Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

What Utah Division of Wildlife Resources does

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is a state government agency under the Utah Department of Natural Resources, headquartered in Salt Lake City and operating statewide with 332 employees. Established as an entity under Utah Code 23A-2-201, the DWR holds exclusive regulatory authority over wildlife management in Utah, managing 900+ wildlife species and administering the state's hunting and fishing licensing system. Its core function is to issue hunting and fishing licenses and permits, conduct hunter education, manage fish hatcheries and stocking programs, conserve habitat through Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas and Cooperative Wildlife Management Units, and resolve human-wildlife conflicts via depredation and urban deer control programs. Customer segments span resident and non-resident hunters and anglers, wildlife viewers, hunter education students, guides and outfitters, and private landowners, with services delivered through an online license portal, the Utah Hunting & Fishing mobile app (iOS/Android), regional offices, authorized license agents, and physical facilities including two wildlife education centers (Eccles, Hardware) and two public shooting ranges (Cache Valley, Lee Kay).

The DWR's technology stack centers on a digital ecosystem anchored by the Utah Hunting & Fishing mobile app, which supports license storage, e-tagging of harvested wildlife, guidebook access, and interactive mapping. Supporting systems include the Utah Hunt Planner for hunting unit research, Fish Utah interactive fishing maps, the Wildlife Habitat Analysis Tool (WHAT) for conservation professionals, fish stocking reports, and comprehensive GIS data systems. The agency operates the Mussel-Aware Boater Program and on-site decontamination inspections to prevent aquatic invasive species, and conducts habitat treatments such as native Colorado River cutthroat trout restoration in the High Uintas. Revenue derives from state appropriations, federal grants, and user fees across seven streams: hunting and fishing licenses, limited-entry and big game permits, hunter education certificates ($7-$17), fishing contest Certificates of Registration ($20-$250), guidebook and license plate sales, and miscellaneous permits for falconry, collection, and outfitter registration. The agency also generates intangible value through measurable outcomes including a 94%+ reduction in hunting accidents since the 1957 hunter education program was founded.

Business model mechanics are anchored by mandatory hunter education for anyone born after December 31, 1965, which drives a structural recurring license-and-education revenue base. Distribution is omnichannel, combining self-serve digital (wildlifelicense.utah.gov, utahdraws.com, id.utah.gov), mobile (iOS/Android app), and physical (DWR regional offices, authorized license agents) channels. Conservation work is delivered through partnerships with the USDA Forest Service, National Wildlife Refuges (Bear River, Fish Springs, Ouray), the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative, the Habitat Council, and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Marketing and public engagement are conducted via the official website, the "Wild" podcast, social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube), an email newsletter, wildlife blogs, and events such as the National Archery in the Schools Program and Utah Hunting Skills Challenge.

Name

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Legal name

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Website

https://wildlife.utah.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is a state government agency that manages Utah's wildlife resources, issues hunting and fishing licenses and permits, operates fish hatcheries and education centers, runs conservation programs across statewide Wildlife Management Areas, and serves resident and non-resident hunters, anglers, guides, and conservation professionals through digital platforms and physical facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Wildlife Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (114), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife management services
• Hunting license services
• Fishing license services
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Hunter education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hunting and Fishing Licenses: The agency generates revenue through the sale of hunting licenses, fishing licenses, and combination licenses to Utah residents and non-residents. License sales are required by state law for anyone hunting in Utah born after December 31, 1965.
2. Hunting and Fishing Permits: Revenue generated from limited-entry permits, big game permits, draw applications, and various species-specific permits for deer, elk, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, turkey, waterfowl, and other wildlife.
3. Hunter Education Courses: Fees collected for hunter education registration certificates ($12 for residents, $17 for nonresidents), bowhunter and furharvester education ($7 each), duplicate certificate affidavits ($10), and instructor training courses ($13 plus additional fees).
4. Guidebook Sales: Revenue from hunting and fishing guidebooks and field regulation publications.
5. Certificate of Registration (COR) Fees: Fees for Certificates of Registration required for fishing contests, guides, outfitters, and other regulated activities. Fishing contest COR fees typically range from $20 to $250 depending on participants and prize value, plus a $10 handling fee.
6. Wildlife License Plates: Sale of Utah wildlife-themed license plates.
7. Additional Permits and Authorizations: Fees for additional permits including falconry, reptile/amphibian collection, fish and mollusk/crustacean collection and importation, guide/outfitter applications, and Certificates of Registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is the state agency responsible for managing and protecting Utah's wildlife resources under Utah Code 23A-2-201. It issues hunting and fishing licenses, administers permit drawings for big game and other species, runs mandatory hunter/bowhunter/furharvester education programs, operates wildlife education centers and public shooting ranges, manages fish hatcheries and stocking programs, and provides digital tools (mobile app, hunt planner, fish maps, e-tagging, Wildlife Habitat Analysis Tool) to hunters, anglers, and conservation professionals across Utah.

