Utah has a plethora of options when it comes to deer hunting. You have limited entry, general season, and a sort of lesser-known Dedicated Hunter program. Everyone knows about Utah’s general season deer hunts and especially their famous limited entry deer hunts… but one that sort of flies under the radar (mainly under the radar for nonresidents) is the Dedicated Hunter program.
The Dedicated Hunter program in Utah is a phenomenal opportunity to get out and hunt. Even more so, if you have the time to hunt multiple seasons each year and can afford the cost of the permit, the Dedicated Hunter program is an excellent way to scout, hunt, and take a big buck on a general season unit.
While most permits are pretty self-explanatory, the Utah Dedicated Hunter program has a lot of required steps and rules that you must follow to ensure you get your permit each year. So be sure to follow them exactly!
Details of the Dedicated Hunter Program
Once you draw a Utah Dedicated Hunter permit, you can hunt that general season unit for three consecutive years, but you can only harvest two general season deer in a three-year period. Also, it’s worth noting that once you draw a Dedicated Hunter permit in a unit, you are essentially stuck with that unit for three consecutive years, and you cannot switch units.
There are a lot of tactics that can be used while you're enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter program. What is great about this program is that you could cough up your first year as a “scouting/learning” year and get a feel for the unit. Or by being able to hunt all of the seasons, you might learn a ton about the unit in year one. Then in years two and three, you could fill your two tags, but again, you can only harvest two deer (one per year) while on the Dedicated Hunter program.
Being able to hunt all seasons could be difficult for most nonresidents, but at least you have the option. If you tag out in years one and two, you will have to sit out the third year, as you can’t jump over and try to draw a different general season hunt.
Big note: There are also some conservation service hours that you must complete while enrolled in this program. More on that later.
Let's dive into the details.
What Does Being Enrolled in the Utah Dedicated Hunter Program Allow You to Do?
My second buck I was able to take on year three of the Dedicated Hunter program on a rifle hunt.
In Utah, a Dedicated Hunter tag is good for a general season deer unit, and you can hunt all open seasons during their specific season dates. So you could hunt the archery season, and if you don’t tag out, you could turn around and hunt muzzleloader, and finally hunt the any legal weapon rifle hunt. In addition, if your unit has an early rifle hunt, you also get to hunt that. And if that wasn’t enough hunting, you could then later hunt on the general season extended archery deer hunt (this is the one exception to the "you are limited to only hunting the unit you drew."
There are no dedicated hunts on limited-entry areas available; this program is for general season units only.
So again, in summary, you get a permit that allows you to hunt the same unit for three consecutive years, you can only take one deer per year, but if you don’t tag out, you can continue to hunt all of the available seasons and even the extended hunts. If you want to hunt the extended archery hunts, you will need to take an archery ethics course.
The quantity of certificates of registrations for the Dedicated Hunter Program available in the big game drawing is limited to:
15% of the total annual general season buck deer quota for each respective hunt area, inclusive of those certificates of registration that are within active enrollments;
Or one resident and one nonresident certificate of registration if the 15% total on that hunt area is met or exceeded.
Certificates of registration remaining unissued from the Dedicated Hunter portion of the big game drawing shall be redistributed as general single-season permits for their respective hunt areas in the general buck deer drawing.
Required Service Hours
What makes this program different from a normal tag is that it is a service-based program that allows hunters to give back and contribute their time and hard work on wildlife-related projects. Plus, going on projects is a great way to meet like-minded individuals and helps gain an understanding of wildlife management.
How many service hours do you need for the Dedicated Hunter Program?
Once enrolled in the program, you are required to complete a total of 32 service hours of DWR-approved wildlife related service projects. This is most likely why a lot of nonresidents shy away from the Dedicated Hunter program. See the bottom of the article for how many service hours you need to complete each year in order to get your permit.
Utah website to look up wildlife related service projects for Dedicated Hunter Program.
