Utah’s Most Prized Big Game Permits

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You can apply for a 2019 sportsman permit starting Oct. 24. If you draw the permit for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, you'll have plenty of days and plenty of places to find the animal of your dreams.

DWR Press Release

Nov. 14 last day to apply

Sportsman permits are one of Utah’s most prized big game hunting permits. And it’s almost time to apply for one.

You can submit your application for a 2019 sportsman permit starting Oct. 24. To be included in the draw for permits, your application must be received no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 14. You can apply at www.wildlife.utah.gov or by calling the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office.

Lindy Varney, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR, says only Utah residents can apply for a sportsman permit. She explains why the permits are so highly sought.

“With only a few exceptions,” she says, “if you draw a sportsman permit, you can hunt on every unit in Utah that’s open to hunting the species you drew a permit for. Also, the season dates are much longer. So, you’ll have more time to travel more places to take the big game animal of a lifetime.”

One sportsman permit is offered for each of the following species: Desert bighorn ram, Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, buck deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk, bull moose, hunter’s choice bison and hunter’s choice mountain goat.

Sportsman permits are also offered for three species that are not big game: Black bear, cougar and wild turkey.

If you apply for a sportsman permit, it won’t take long to know if you drew one: draw results will be posted by Nov. 21.

You can learn more about sportsman permits at www.wildlife.utah.gov/sportsman-permit.html.

If you have questions about sportsman permits, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.

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