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Wildfires

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Chinook helicopter dropping flame retardant over a wildfire

Wildfires and Utah's 2026 hunting seasons

Chinook helicopter dropping flame retardant over a wildfire

Update: June 29, 2026

Utah is experiencing an early, very busy fire season, and we know that many of you have questions about possible impacts to your hunts this fall.

Currently, it is too early to know the outcomes of any particular fire. Our staff have not yet been able to enter and assess many of the burn locations due to ongoing danger and restricted access. Rest assured, if any of the current or future fires are on your hunting unit — and they meet the criteria for disaster relief (see below or Utah Admin. Rule R657-42-12(6-8) for details) — we will reach out to you so that you can decide what you want to do.

Relief for natural disasters affecting a hunting unit

Relief for an entire hunting unit may be authorized only by the DWR director and only when both of the following conditions are met:

  • More than 50% of hunting opportunities within the unit are unavailable
  • Access to more than 50% of the public land within the unit is closed through state or federal administrative action

Additional options

If you don't want to wait for a decision about what will happen with your hunting unit, you always have the option to surrender your permit 30 days (or more) before your hunt begins, with the following conditions:

  • Limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime permit holders: If you surrender a permit 30 days or more before the hunt starts, you are eligible for the reinstatement of any points you've accrued in the past, but you will not accrue a bonus point for this year. You are also eligible for a refund, minus a $25.00 processing fee.
  • General-season permit holders: If you surrender a permit 30 days or more before the hunt starts, you are eligible for the reinstatement of any points you've accrued in the past, but you will not accrue a preference point for this year. General-season permits are not eligible for a refund. For all rules and details for surrendering a permit, please visit wildlife.utah.gov/refunds.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to monitor this dynamic situation statewide. We will provide additional fire updates when we have more information or if there are decisions about specific hunting units.