If you want a great opportunity to hunt more and also give back, the Dedicated Hunter program is for you. A full list of service projects can be found here. Projects are available year-round; however, during the winter months, very few opportunities are offered. The majority of projects are offered during March, April, May, and June. Once the hunting season begins, the number of available projects decreases.
Service hour buyout
If you can’t do any service hours, you are allowed to pay off the hours at a rate of $40 per hour. Once enrolled in the program, you can pay for the service hours online here. So, in addition to the tag fee, if you bought out all of your required service hours, you would be paying an additional $1,280.
Note: If you have two harvests and fail to complete the required hours of service before expiration of the certificate of registration, the participant is ineligible to apply for or obtain any Utah hunting license or permit until the remaining service hours have been completed.
When should you apply for Utah's Dedicated Hunter program?
You apply for the Dedicated Hunter program at the same time as all other big game applications in Utah.
The deadline to apply is April 24, 2025, at 11 p.m. MT. Apply online here.
If you miss that deadline, you can apply for points only during the antlerless application timeframe from June 4 to 18, 2025.
Results will be emailed or available online on or shortly before May 15, 2025.
Hunt choices
Within the application, you'll have the option to select the general season hunting unit that you'd like to hunt. Once again, there are no limited-entry areas available to Dedicated Hunters. The online application will allow you to apply for up to five different units. You'll only draw one unit, and won't be able to switch to a different unit during the program. This is very important to only select a unit you would want to hunt for the entire three-year period.
Group applications
If you decide to select more than one hunt unit choice, applying as a group is the only way to ensure that you, and your hunting companions end up drawing the same unit. The application will allow up to four hunters to apply together in a group.
Tag Fees
Applicants must buy a hunting license in order to apply for draw hunts. You do not have to front the cost of the permits you apply for. You will only be charged the permit fee if you are successful in the draw. If you apply for the Dedicated Hunter program, but are unsuccessful in the drawing, you won't be charged any program fees. Instead, you will automatically earn a Dedicated Hunter preference point that will improve your chances of getting into the program the next time you apply.
Utah Dedicated Hunter fees
Item | Application Fee |
|---|---|
Resident fees | $10 |
Nonresident fees | $16 |
Item | Adults |
Resident fees | $215 |
Nonresident fees | $1,067 |
Item | Youth |
Resident fees | $120 |
Nonresident fees | $834 |
Item | Resident fees | Nonresident fees |
|---|---|---|
Application Fee | $10 | $16 |
Adults | $215 | $1,067 |
Youth | $120 | $834 |
Plus, the service hour buyout is $40 per hour if you don't complete service projects.
A preference point only fee for the Dedicated Hunter Program is $10 for residents and $16 for nonresidents.
Before you apply
Applicants to the Dedicated Hunter Program are no longer required to complete an orientation course before applying for the program in the big game drawing. Instead, you will acknowledge and agree to the program requirements as part of your application. Again, keep in mind that there are minimum annual service requirements during each year you are enrolled.
The deadline to apply for the Dedicated Hunter program is during the annual big game permit application. So you can submit your application for the Dedicated Hunter Program from March 20 to April 24, 2025. Results of the drawing will be available on May 15, 2025.
Utah’s Draw Process
General season deer permits and Dedicated Hunter deer permits are allocated through a true preference point system. This means that the applicants with the most preference points for any given hunt receive the permits.
It’s also important to note Utah’s draw order.
Utah’s draw goes in the following order from first to last:
Buck deer (multi-season premium limited entry, premium limited entry, multi-season limited entry, limited entry, Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) and management buck deer)
Bull elk (multi-season limited entry, limited entry and CWMU)
Buck antelope (limited entry and CWMU)
Once-in-a-lifetime species (bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goat and bison)
General buck deer (lifetime license holders)
General buck deer (dedicated hunters)
General buck deer (youth)
General buck deer
Youth any bull elk
You may be asking why GOHUNT hasn’t come out with Dedicated Hunter draw odds. Unfortunately, the Dedicated Hunter program is quite complicated in terms of draw odds in that you don’t exactly know the time frame hunters have left, if they have withdrawn from the program, or even failed to complete the requirements to acquire a tag. So knowing when people are leaving the program is very hard to showcase, and you really need to look at the data from the past three years, but even then, you don't really get the full big picture. So, unfortunately, the way the Dedicated Hunter program is set up doesn’t allow for accurate draw odds from year to year.
