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Apply Now for these Limited Bird Permits in Utah

(posted July 07, 2016)

Bird hunters interested in grouse, cranes and swans should take a look at these limited opportunities in Utah. While a number of bird species are available to hunt there, these are found only in limited areas or limited numbers. Permits to hunt two species of grouse, cranes and swans are available only by drawing and the application period for all of them is July 6-21, 2016. A hunting license ($65) is required to apply.

Sage grouse are somewhat limited in range and the species has been petitioned for listing under the ESA. In Utah, there are several areas available for sage grouse hunting, but many of the areas are primarily private land. Parker Mountain, in the southcentral part of the state, has perhaps the best sage grouse populations and plenty of public land. Be prepared to walk away from the roads, but you should have no trouble getting your two-bird season limit on the Parker.

Columbian sharp-tailed grouse occurs only in the northwestern US and are huntable in Utah. Columbian sharptails are smaller than the sharptails of the Great Plains, and they are not huntable in many areas. Much of the area occupied by sharptails in Utah is private land and the Utah Division of Wildlife resources recommends getting permission before applying for a permit.

Greater sandhill cranes are also huntable in Utah. These birds are much bigger than the lesser sandhills hunted across the Great Plains, weighing as much as 11 pounds. A limited number of licenses are available for hunt units in northern Utah and the birds are hunted there early, before they migrate south.

The big game bird in the waterfowl world is the tundra swan and several thousand swans winter at the Great Salt Lake. Swan permits are available for a large area along the NE side of the lake and public shooting areas and refuges are open to swan hunting. Before applying for a swan permit, hunters must take and online swan identification course (wildlife.utah.gov/swancourse).

In addition to the $10 application fee, successful swan and crane applicants will be charged $15 for the permit. There is no additional charge for either grouse permit. The 2016-17 upland and waterfowl hunting guidebooks are available at wildlife.utah.gov and you can apply for permits via a link at that site. - Mike Bodenchuk, Editor-at-Large

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