Utah Hunting License: Cost, Requirements & How to Buy
A Utah hunting license costs $40 for a resident adult and $144 for a non-resident adult (fees verified 2026-09-12).
Utah sharply raised its non-resident hunting fees in 2025, and anyone working from an older quote should expect the current numbers to run noticeably higher, especially for the big game tags that most out-of-state hunters actually come to Utah for.
Base license is the required prerequisite for buying any big game permit or tag; it does not include one. Utah raised non-resident fees sharply in 2025: the non-resident base license rose from $120 to $144, with non-resident general deer tags now $599 and general elk $849 (limited-entry elk $1,950). Resident seniors pay $31; resident youth pay $11-16. A $10 resident/$21 non-resident application fee applies per species when applying for a big game permit through the draw. Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after Dec 31, 1965.
Fee last verified 2026-09-12.
Heading out for Utah hunting? Game wardens require carrying physical or digital license proof and valid tags. Equip yourself with a waterproof license and tag pouch, rechargeable wide-beam LED headlamp, and corrosion-resistant multi-tool pliers before your trip.
What a Utah hunting license costs
Residents pay $40 for the base hunting license; non-residents pay $144, up from $120 before the 2025 increase. The base license is a required prerequisite for buying any big game permit or tag, not a license that includes one. Non-resident tag prices rose alongside the base license: a general deer tag is now $599, general elk $849, and limited-entry elk $1,950. Resident seniors pay $31; resident youth pay $11-16.
Hunter education and the draw application fee
Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after December 31, 1965, with no age-based exception once that birth-year threshold applies. A $10 resident/$21 non-resident application fee applies per species when applying for a big game permit through Utah's draw, on top of the tag cost itself if drawn.
License year and deadlines
Utah hunting licenses are valid for the calendar year, so a license bought any time during the year covers hunting through December 31 of that year.
How to buy your Utah hunting license
Utah DWR's online licensing system handles license and tag sales, and licenses are also available at DWR offices and authorized license agents around the state.
Hunting in Utah: what to expect
Southern Utah's high desert and canyon country hold some of the state's best mule deer hunting, with elevation changes from red-rock desert floor to forested plateau within a single unit. The Wasatch and Uinta mountains in the north support strong elk populations closer to the Salt Lake City and Provo metro areas, making them a popular option for resident hunters without a long drive. Utah's limited-entry units for premium deer, elk and bighorn sheep draw applicants from across the country specifically for their trophy potential, though drawing one typically requires years of preference points.
Budgeting for the 2025 fee increase
A non-resident planning a Utah elk hunt should budget well beyond the $144 base license: a general elk tag alone is now $849, and a limited-entry elk tag runs $1,950, both up sharply from pre-2025 pricing. Residents face a much gentler increase and can still hunt general-season deer and elk for a fraction of what a non-resident pays once tags are factored in.
How to renew a Utah hunting license
There is no separate renewal process in Utah. A hunting license is not extended in place; when it expires you buy a new one for the next license year through the same system you used the first time, and your customer profile, hunter or angler ID and any saved payment details carry over so the second purchase takes a couple of minutes. Valid for the calendar year.
The fastest route is the official Utah online licensing portal, which also lets you print or download the new license and add any stamps, tags or endorsements in one transaction. In-person license agents (sporting goods stores, bait shops and, in many states, county clerks) sell the same license at the same price, so use whichever is closer. Buying before the old license lapses is not required, but it avoids an accidental gap if a season opens before you get round to it.
Planning more than one? See the Utah fishing license page too, see how much a hunting license costs in every state, compare non-resident hunting fees across states, browse every state, or use the state license finder.