Surrendered permits and refunds

Surrendered permits

What happens if you obtain a permit and then realize you won't be able to hunt? Make sure you surrender the permit to the DWR as soon as possible.

If you surrender a permit 30 days or more before the start of the season, you'll get all of your previously accrued bonus or preference points for that species/permit back, but you will not earn a point for the current year.

Any applicable waiting period will be waived as long as you surrender the permit before the hunt opening date.

Surrender form and rule

To surrender a permit, please download, complete and send the following permit surrender form to the DWR, along with the original permit.

• Permit surrender form — PDF
• See the entire surrender rule at DWR Administrative Rule R657-42-4

Group surrenders

If you obtain a permit as part of a group, all group members must surrender their permits 30 days or more before the hunt opening date in order to have their previously acquired bonus/preference points reinstated. They will not accrue points for the current year.

Important: If any member of the group surrenders their permit less than 30 days before the hunt date, then all group members will lose their bonus/preference points for that species/permit.

Any applicable waiting period will be waived so long as the permit is surrendered before the hunt opening date.

Surrender form and rule

To surrender a permit, please download, complete and send the following permit surrender form to the DWR, along with the original permit.

• Permit surrender form — PDF
• See the entire surrender rule at DWR Administrative Rule R657-42-4

Surrender for illness/injury

If you are surrendering a permit for medical reasons, you must provide verification of illness or injury from a physician, and it must be on the physician's office letterhead.

The physician's statement must include all of the following information:

• The nature and date of the illness/injury
• Why the illness/injury prevents you from hunting
• The last date the physician treated you
• The patient's name and date of birth
• The physician's signature and the date of signing

If you are also seeking a refund for the permit you cannot use due illness/injury, please see the Refunds section below and complete the refund application form as well as the permit surrender form.

• Permit surrender form — PDF
• See the entire surrender rule at DWR Administrative Rule R657-42-4

Refunds

The DWR does not usually issue refunds for permits, licenses or certificates of registration (CORs). There are exceptions, however, and refunds can occur under certain circumstances.

You may apply for a refund if you meet any of the following conditions:

• The person holding the permit, license or COR becomes so ill or injured as to prevent that person from participating in the activity for which the document was issued.
• The DWR canceled the activity for which the permit, license or COR was issued.
• The DWR has erroneously collected a fee.
• A member of the military was called to active duty before the permit, license or COR was used.
• The person to whom the permit, license or COR was issued dies before the authorized activity.
• The permit is a once-in-a-lifetime or limited-entry permit that was surrendered to the DWR 30 days or more before the season opening date. (To surrender one of these permits and request a refund, use the permit surrender form.) This type of refund is subject to a $25 handling fee. If the fee is higher than the cost of your permit, you will not receive a refund.

Nonrefundable permits

All general-season permits are nonrefundable, except in the circumstances provided above. General-season permits are only eligible for point reinstatement if they are applicable and meet the required deadlines. General-season permits would include general-season buck deer, antlerless elk, antlerless deer, doe pronghorn, general-season any bull / spike, general-season archery hunter's choice elk, youth general-season deer, youth general-season elk, tundra swan, sandhill crane, greater sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse.

Refund request form and rule

Important: Before applying for a refund, please read the applicable DWR administrative rule (scroll to the refund section) and Utah law for complete information and to determine if you qualify.

After you read the criteria required for a refund, please download, complete and send the following refund application form to the DWR.

• Application for a refund due to military deployment, illness, injury or death — PDF
• Affidavit for collection of personal property — Required for refunds involving deceased — PDF

Note: If the DWR approves your refund request, it may be four to six weeks before you receive the refund.

Variances

Even if you qualify for a refund, you may also qualify for a variance, which may be a better option for some hunters. Variances can include a season extension or the reinstatement of a bonus point or preference point.

Important: Before applying for a variance, please read the applicable DWR administrative rule for complete information and to determine if you qualify.

After you read the criteria required for a variance, please download, complete and send the following variance-application form and receipt to the DWR:

• Download, complete and return the variance application — PDF

Contact us

Mail your completed forms and any required associated documents to the following address, or drop them off at any DWR administrative office.

• Division of Wildlife Resources
  Attn: Licensing
  PO Box 146301
  Salt Lake City, UT 84114

If you have questions, call any DWR administrative office or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..