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
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— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Emergency changes
Mayor's Pond (Box Elder County)
The daily fish limit for Mayor’s Pond has been updated to eight fish per person through Jan. 31, 2024. Mayor's Pond is listed in the “Community fishing waters” information box on page 28. This emergency change will allow the public to harvest more fish in advance of the pond being dredged.
This change is effective Dec. 20, 2023 and will remain in effect until January 31, 2024. All other rules established in the 2024 Utah Fishing Guidebook remain in effect.
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
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— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 70: In the CWMU buck deer hunt table, one Little Red Creek (DB1258) public permit was listed in error. There is no public permit available on that CWMU for 2024, and that hunt has been deleted in the online edition of this guidebook.
Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook
The Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern big game hunting in Utah.
Previous editions
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— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 29: In the "Multi-season general spike bull elk hunt," the "Archery season" bullet point explains that you may use archery equipment to take an antlerless elk or spike bull elk on a general-season spike unit and only a spike bull on the Book Cliffs unit. The guidebook has been updated to clarify that you may also take any bull elk on any bull unit between Aug. 19 and Sept. 20.
Updates
Page 21: The "Changes to trail camera and night-vision device rules for 2023" informational box was updated to include the full Utah code and administrative rules citations that now apply: Utah code § 23A-5-307 and Utah Admin. Rules R657-5-7, R657-33-9 and R657-10-9. Additionally, the content was edited to clarify that the rule regarding the sale or purchase of trail camera (or other non-handheld device) media for the take, or attempted take, of protected wildlife was a 2022 Utah Wildlife Board decision.
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with these changes.
License and permit fee changes July 1, 2023: The Utah Legislature approved several proposed changes to Utah's fishing and hunting license and permit fees, which went into effect on July 1, 2023. Please see the full list of license and permit fee changes that now apply since this guidebook was published.
This is the first fee increase for Utah residents since 2014. The DWR is currently 92% self-funded through license and permit fees, and receives only limited funding from the state's General Fund, which is appropriated for specific issues that impact all Utahns. Note: If you drew a hunting permit prior to June 30, 2023, you will not be charged the new permit fee.
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
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— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Updates
Page 32: The "Changes to trail camera and night-vision device rules" informational box was updated to include the full Utah code and administrative rules citations that now apply: Utah code § 23A-5-307 and Utah Admin. Rules R657-5-7, R657-33-9 and R657-10-9.
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with these changes.
Waterfowl Guidebook
The Utah Waterfowl Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern waterfowl hunting in Utah.
Previous editions
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— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 30: The youth waterfowl hunt date in the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge section was listed incorrectly in the guidebook as Oct. 7, 2023. The correct date for the youth waterfowl hunt is Sept. 30, 2023.
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Page 31: The youth waterfowl hunt dates for the Southern goose areas were listed incorrectly as Oct. 7, 2023. The correct dates are:
- Dark geese (cackling, Canada and brant), Southern goose area youth hunt: Sept. 30, 2023
- White-fronted geese, Southern goose area youth hunt: Sept. 30, 2023
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Page 60: In the 2023–24 Quick-reference calendar, the coot season dates were incorrectly listed. The correct season dates for coot are:
- Northern duck zone, Oct. 7, 2023–Jan. 20, 2024
- Southern duck zone, Oct. 14, 2023–Jan. 27, 2024
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with this correction.
Updates
Page 23: The "Changes to trail camera and night-vision device rules" informational box was updated to include the full Utah code and administrative rules citations that now apply: Utah code § 23A-5-307 and Utah Admin. Rules R657-5-7, R657-33-9 and R657-10-9.
The digital edition of this guidebook has been updated with these changes.
Black Bear Guidebook
The Black Bear Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern black bear hunting in Utah.
Previous editions
Cougar Guidebook
The Utah Cougar Guidebook summarizes the laws and rules that govern hunting and pursuing cougars in Utah.
Previous editions
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— Important changes and corrections made after the guidebook was printed.
Corrections
Page 14: A section of the guidebook pertaining to prohibited weapons as referenced in the big game rule (R657-5-7) was deleted. Under the current cougar rule, legal weapons are subject to Utah Administrative Rules 657-5-8 through -11, which remain in the guidebook as published. The online edition of the guidebook has been updated with this change.
Furbearer Guidebook
Taking, possessing, selling and purchasing furbearing animals, including bobcats and martens.
Previous editions