To participate in Utah’s black bear hunt, you need to obtain a permit. The Division distributes permits for limited-entry hunts and restricted pursuit through the black bear drawing. You may not apply for or obtain more than one permit to harvest a black bear in 2024. You can, however, obtain a bear pursuit permit in addition to a limited-entry or harvest-objective permit. There are three different types of bear hunting permits in Utah, including limited-entry permits. These permits are available for any legal weapon hunts. If you obtain one of these permits, it authorizes you to harvest one black bear in the area and season specified on your permit. Multi-season limited-entry permits authorize you to use any legal weapon to harvest one black bear in the area and multiple limited-entry seasons specified on your permit. You must use the appropriate weapon type and method for the seasons you are hunting. For harvest-objective permits, biologists have set harvest objectives (quotas) for the number of bears that can be taken on certain units. When the objective is met, the unit closes to bear hunting for the rest of the season. The harvest-objective permit allows you to use any legal weapon to harvest one bear on any harvest-objective hunting unit until the season ends or the unit’s harvest objective has been met.
The spring limited-entry hunts on specific units start the end of March and go until the end of May. No baiting is allowed. The summer limited-entry hunts go from the end of May and go until the end of June. No dogs are allowed. The fall limited-entry hunts have multiple season dates, first the month of August and then the first week of November. No baiting is allowed. There is one limited-entry spot and stalk-only hunt currently in the Book Cliffs and it goes from September until November. Unfortunately, it is a resident-only hunt. Your over-the-counter hunts (harvest-objective) encompass a wide option of units across the state. These units all have erring harvest quotas, season dates, as well as bait/dog hunting methods that are clearly outlined in the bear guidebook.
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