Apply for a Utah bear permit starting Feb. 5

If you’d like to hunt bears during the spring, summer or fall seasons, the time to apply for a permit is almost here. You can apply starting Feb. 5.

One change this year: because the black bear hunting rules were approved a week later this year, a printed copy of the 2018 Utah Black Bear Guidebook won’t be available until the end of the application period.

You can get a copy of the free guidebook right now, though, on our website.

Apply by Feb. 26

You can apply for a bear hunting or a bear pursuit permit starting Feb. 5.

(Pursuit permits allow you to pursue bears with hounds, but you may not take the bears you pursue.)

To be included in the draw for permits, your application must be received through the website no later than 11 p.m. on Feb. 26.

Results of the 2018 Utah black bear draw will be available by March 9.

Apply for a bonus point

If you’re not going to hunt or pursue bears in 2018, you can still apply for a bonus point. Bonus points increase the chance you’ll draw a bear permit in the future.

Applications for bonus points will also be accepted online from Feb. 5 until 11 p.m. on Feb. 26.

More information

If you have questions about applying for a 2018 Utah black bear hunting permit, call the Utah Hunt Application office at 1-800-221-0659 or the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office.