Product overview

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources offers a unified digital ecosystem centered around the official Utah Hunting & Fishing mobile app, which serves as the primary platform for license storage, e-tagging, guidebook access, and interactive mapping. Supporting the mobile app are web-based tools including the Utah Hunt Planner for hunting unit research, Fish Utah for fishing spot discovery, and the Wildlife Habitat Analysis Tool for conservation professionals. The DWR also operates physical facilities including two public shooting ranges (Cache Valley and Lee Kay), two wildlife education centers (Eccles and Hardware), and numerous fish hatcheries. Educational offerings include Hunter Education, Bowhunter Education, and Furharvester Education programs, along with specialized courses like the Extended Archery Ethics Course and Mussel-Aware Boater Program. The division manages conservation programs, wildlife viewing opportunities, the Walk-In Access program for private land access, and the Utah Cutthroat Slam challenge program. Together, these products and services provide Utah residents and visitors with comprehensive tools and resources for hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hunting and Fishing Licenses Annual hunting, fishing, and combination licenses issued to Utah residents and non-residents; required by state law for anyone born after December 31, 1965 purchasing a hunting license.
• Hunting Permits and Permit Drawings Limited-entry, once-in-a-lifetime, and species-specific permits for deer, elk, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, turkey, waterfowl, and other wildlife distributed through an annual permit drawing administered via utahdraws.com.
• Hunter Education Program Mandatory safety, ethics, and skills course required before purchasing a hunting license for those born after December 31, 1965. Offered online and in-person with a registration certificate fee of $12 for residents and $17 for non-residents.
• Bowhunter Education Program Specialized certification required for bowhunting licenses in states that require bowhunter education. $7 registration certificate fee.
• Furharvester Education Program Education and certification required for furbearer trapping permits. $7 registration certificate fee.
• Extended Archery Ethics Course Annual online ethics course required for hunting in Utah's extended archery areas; approximately 30 minutes with 100% passing requirement.
• Utah Hunting & Fishing Mobile App Official free mobile application for iOS and Android that allows users to store digital licenses and permits, e-tag harvested wildlife, access guidebooks, view hunt boundaries, check shooting hours, and use fish and wildlife identification guides.
• Utah Hunt Planner Interactive web mapping application for researching hunting units and boundaries, featuring biologist notes, population statistics, harvest data, and management objectives.
• Fish Utah Interactive Maps Interactive web mapping tool for finding fishing spots throughout Utah, displaying locations, Blue Ribbon fisheries, community ponds, and fish stocking reports.
• Wildlife Habitat Analysis Tool (WHAT) Free web-based GIS application providing authoritative Utah wildlife and plant species information to natural resource specialists and land developers for habitat analysis and project planning.
• Eccles Wildlife Education Center Physical education center in Farmington, Utah providing wildlife education programs and exhibits for the public.
• Hardware Wildlife Education Center Physical education center offering wildlife education programs and exhibits for visitors.
• Cache Valley Public Shooting Range Public shooting range facility operated by DWR providing shooting facilities for archery and firearms.
• Lee Kay Public Shooting Range Public shooting range facility operated by DWR offering shooting opportunities for various disciplines.
• Fish Hatcheries DWR-operated fish hatcheries that breed and stock various fish species into Utah's waters to support fisheries management.
• Walk-In Access Program Program providing hunters and anglers access to private lands enrolled by landowners for hunting and fishing activities.
• Utah Cutthroat Slam Recognition program challenge for anglers to catch and document all subspecies of cutthroat trout found in Utah.
• Roadkill Reporter App Mobile app for reporting roadkill observations to help DWR track wildlife mortality on Utah roads.
• Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program Program focused on preventing introduction and spread of invasive species like quagga mussels and milfoil through boat inspections and decontamination at Utah waters.
