As reported by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the much-anticipated period to apply for sportsman hunting permits is drawing near for Utah residents. Kicking off the application process will be on Oct. 28 at 8 a.m. MDT, where hopeful hunters can vie for a chance at securing permits for the 2026 season. The deadline to enter the drawing is crucial, set for Nov. 18 at 11 p.m. MST, but applicants opting to call a DWR office must submit by 5 p.m. on the same day.
The announcement made by the DWR comes with a heads-up about a new draw application system put in place. With a new website and vendor, applicants should visit the DWR website to get acquainted with the updated features. Lindy Varney, the DWR Wildlife Licensing Coordinator, mentioned the exceptional value of drawing one of these permits. "If you draw a sportsman permit, you can hunt on almost every unit in Utah that's open to hunting the species you drew a permit for," she told Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "Also, the season dates are much longer, so you'll have more time to scout different places to harvest an animal. It's truly the hunt of a lifetime."
Those looking to apply for a permit will have to part with a non-refundable $10 application fee for each species, with the successful draw of a permit incurring costs ranging from $40 to $564, with the exact amount depending on the species being hunted. There are different types of permits available, encompassing a range of species from bison and black bear to bull moose and wild turkey. Applicants can throw their hat in the ring for as many species as they like, but are only allowed to secure one sportsman permit for each.
