After joining the Dedicated Hunter Program
Here's some information on how the program works
The moment you find out you have drawn a place in the Dedicated Hunter Program, you'll need to know how to get your deer permits each year.
The main source of information for Dedicated Hunters is this website, including the projects webpage. On rare occasions, the DWR may also send special reminders to Dedicated Hunters who have provided an email address during their online application.
The moment you receive the successful notice from the drawing results, you can begin your service hours.
Before your hunt:
- Complete a minimum of 6 service hours
- To receive service credit, Dedicated Hunters must register for each service project through the DWR volunteer webpage prior to doing service.
- Complete the online Conservation and Ethics Course
- 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 (printing typically begins in mid-July and ends in mid-October). Permits are mailed on the next business day from when your requirements show completed in the system, but may take approximately one to two weeks to arrive. If your permit does not arrive by the time you are leaving for your hunt, please contact your nearest office to arrange an in-person pick up instead.
Begin Conservation and Ethics Course
After your hunt:
- Complete your harvest survey before the established deadline (normally within 30 days after the season ends).
The Dedicated Hunter system assigns you with a harvest as soon as your permit is printed. If your account shows two harvests, you won't get a permit in the third year. Prior to 2024, returning an uncut and unnotched kill tag was the method to remove your harvest. Starting in 2024, you will submit an online harvest survey at the end of the season instead.
Find service hour projects
To get your permit in the second year, you'll need to have at least 22 service hours shown completed 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)
- To receive service credit, Dedicated Hunters must register for each service project through the DWR volunteer webpage prior to doing service.
- Have a valid hunting or combination license
- 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 (printing typically begins in mid-July and ends in mid-October). Permits are mailed on the next business day from when your requirements show completed in the system, but may take approximately one to two weeks to arrive. If your permit does not arrive by the time you are leaving for your hunt, please contact your nearest office to arrange an in-person pick up instead.
Find service hour projects
After your hunt
- Complete your harvest survey before the established deadline (normally within 30 days after the season ends)
The Dedicated Hunter system assigns you with a harvest as soon as your permit is printed. If your account shows two harvests, you won't get a permit in the third year. Prior to 2024, returning an uncut and unnotched kill tag was the method to remove your harvest. Starting in 2024, you will submit an online harvest survey at the end of the season instead.
To get your permit in the third year, you'll need to have at least 32 hours shown completed in the Dedicated Hunter system. The service must be done before your permit can be printed.
Remember: 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)
- To receive service credit, Dedicated Hunters must register for each service project through the DWR volunteer webpage prior to doing service.
- Have a valid hunting or combination license
- 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 (printing typically begins in mid-July and ends in mid-October). Permits are mailed on the next business day from when your requirements show completed in the system, but may take approximately one to two weeks to arrive. If your permit does not arrive by the time you are leaving for your hunt, please contact your nearest office to arrange an in-person pick up instead.
Find service hour projects
After your hunt
- Complete your harvest survey before the established deadline (normally within 30 days after the season ends)
You can check on your records using the button below.
Check My Progress
Withdrawal
If at any time, you find that you are unable to participate in the program or decide not to obtain your permits, learn how to withdraw early from the program.
Dedicated Hunters may withdraw from the program prior to the expiration date of the program enrollment. To formally withdraw:
If zero permits have been issued
If one permit has been issued
- Complete 6 service hours, and
- Submit a completed surrender form to a DWR office
If two permits have been issued*
- Complete 22 service hours, and
- Submit a completed surrender form to a DWR office
Extensions
The Dedicated Hunter program rule allows a one-year extension for the following circumstances:
- Military deployment or mobilization
- Obtaining a limited-entry buck deer tag from the Utah big game drawing
- Acceptance of a poaching reported rewards buck deer permit
Extensions are not allowed for any of the following reasons:
- Personal injury or illness
- Obtaining a limited-entry buck deer permit directly from a CWMU, landowner, conservation auction, or from the annual Western Hunting & Conservation Expo
- Caretaking of another person's injury or illness
- Job or residence relocation
- School
- Pregnancy
- Wanting to focus available hunt time to some other permit or hunt
Beginning in 2024, Dedicated Hunters who have drawn a limited-entry buck deer in the Utah big game drawing will have a one-year extension added to their enrollment automatically. For additional information or questions, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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