Willard Spur WMA: hunting, access and rules
Willard Spur WMA is a 13,441-acre waterfowl management area owned by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in Box Elder County, in DWR's Northern Region, managed for waterfowl habitat. DWR lists no seasonal closure dates for it. Within 3 miles of it, 44.9% of the land is public, mostly national wildlife refuge.
Data updated October 2026. Property facts: DWR's public access properties layer. Units: DWR's 2026 boundaries. Land around it: UGRC, 2023.
National forestDWR wildlife landNational wildlife refugeState park (park rules)State sovereign land (lake and river beds)Willard Spur WMAGeneral-season deer unit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 13,441 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Box Elder |
| DWR region | Northern Region |
| Managed for | Waterfowl habitat |
| Seasonal closure | None listed by DWR |
| Access | Legal Access, Public Access |
| DWR property since | 2019 |
| Nearest towns | Willard (2 mi), Perry (3 mi) and Plain City (5 mi) |
| A point inside it | 41.3896, -112.1972 (latitude, longitude) |
What are the rules on Willard Spur WMA?
DWR lists no seasonal closure dates. DWR lists no license or digital access permit requirement for this WMA yet.
DWR runs Willard Spur under its habitat management plan of 2020.
What is allowed where on a WMA: DWR's WMA map.
Which hunt units is Willard Spur WMA in?
Willard Spur WMA lies in 2 units with a page of their own; on the Box Elder general-season deer unit as a whole, hunters took 1,123 bucks in 2025 (DWR):
| Unit | Hunt type | Share of the WMA in it |
|---|---|---|
| Box Elder | general-season deer | 100% |
| Box Elder, Promontory | limited-entry buck pronghorn | 100% |
Shares measured by FilledTag from DWR's 2026 unit boundaries and the WMA boundary. Harvest: DWR harvest reports, 2013 to 2025; each unit's page has it year by year.
What wildlife does DWR list for Willard Spur WMA?
The Willard Spur WMA provides crucial year-round habitat for a variety of avian species, particularly for waterfowl, shorebirds and other waterbird species.
DWR's own words for the property's primary habitat and species.
What land surrounds Willard Spur WMA?
Within 3 miles of the WMA's boundary, 44.9% of the land is public land open to hunting, most of it national wildlife refuge (25,071 acres). State sovereign land (lake and river beds) covers 30.2% of the ring (21,517 acres); it is not counted above, and its own rules apply.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the 3-mile ring |
|---|---|---|
| National wildlife refuge | 25,071 | 35.2% |
| State sovereign land (lake and river beds) | 21,517 | 30.2% |
| State park (park rules) | 12,003 | 16.8% |
| DWR wildlife land | 6,774 | 9.5% |
| National forest | 145 | 0.2% |
| BLM | 2 | under 0.1% |
| Private and other land not shown | 5,776 | 8.1% |
Measured by FilledTag from UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023).
What other WMAs are near Willard Spur WMA?
DWR's other wildlife management areas within 25 miles, as the crow flies from center to center: Harold Crane WMA (9,848 acres, 4 miles south), Brigham Face WMA (4,595 acres, 12 miles northeast), Ogden Bay WMA (16,656 acres, 14 miles south), Public Shooting Grounds WMA (13,356 acres, 15 miles northwest), Salt Creek WMA (6,205 acres, 18 miles north) and Howard Slough WMA (2,546 acres, 19 miles south).
How do you get to Willard Spur WMA?
Highways within 8 miles: I-84, I-15, US 89 and US 91. Nearest towns: Willard (2 miles), Perry (3 miles), Plain City (5 miles) and Brigham City (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is Willard Spur WMA closed?
DWR lists no seasonal closure dates for Willard Spur WMA.
Do you need a permit to enter Willard Spur WMA?
DWR lists no license or digital access permit requirement for this WMA yet, by DWR's 2026 listing for Box Elder County.
How much public land is around Willard Spur WMA?
44.9% of the land within 3 miles of the WMA is public land open to hunting, most of it national wildlife refuge (25,071 acres), measured from UGRC's land ownership map.
Which deer and elk units is Willard Spur WMA in?
The Box Elder general-season deer unit, by DWR's 2026 boundaries. Hunting on the WMA follows that unit's seasons and DWR's rules for the property.
Get a Utah hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Utah are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Utah included.
Sources: DWR property data, DWR's WMA page, DWR unit boundaries, UGRC's statewide land ownership map (last edited 2023). FilledTag is not part of DWR.