Utah Increasing Non-Resident Permit Fees

Hunting in other states can create opportunities for more hunting and different hunting adventures. It can also come with a lot higher cost than hunting your own home state as a resident. Historically, Utah has been a state that is expensive to apply to and hunt for non-residents, but with the new legislation, the cost may now be too high for most out-of-state hunters.

New Senate Bill

During the Utah 2025 legislative session, the Senate Bill was passed to increase non-resident licenses and permits by upwards of 100%. This includes increases in application fees, hunting licenses, and harvest permits.

There has been a steady increase in fees for the last several years, which is somewhat to be expected with inflation and increase in other costs. However, this increase is so dramatic that it’s getting the attention of hunters across the country. Especially those hunters that have a lot of points built up for many of Utah’s big game species.

Fee Increase Breakdown

Impact on Non-Resident Hunters

With the overall increase in fees, this could have a major impact on hunters that enjoy going to the state of Utah. As stated above, the biggest impact could be on hunters that have a lot of preference points built up. Some hunters have 20-30 points, and will now be obligated to pay these prices to continue to put in for these hunts.

Although this will bring more revenue in per tag, the overall financial performance of this decision will yet to be seen. From forums and social media posts around this topic, it sounds like there may be many non-resident hunters that will no longer apply or buy permits in the state.

The change is planned for July of 2025, so the price changes above will not go into effect for this year’s draw process. Knowing that information may change many mindsets of hunters.

If you are a non-resident hunter of Utah, will this impact your decision on applying and hunting in the state? What are your opinions on why the state of Utah would make this choice?