Utah’s Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook for the 2012–2013 hunting season is now available.

It’s hot in Utah right now. But if you visit your local sporting goods store or the Division of Wildlife Services website, you’ll find a sure sign that fall is on its way.

In addition to sporting goods stores and the DWR’s website, the free guidebook is also available at your nearest DWR office*.

Utah’s upland game seasons begin on Aug. 25. That’s when the white-tailed ptarmigan hunt starts. The upland game seasons won’t end until the snowshoe hare hunt ends on March 15. That’s almost seven full months of hunting.

In addition to providing hunters with lots of opportunity, Utah’s upland game also provide a lot of diversity.

Jason Robinson, upland game coordinator for the DWR, said you can hunt white-tailed ptarmigan high in the Uinta Mountains one day and then, the next day, find yourself hunting on the rocky slopes of the West Desert for chukar partridge. “Utah offers a wide variety of upland game hunting,” Robinson said.

Great hunt for kids

Upland game hunting is also a great way to introduce young people to hunting. Many of the state’s upland game species can be taken with small firearms. And most of the hunts aren’t strenuous.

And this fall, those 15 years of age or younger can hunt during special youth hunting days. The special hunting days will be held from one to three weeks before the regular hunts start:

• Date: Birds your kids can hunt
• Sept. 22: Chukar and Hungarian partridge
• Oct. 13: Pheasant and quail

Robinson said the youth hunting days will be a great opportunity to get your kids out and enjoy a great hunting experience with them. “On those two days,” he said, “your kids will have the birds all to themselves.”

Must complete Hunter Education

There’s no minimum age at which a person can start hunting upland game in Utah. But kids must pass the state’s Hunter Education course before they can hunt. After passing the course, your child will receive a free hunting license. He or she can use that license to hunt upland game and waterfowl in Utah this season.

Learn more about the Hunter Education course online.

*Southern Utah Regional Offices for the DWR are located at:

Southern Region
1470 N Airport Rd, Cedar City, UT 84720
Phone: 435-865-6100

Washington County Field Office
451 N SR-318, Hurricane, UT 84737
Phone: 435-879-8694