Yearly Steps Required in Order to Get Your Permit
Once you draw your Dedicated Hunter permit, if you don’t perform the required steps each year, you will not get a permit! So while the steps are very straightforward, it is always best to keep track of your Dedicated Hunter progress in a notebook or a document on your computer. Better yet, put those notes in your Hunt Planner tool on GOHUNT. That way, you don’t forget anything.
Even if you take a deer in year one and year two, you are still required to finish out your remaining service hours. Not doing so has big consequences. If you have killed two bucks under the program and you fail to complete the required hours of service prior to the expiration of the certificate of registration, you are then ineligible to apply for or obtain any Utah hunting license or permit until the remaining service hours have been completed.
1st Year Dedicated Hunter Requirements
Before your hunt:
Complete a minimum of 6 service hours
As soon as you receive successful draw results, you will need to start looking for 8 hours of service to complete, especially if you want to hunt the opener of the archery hunt. Waiting until late July or August to do a project is not recommended. Service hours done prior to joining the program is not applicable for Dedicated Hunter credit. Note: you could complete or pay for all your 32 hours within the 1st year of enrollment. Or you can just complete the annual minimum.
You must complete the online Conservation and Ethics Course
A valid hunting or combination license is not required to obtain a permit in the first year of the enrollment period, provided the participant possessed a valid license when applying for the Dedicated Hunter certificate of registration.
Obtain your deer permit
When your annual requirements are fulfilled and entered into the system, your Dedicated Hunter deer permit will be printed and mailed automatically (beginning July 10 and ending October 10). Permits are mailed on the next business day from when your requirements show completed in the system, but may take approximately one week to arrive. If your permit does not arrive by the time you are leaving for your hunt, contact the nearest office to arrange an in-person pick up instead. This applies to year two and three as well.
After your hunt:
If you don't kill, you must submit a harvest report before the annual deadline. This part is VERY important!
The Dedicated Hunter system assigns you with a “harvest” as soon as your permit is printed. So be sure to submit a harvest report.
2nd Year Dedicated Hunter Requirements
To get your permit in the second year of your Dedicated Hunter program, you'll need to have at least 22 service hours completed (and recorded) in the Dedicated Hunter system. The service must be done before your permit can be printed.
Before your hunt
Complete a minimum of 22 service hours (total)
Have a valid hunting or combination license
Obtain your deer permit
After your hunt
If you don't kill, you must submit a harvest report before the annual deadline. Again, this part is VERY important! For example, if you took a buck your first year and didn't take one the second year, and you forgot to submit your report, it will show up as you "harvested a deer" and Utah will not mail you your third permit even if you have completed all the service hours.
3rd Year Dedicated Hunter Requirements
To get your permit in the third year, you'll need to have at least 32 hours completed (and recorded) in the Dedicated Hunter system. The service must be done before your permit can be printed.
Also, keep in mind that the program rule only allows two deer to be harvested while in the program, so the third permit won't be issued if your account shows that you harvested in both of the previous years.
Before your hunt
Complete the minimum of 32 service hours (total).
Have a valid hunting or combination license
Obtain your deer permit
Other Information
Limited entry deer permit while you are in the Dedicated Hunter program
One of the most commonly asked questions we get asked is if you can still obtain a limited entry permit while you are in the Dedicated Hunter program. And the answer is yes, you could still attempt to draw a limited entry permit. You can only have one buck deer permit per year, so the year you draw a limited entry while in the dedicated program, you will not get your Dedicated Hunter permit.
