How to Get Your 2026 Hunter Education Utah in 3 Easy Steps
Hunters in Utah born after December 31, 1965, must complete a hunter education course to purchase a hunting license.
The information you'll learn through a hunter education course helps you stay safe while also protecting others in the field. You'll learn hunting techniques, proper firearm and bow safety, outdoor survival, tree stand safety, why hunters wear blaze orange for visibility, and more.
So, if you're planning a hunt in Utah in 2026, keep reading to learn how to get your hunter education card and Utah hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Utah?
All hunters must have a hunter education certification before purchasing a hunting license. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) offers two options to get certified and meet this requirement.
1. Classroom Course (In-Person)
This option takes place entirely in person in a classroom setting. The class typically takes 6–12 hours, meeting 1–2 nights per week over 2–3 weeks.
During the class sessions, you'll receive instruction, then take a final exam and complete a live-fire shooting exercise. The cost is $12 for residents and $17 for nonresidents.
Choose a class on a date, time, and location that's convenient for you. Be sure you complete the course ahead of the hunting season, and allow plenty of time to get your hunting license before your hunt.
2. Approved Online Course and Required Field Day
This hybrid option allows students to complete a portion of the course online, then finish the certification process through a required in-person Field Day. The Field Day takes place over 1–2 days for about five hours.
Hunter-Ed is proud to be an approved online hunter education provider for the UDWR! We offer the convenient online hunter education course, which you can complete before finishing your certification through the in-person session. In addition to the cost for the online course, you may be required to pay a range fee at your Field Day.
Register for a Field Day class after completing the online course. You'll need to show your Field Day Qualifier Certificate on class day. Print this certificate after completing the online course.
After the Field Day, you'll receive your Utah hunter education card.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2026 Utah Hunting License
With your hunter safety certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Utah hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: All hunters born after December 31, 1965, must show proof of completing a hunter education course before hunting in Utah.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that! Our course is approved by the UDWR for the online portion of the hunter education requirement. - Choose the Right License and Purchase It
Determine which license you need. Choose from resident, nonresident, combination fishing and hunting, disabled veteran, youth, and other types of licenses. You'll also need a permit for some game species. Then, purchase your license online through the Utah Hunting & Fishing app, the WildlifeLicense.Utah website, over the phone, or in person at a local vendor. - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Don't forget to carry a valid hunting license for every hunt. You'll also need to carry any required tags, stamps, or permits when hunting.
Next, let's look at these steps in more detail.
Step 1: How to Take the Hunter Education Utah Requires Online
The easiest way to get your hunter/bowhunter safety certification in Utah is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course! Then, finish your certification with a required in-person Field Day on a date and time that's convenient for you.
The Hunter-Ed course:
- Is available in English and Spanish.
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Can be completed anywhere you can connect to the internet using a phone, computer, or tablet.
- Is approved by the UDWR and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).
- Gives you free access to the course study guide to help you pass the quizzes while learning the material.
- Includes illustrations, videos, games, and animations to help you learn the required material. Score at least 80% on the unit quizzes to pass. There is no final exam for the online portion of your certification.
- Allows you to work at your own pace. Start and stop as needed without worrying about losing your work as you go.
Additionally, our hunter safety course gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certificate
After completing the course through Hunter-Ed, passing the final exam, and attending the in-person Field Day, you've met the hunter education requirements for Utah!
Within a few weeks, you'll receive your hunter education card in the mail from the UDWR.
Your Hunter Education Card is Proof of Your Certification
Your hunter safety card is an important document, so keep it safe. Then, always carry it when you hunt (along with your license to hunt in Utah). Be prepared to show it to wildlife officials if they ask for it during a hunt.
If you lose your card, fill out this form, then bring it with a $10 check, money order, or cashier's check to the closest UDWR office to get a replacement card before hunting season begins. You can also mail your check and the form to:
DWR-HUNTER EDUCATION
1594 W North Temple, Suite 2110
Box 146301
Salt Lake City, UT, 84114
Step 3: Where to Get Your Utah Hunting License in 2026
Your Utah hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember: you'll need a new hunting license every year, unless you have a lifetime license.
