SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources would like people to consider buying a Utah fishing or hunting license for a Christmas gift. Or someone could pay for registration fees for a hunting, fishing or bird-watching challenge.
These presents are easy to purchase and can be used year-round.
It won’t be long before the ice freezes on lakes and reservoirs making ice fishing available to people who love to fish.
The state also offers several hunts during the winter months. Hunts for cottontail rabbit, chukar and gray (Hungarian) partridge, snowshoe hare and fall turkey hunts will run through most of the winter.
Annual Utah fishing and hunting licenses are yearlong licenses, so the license is valid starting the day it is purchased and the recipient can start using it immediately.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Licensing Coordinator Lindy Varney said hunting and fishing are some of the most incredible ways to experience the beautiful outdoors of Utah because people get to explore an area in ways they likely wouldn’t otherwise.
“A combination license is the gift that keeps on giving because you can use it year-round for both fishing and hunting. It’s a healthy, fun way to spend time outdoors with your loved ones,” she said. “Buying a license is also a great way to fund wildlife conservation in the state, since the majority of the license funds go toward important habitat restoration, research and other conservation projects.”
A hunting or fishing license can be purchased online, at one of the six DWR offices or from any fishing and hunting license agent across Utah. Combination licenses allow the license holder to fish and hunt small game are also available at the same places or on the website.
To buy a license for someone, here is some of their information needed:
- Name
- Approximate height and weight
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Date of birth
- Mailing address
- Phone number
If a license is purchased online, it can be mailed to the home so it can be wrapped and given as a gift, or it can be mailed directly to the person it is being bought for. It usually takes about 10 days for a license to arrive in the mail, so order one early if you want it to arrive in time for Christmas.
If the person the license is being bought for is 18 years of age or older, instead of buying a one-year license, there is an option of buying a license that’s valid for up to five years.
If the person already has a license, a person can buy an extended period when their current license is valid. For example, if the person has a license that will expire next April, a license extension can be purchased for them now. The extension will keep their license valid for one, two, three, four or five years from the day the license was supposed to expire.
A license extension may be bought only for a license that will expire within six months from the day you buy the extension.
Each of the license options can be found on the DWR website.
Gift givers should also note that hunting and combination licenses do not include a deer or elk permit and do not allow someone to hunt big game. Hunters can apply for a 2026 general-season buck deer permit in March 2026. General-season elk permits will be available, on a first-come, first-served basis, in July.
There are also several slams DWR is pushing like the Utah Birding Slam, the Cutthroat Slam, The Upland Game Slam or the Waterfowl Slam all of which have fees that can be purchased as Christmas presents.
For more information go to https://wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/fees.html