Utah · License · 2026 Edition
Utah Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $40 for residents and $144 for nonresidents.
A basic Utah hunting or combination license doesn't cover any big game species on its own — every deer, elk, turkey, etc. permit is bought (or drawn) separately on top of it, and most nonresident big game permits bundle in a 365-day fishing license as part of the price, which is why nonresident deer/turkey figures below look large relative to the base license. Nonresident big game fees jumped sharply under a 2025 state law that funds winter-range land purchases: general-season buck deer rose from $418 to $599 and limited-entry buck deer from $670 to $1,070, effective for permits from September 2025 onward — the numbers below are the current post-increase prices. Every draw-permit application (deer, elk, and the rest) carries its own separate, non-refundable application fee — $10 for residents, $21 for nonresidents — win or lose the draw; this is listed once below rather than duplicated per species. To keep the tables readable, several narrower deer variants are left out: CWMU (Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit) tags, multiseason upgrades, and depredation-only permits, all priced close to their listed counterparts above. Also left out: elk, pronghorn, moose, bison, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat permits (species outside this site's silos, and considerably more expensive — nonresident bull moose runs $3,488), and the 3-year Dedicated Hunter program ($215 resident adult / $1,248 nonresident adult with fishing bundled), which trades volunteer service hours and archery/muzzleloader-only seasons for close to guaranteed draw odds.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting License (Resident, ages 18-64) | $40 | Multiyear option: $39/year for up to 5 years. |
| Basic Hunting License (Resident, ages 14-17) | $16 | |
| Basic Hunting License (Resident, age 13 and under) | $11 | |
| Basic Hunting License (Resident, 65+) | $31 | Multiyear option: $31/year for up to 5 years. |
| Basic Hunting License (Resident, Disabled Veteran) | $25.50 | |
| Combination License, Hunting + Fishing (Resident, ages 18-64) | $44 | Multiyear option: $43/year for up to 5 years. |
| Combination License (Resident, ages 14-17) | $20 | |
| Basic Hunting License (Nonresident, 18+) | $144 | Multiyear option: $143/year. |
| Basic Hunting License (Nonresident, 17 and under) | $44 | |
| 3-Day Small Game Hunting License (Nonresident) | $89 | |
| Combination License, Hunting + Fishing (Nonresident, 18+) | $190 | Multiyear option: $189/year. |
| Combination License (Nonresident, 17 and under) | $58 |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General-Season Buck Deer Permit (Resident) | $46 | |
| Youth General-Season Buck Deer Permit (Resident) | $40 | |
| Antlerless Deer Permit (Resident) | $35 | |
| Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Resident) | $94 | |
| Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Resident) | $185 | |
| General-Season Buck Deer Permit (Nonresident) | $599 | Includes a 365-day Utah fishing license. Up from $418 before the 2025 fee increase. |
| Antlerless Deer Permit (Nonresident) | $236 | |
| Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Nonresident) | $1070 | Includes a 365-day Utah fishing license. Up from $670 before the 2025 fee increase. |
| Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Nonresident) | $1398 | Includes a 365-day Utah fishing license. |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey Permit, General/Limited-Entry (Resident) | $40 | |
| Youth Wild Turkey Permit (Resident) | $25 | |
| Wild Turkey Permit, General/Limited-Entry/Youth (Nonresident) | $175 | Same flat price across general-season, limited-entry, CWMU, and youth turkey permits for nonresidents. |
04 — Other permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Draw Permit Application Fee (Resident) | $10 | Charged per species applied for, whether or not the draw succeeds. Applies to deer, elk, and all other draw-only species. |
| Draw Permit Application Fee (Nonresident) | $21 | Charged per species applied for, whether or not the draw succeeds. Applies to deer, elk, and all other draw-only species. |
05 — Hunter education
Utah requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Anyone born after December 31, 1965 must complete hunter education before DWR will issue a hunting license, resident or nonresident. Unusually, Utah's own resident hunter education course fee ($12) already includes that season's hunting license — nonresidents pay a separate $17 training-only fee with no license bundled.
Utah hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
06 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through Utah DWR Online License System, the state's official portal.
Utah DWR Online License System →
Where to hunt public land in Utah — WMAs by county & access rules →
Utah hunting and combination licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase, not a fixed calendar window (multiyear licenses run longer). Permits are drawn and priced separately from the license itself.
FAQ
Can I hunt on my own land in Utah without a license?
No — Utah requires a license, permit, or tag to hunt protected wildlife regardless of land ownership. Utah's 'Landowner Permit' program grants qualifying landowners priority access to big-game tags — that's an allocation benefit, not a license exemption, and applicants must still be able to lawfully hold a hunting license.
How much is a hunting license in Utah?
A resident annual Utah hunting license costs $40, and the nonresident annual license costs $144. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and were read from their own license document on Aug 13, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Utah?
$144 for the annual nonresident license. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Utah?
General-Season Buck Deer Permit (Resident) — $46. Youth General-Season Buck Deer Permit (Resident) — $40. Antlerless Deer Permit (Resident) — $35. Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Resident) — $94. Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Resident) — $185. General-Season Buck Deer Permit (Nonresident) — $599. Antlerless Deer Permit (Nonresident) — $236. Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Nonresident) — $1070. Premium Limited-Entry Buck Deer Permit (Nonresident) — $1398. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Utah?
Utah requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through Utah DWR Online License System, the state's official portal. Utah hunting and combination licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase, not a fixed calendar window (multiyear licenses run longer). Permits are drawn and priced separately from the license itself.
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy a Utah hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Anyone born after December 31, 1965 must complete hunter education before DWR will issue a hunting license, resident or nonresident. Unusually, Utah's own resident hunter education course fee ($12) already includes that season's hunting license — nonresidents pay a separate $17 training-only fee with no license bundled.
Verified · Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Prices read from the DWR license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-13. Review due 2027-06-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.