Utah raises prices for fishing, hunting and other fees for nonresidents

SALT LAKE CITY — State wildlife managers say they have no plans to double nonresident hunting and fishing license fees this year, despite a new law allowing them to do so.

However, they say nonresidents coming to Utah to hunt and fish should prepare for a "moderate adjustment" in costs.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on Friday announced new license fees and permit prices for nonresidents, which take place beginning at the start of the next fiscal year. On July 1:

• Nonresident fishing licenses will increase from $94 to $120 for adults and $34 to $44 for youth.
• Nonresident hunting licenses will increase from $120 to $144 for adults and $34 to $44 for youth.
• Nonresident combination licenses will increase from $150 to $190 for adults and $38 to $58 for youth.

Hunt drawing application fees for nonresidents will also be raised from $16 to $21 beginning in September.

Some other changes are also planned, including increases in the cost of certain permits. Buck deer permits, for example, will soon cost nonresidents $599, an increase from the current fee of $418. Limited-entry permits will increase from $670 to $1,070, while general-season bull elk permits will increase from $613 to $849, and limited-entry permits will increase from $1,050 to $1,950.

In a statement, Riley Peck, the division's director, explained that the division is still reviewing "the intended goals" of SB8, which, among many things, allowed changed fees for nonresidents. He added that forthcoming increases were created after evaluating "the relevant market values" of other Western states.

The increases would help the agency acquire more land for hunting and fishing.

"This legislation is intended to increase revenue to allow us to purchase public land for the specific use of protecting wintering wildlife populations," he said, noting that the Utah Legislature also allocated $50 million for future land purchases.

Other wildlife bills

SB8 was one of a handful of wildlife-related bills that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed after this year's legislative session ended, which will go into effect at different points over the next year.

HB309 introduced a few changes, including requirements for Utah Wildlife Board members to have current and valid hunting or combination licenses while on the board. Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, explained that the measure aims to ensure that people who approve hunting rules and regulations are hunters.

"We've seen in other states that when that standard is not applied — in places like Colorado or Washington — nonhunters are pushing nonhunting agendas through the administrative process," he said. "This prevents that from happening."

It also applies to members of regional advisory councils. Beginning on May 7, anyone 18 years old or older must possess a hunting, fishing or combination license to access a wildlife management area or waterfowl management area in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties, as well.

Snider told his colleagues on the House floor that there would be some exemptions, including the ability to travel on roads in a management area.

Other key bills include:

• HB244 establishes the Bear River Bay Waterfowl Management Area near the Great Salt Lake. It will be used to protect the wetlands that millions of migratory and nonmigratory birds use every year. The new law goes into effect on May 7.
• HB378 adds a new energy development tax that sends money to the state's species protection account beginning at the start of 2026.
• The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will also have a new ability to regulate hunting guides and outfitters beginning in July through SB149. It also requires guides, outfitters and spotters to receive a certificate of registration, along with new rules that could spur a revocation, among other changes.

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