Buy a Utah Hunting License Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be especially convenient if you don't live close to a local retailer, or you plan to hunt in Utah as a resident of another state.
Buy Through the Utah Hunting & Fishing App
Another easy way to get your hunting license in Utah is to buy it through the Utah Hunting & Fishing app. This is especially convenient for downloading or displaying your licenses and permits digitally when in the field.
Buy Over the Phone
Call 801-538-4700 and purchase a hunting license over the phone. You'll need your credit card to complete the purchase.
Make sure you call between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday when the phone line is staffed.
Buy at a Local Vendor
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, the State of Utah has plenty of approved local vendors that offer hunting licenses. These locations include many Big 5 sporting goods stores, Wal-Marts, DWR offices, and other locations.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Before you pick up a Utah hunting license or head into the mountains, desert, or marsh, hunter education helps make sure you’re truly prepared. Whether you’re brand new to hunting or have years in the field, the course sharpens what you know and reinforces the habits that matter when it counts.
Utah’s hunter education focuses on the essentials every hunter relies on: safe firearm handling, sound judgment, and responsible decision-making in real-world situations. The training is practical, experience-based, and built around one goal: keeping you, your hunting partners, and everyone around you safe.
A successful hunt is one where everyone makes it home safely.
You’ll also build skills you’ll use well beyond the moment you take a shot, from navigation and basic first aid to handling the unexpected when weather, terrain, or conditions change. Just as important, the course emphasizes respect for private property, public lands, fellow hunters, and the wildlife we pursue across Utah’s diverse landscapes.
At its core, hunter education is about responsibility and ethics. It helps protect our natural resources and ensures Utah’s hunting tradition remains strong, respected, and passed on to the next generation.
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Most states recognize hunter education “reciprocity,” meaning a valid hunter education card from another state is often accepted. That can be a real advantage if you’ve already completed a course and plan to hunt beyond your home state.
A course taken in another state won’t cover Utah’s seasons, rules, access considerations, or safety requirements. And those details matter once you’re in the field.
Before relying on an out-of-state course, consider completing Utah’s hunter education course. It’s a worthwhile step that helps ensure you’re hunting legally, safely, and with confidence when it counts.
Hunters get more with Hunter-Ed.
You'll not only benefit from a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers everything you need to know to hunt safely (while meeting the UDWR's requirements). \You also get access to Hunter Perks.
Hunter Perks is an exclusive offering from Hunter-Ed. It's completely free for students!
As soon as you purchase your course, you gain access to:
- Ongoing Education Opportunities offered with discounts to help you learn about more aspects of hunting, like saddle hunting and archery.
- Curated Blog and Video Content to help you keep learning how to be a better hunter.
- Digital Hunting Tools. Hunter-proven resources at a discount (like app subscriptions) to help you hunt more successfully.
- Links to Hunting Regulations to learn about the hunting regulations for Utah each year.
Your Hunter Perks also include contests to win free stuff and discounts on gear, so you have everything you need for great hunts (while saving money).
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Utah with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the course for your Utah hunter education card. You won't be able to hunt without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about the hunter education Utah requires!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Utah?
Yes, you need hunter education in Utah to hunt legally if you were born after December 31, 1965.
Q: Can you take the Utah Hunter Safety course online?
Yes, you can take the Utah hunter safety courses online as part of the state's requirements. You'll also need to attend a Field Day session (in person) to complete your certification. Hunter-Ed is an approved online course!
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
Don't wait too long. Sign up for your hunter education course to complete it with at least a few weeks to spare before your hunting season begins.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No, you don't need to recertify for hunter safety every season. Your Utah hunter education course covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in the state after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is valid for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the Utah hunter safety course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $24.95. These costs include the course and study guide, unlimited tries to pass the final exam, your hunter education card, and Hunter Perks.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can lead to fines and other penalties. Your hunting license may also be invalid until you complete the course.
