How do I get hunter education in Utah?
In Utah, anyone born after December 31, 1965 needs hunter education for a hunting license: buy a $12 registration certificate ($17 nonresident), then take either a 6 to 12 hour in-person class or the $29.95 online course plus a 5-hour field day, both ending with a written test and a .22 live-fire exercise.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Utah hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Utah? | Anyone born after December 31, 1965 must show proof of a completed hunter education course to buy a Utah hunting license. Participants in the Trial Hunting Program may hunt for up to three years before taking the course. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Utah? | There is no minimum age to take the course, but students must be able to take the written and shooting tests on their own, and a parent may need to attend with younger students. Students under 16 bring a parent or guardian to class. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Utah hunter education online? | There are two options: the agency's approved online course (about 4 to 6 hours, self-paced) followed by a required in-person field day, or an entirely in-person instructor-led course of about 6 to 12 hours, usually 1 to 2 nights a week over 2 to 3 weeks. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Utah? | Online students must attend a field day of about 5 hours over 1 to 2 days, where they pass the final written test and a live-fire exercise. The shooting test uses a .22 rimfire rifle at targets 50 feet away; in-person classes include the same tests. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Utah hunter education cost? | Every student buys a Hunter Education Registration Certificate for $12 ($17 for nonresidents), good for 365 days. The agency's approved online course adds $29.95, and some facilities charge for room or range rental. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you hunt in Utah before taking the course? | Utah's Trial Hunting Program, open to residents and nonresidents, lets anyone 12 or older hunt for up to three years before taking hunter education after passing a brief online orientation and exam (apply at 11). The supervising hunter must be 21 or older, hold a valid Utah hunting or combination license, supervise no more than two trial hunters, and carry written parental permission for minors. Trial hunters can get general-season deer and elk and some other permits, but not limited-entry, once-in-a-lifetime, CWMU or similar draw permits. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Utah hunter education card? | To replace a lost or damaged certificate of completion card, fill out the Hunter Education duplicate certificate affidavit and pay $10 online, by mail or at a DWR office. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Utah accept hunter education cards from other states? | Hunter education cards from any US state agency, Canadian province or other country are accepted. Nonresidents self-certify when buying and must carry proof in the field; new Utah residents must transfer an out-of-state card to a Utah certificate with a transfer affidavit before buying resident licenses. | Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Utah?
Anyone born after December 31, 1965 must show proof of a completed hunter education course to buy a Utah hunting license. Participants in the Trial Hunting Program may hunt for up to three years before taking the course.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Utah?
There is no minimum age to take the course, but students must be able to take the written and shooting tests on their own, and a parent may need to attend with younger students. Students under 16 bring a parent or guardian to class.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Utah hunter education online?
There are two options: the agency's approved online course (about 4 to 6 hours, self-paced) followed by a required in-person field day, or an entirely in-person instructor-led course of about 6 to 12 hours, usually 1 to 2 nights a week over 2 to 3 weeks.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Utah?
Online students must attend a field day of about 5 hours over 1 to 2 days, where they pass the final written test and a live-fire exercise. The shooting test uses a .22 rimfire rifle at targets 50 feet away; in-person classes include the same tests.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Utah hunter education cost?
Every student buys a Hunter Education Registration Certificate for $12 ($17 for nonresidents), good for 365 days. The agency's approved online course adds $29.95, and some facilities charge for room or range rental.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you hunt in Utah before taking the course?
Utah's Trial Hunting Program, open to residents and nonresidents, lets anyone 12 or older hunt for up to three years before taking hunter education after passing a brief online orientation and exam (apply at 11). The supervising hunter must be 21 or older, hold a valid Utah hunting or combination license, supervise no more than two trial hunters, and carry written parental permission for minors. Trial hunters can get general-season deer and elk and some other permits, but not limited-entry, once-in-a-lifetime, CWMU or similar draw permits.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
How do you replace a lost Utah hunter education card?
To replace a lost or damaged certificate of completion card, fill out the Hunter Education duplicate certificate affidavit and pay $10 online, by mail or at a DWR office.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Utah accept hunter education cards from other states?
Hunter education cards from any US state agency, Canadian province or other country are accepted. Nonresidents self-certify when buying and must carry proof in the field; new Utah residents must transfer an out-of-state card to a Utah certificate with a transfer affidavit before buying resident licenses.
Source: Utah DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- Hunter education deferral (DWR pages describe the Trial Hunting Program, not a deferral). Check wildlife.utah.gov.
Hunting in Utah by the numbers
In 2024, 282,841 people held a paid Utah hunting license, up 5.8% from 267,238 in 2022, the 21st most of the 50 states. They bought 473,709 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (405,206 resident, 68,503 nonresident) for a gross cost of $24,994,689, 43.8% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Utah's 3,503,613 residents in 2024 that is 8.1 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 267,238 | 265,213 | 282,841 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 406,178 | 400,693 | 405,206 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 59,055 | 55,746 | 68,503 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 465,233 | 456,439 | 473,709 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $13,585,685 | $13,755,035 | $14,054,524 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $9,381,174 | $9,179,726 | $10,940,166 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $22,966,859 | $22,934,761 | $24,994,689 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 25th | 25th | 21st |
Source: USFWS license data, checked October 27, 2026. USFWS counts each license year in the apportionment year two years later (licenses sold in 2024 are apportionment year 2026). License holders are not a count of hunters: hunters exempt from buying a license are left out, and some hunters buy licenses in more than one state. Population: Census Bureau 2024 estimate.
How much Utah land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 37,152,901 acres of Utah with public access, 68.4% of the state's 54,334,782 acres: 31,687,545 acres open access and 5,465,356 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 31,687,545 acres | 58.3% |
| Restricted access | 5,465,356 acres | 10.1% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 33,486,362 acres | 61.6% |
| Managed by state agencies | 3,632,605 acres | 6.7% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 33,933 acres | 0.1% |
| All public access land | 37,152,901 acres | 68.4% |
Source: PAD-US 4.0 (USGS), 2024 release, checked October 27, 2026. PAD-US does not record whether hunting is allowed: some of this land is closed to hunting, so check each property's rules with its manager.
What to do next
- Start the course on the agency's page: wildlife.utah.gov. Rules change each season, so read the current page before you buy a license.
- Getting ready for deer season? Hunt Ready's 8-week whitetail track puts the course in week 1, with fitness, shooting practice and field skills after it.
- Hunting data for the state: Utah hunting.
- Hunter education in other states