If you do draw a limited-entry deer permit and you're currently enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter program, you must choose whether to keep that permit or the Dedicated Hunter deer permit for that year (but not both). If you accept the limited-entry deer permit, you may request a one-year extension of the Dedicated Hunter program.
Taking a buck in a limited-entry unit if you draw will not count toward your harvest limit for the Dedicated Hunter program.
Also, it’s worth noting that if you draw a limited entry deer permit while enrolled in the Dedicated Hunter, you will need to contact the DWR and request an extension. You must make the request in writing before the enrollment period expires. Also, if you are deployed on a military assignment, you can request an extension as well.
Note: Extensions are not given for hunters purchasing permits directly from a landowner, CWMU, the annual convention permit auction, or draws a limited-entry deer permit from the annual Hunt Expo. If any of these apply to you, you must choose between the permit and the Dedicated Hunter permit before the season begins, and a program extension is not available.
Point Sytems
In Utah, a resident and nonresident can build points for three separate deer draws:
Limited entry deer (bonus points)
General season deer (preference points)
Dedicated Hunter deer (preference points)
They are all separate points and separate drawings. One thing to note, while you are enrolled in a Dedicated Hunter program, you are not able to build points for a general season hunt. You could only apply for and build additional bonus points for limited-entry hunts.
New in 2025: To improve overall draw odds, the Utah Wildlife Board approved that big game applicants may apply for a general-season buck permit/point or a Dedicated Hunter COR/point, but not both.
Dedicated Hunter Point Totals
Utah dedicated hunter point totals going into the 2025 draw
Points |
Resident |
Nonresident |
0 |
4225 |
606 |
1 |
1971 |
159 |
2 |
1339 |
109 |
3 |
743 |
109 |
4 |
284 |
55 |
5 |
190 |
44 |
6 |
68 |
24 |
7 |
33 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
5 |
11 |
0 |
2 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
Points | Resident | Nonresident |
0 | 4225 | 606 |
1 | 1971 | 159 |
2 | 1339 | 109 |
3 | 743 | 109 |
4 | 284 | 55 |
5 | 190 | 44 |
6 | 68 | 24 |
7 | 33 | 2 |
8 | 2 | 0 |
9 | 8 | 1 |
10 | 0 | 5 |
11 | 0 | 2 |
12 | 1 | 0 |
Summary of Steps To Take When Applying For The Utah Dedicated Hunter Program
My opening day buck while on the Utah Dedicated Hunter Program.
When applying:
Remember: Applicants to the Dedicated Hunter Program are no longer required to complete an orientation course before applying for the program in the big game drawing. Instead, you will acknowledge and agree to the program requirements as part of your application.
Apply in the big game draw
If you draw:
Year 1
Complete a minimum of 6 service hours
Complete the online Conservation and Ethics Course
A valid hunting or combination license is not required to obtain a permit in the first year of the enrollment period, provided the participant possessed a valid license when applying for the Dedicated Hunter certificate of registration.
If you complete the minimum annual requirements, then your deer permit will be issued to you
If you don't kill, you must submit a harvest report before the annual deadline
Year 2
Complete a minimum of 22 service hours
A permit may not be issued if the participant does not have a valid hunting or combination license at the time of permit issuance.
If you complete the minimum annual requirements, then your deer permit will be issued to you
If you don't kill, you must submit a harvest report before the annual deadline
Year 3
Complete the rest of your service hours (32 total over three years)
A permit may not be issued if the participant does not have a valid hunting or combination license at the time of permit issuance.
Then you will obtain your third deer permit
Note: Even if you kill your two deer before year three, you still need to complete the rest of the service hours or Note: If you have two harvests and fail to complete the required hours of service before expiration of the certificate of registration, otherwise you will not be able to apply for or obtain any Utah hunting license or permit until the remaining service hours have been completed
So now the only thing left is figuring out what unit to apply for, which is easy when you dive into the research tools on Insider, plus look at a unit you are considering on GOHUNT Maps to figure out more details of the unit you are applying for.
This article was originally published on February 27, 2021, and has been updated with more information.
0 Comments