DWR Reminds of Required Hunter Training Programs

It is still several months away from the start of the hunting season, but if you are getting to hunt for the first time in Utah, The Division of Wildlife Resources has a reminder for you. You’ll need to either take a hunter education class or participate in Utah’s Trial Hunting Program.

Before you can hunt in Utah, everyone born after December 31^st, 1965 must complete a state offered hunter education class or participate in the Trial Hunting Program. Here's what you need to do to enroll in either of the programs.

To complete hunter education in Utah, you have the option of taking a traditional in-person class led by an instructor or an online course followed by an in-person field day. Both options include a final written test and the “field day” with hands-on skills demonstration and a live-fire shooting exercise at the end. Prior to taking either course option, you need to buy a hunter registration certificate online. The Certificate costs $12 and is required before you can do the in person field day.

Both the in person and online courses teach about firearm safety, hunter responsibility and ethics. The in person class will typically have scheduled meeting locations and times, while the online course can be done at an individuals preferred pace. The online course has a cost of $25 and you can get more information and register by clicking this link.

The instructor will provide additional details about the in-person field day after you register for the online hunter education course. Once you finish the online portion of the course, you’ll print your proof-of-completion document.

Utah’s Trial Hunting Program is another way to get in the field this fall. The program gives you a chance to try hunting with an experienced hunter and see if it is something you’d like to pursue. You are not required to take hunter education to participate in this program.

You must be at least 12 years old to join the program, and you need to be accompanied by a licensed hunter who is 21 years old or older. To participate, you must complete a brief online orientation course, which can be found in the DWR website. You would also need to buy a hunting license and the permit for the species you’d like to hunt.

DWR reports that July and August are popular times to take hunter education because it’s right before the fall general-season big game hunts. While many big game permits in Utah are allocated through a drawing, there are some unlimited elk permits that can be purchased over the counter anytime from July through the hunting season.