The 2025 general-season buck deer archery hunt and the general spike and any-bull elk archery hunts begin this weekend, kicking off the fall’s big hunts. This season, Utah Department of Natural Resources conservation officers have some reminders for all to stay safe and legal ahead of your hunt. “The best way to stay out of trouble is to review the current regulations (as they can change from year to year) and carefully check your permit before you go out in the field,” shares DNR Lt. Casey Mickelsen. “Every year, our officers encounter hunters who go hunting without even opening their envelope to see what permit they drew. They wait to look at their permit until after they have harvested an animal and then finally discover that they hunted in the wrong unit or season, or sometimes for the wrong species entirely. These situations often result in citations and the illegally harvested wildlife being confiscated.” Another important requirement for hunters is to obtain documented permission from landowners in advance if hunting on private property. “If you choose to hunt so close to the boundary that the animal may jump the fence or cross that boundary line, then you need to prepare in advance for that possibility,” says Mickelsen. “If you wound an animal that crosses onto private property, you can’t just cross onto that private property and retrieve it without permission.” For the complete list of reminders, visit wildlife.utah.gov.
