at the UTA Fur Sale. (Permanent marten and bobcat tags may be obtained — by appointment only — at any DWR office through March 6, 2026.) Visit utahtrappers.org/events for details.
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with this information. (Nov. 12, 2025)