• Hunting and Fishing Guidebooks Comprehensive digital and printed guidebooks containing regulations, season dates, and rules for hunting and fishing in Utah.
• Certificates of Registration (COR) Regulatory certificates required for fishing contests, guides, outfitters, and other regulated activities. Fishing contest COR fees range from $20 to $250 plus a $10 handling fee.
• Wildlife License Plates Utah wildlife-themed license plates sold as a specialty plate, with proceeds supporting DWR conservation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hunting accidents reduced from 126 per year (1957) to fewer than 7 per year since 1996, representing a 94%+ reduction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DWR coordinates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service for wildlife management activities on federal lands, including conducting waterbody treatments in the High Uintas to restore native cutthroat trout populations.
• Utah Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DWR is a division within the Utah Department of Natural Resources, which oversees multiple natural resource agencies in the state. DWR coordinates with DNR officers and other agency staff for operations including aquatic invasive species inspections.
• National Wildlife Refuges (Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Fish Springs NWR, Ouray NWR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR collaborates with federal National Wildlife Refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for waterfowl management and hunting opportunities, including coordinating on Waterfowl Management Areas and public hunting access.
• Utah Watershed Restoration InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR participates in the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, a collaborative effort to restore and protect Utah's watershed habitats across the state.
• Utah Wildlife Migration InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR collaborates on the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative to study and protect wildlife migration corridors throughout Utah.
• Habitat CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR participates in the Habitat Council, a cooperative effort to coordinate habitat restoration and protection activities across multiple stakeholders and agencies.
• Utah Department of Agriculture and FoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR coordinates with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food on wildlife damage issues affecting commercial poultry/gamebird facilities and domesticated elk facilities, including disease monitoring and wildlife removal programs.
• Utah Cities and Municipalities (Urban Deer Control)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWR works with Utah municipalities (cities with >1,000 residents) to implement urban deer control programs, including issuing Certificates of Registration for cities to manage resident deer populations causing property damage or public safety concerns.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Idaho Department of Fish and Game: Idaho's state wildlife agency administering hunting, fishing, and conservation programs. Directly comparable in scope, structure, and conservation funding mechanisms.
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department: Wyoming's state wildlife agency managing hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation. Comparable in core mandate, license revenue model, and fish hatchery operations.
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Colorado's combined state agency responsible for wildlife management, hunting/fishing licensing, and state parks. Directly comparable to Utah DWR in mandate, revenue model (license fees), and digital infrastructure maturity.
• Nevada Department of Wildlife: Nevada's state wildlife agency responsible for hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. Comparable in regulatory authority, license revenue model, and conservation program structure.
• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: New Mexico's state wildlife agency managing hunting, fishing, and species conservation. Directly comparable in mandate and public-facing digital licensing and education programs.
• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: Montana's combined state agency for wildlife management and recreation. Shares DWR's mandate of licensing, conservation, and habitat management across a similarly rural state with abundant wildlife resources.
• Arizona Game and Fish Department: Arizona's state wildlife agency managing hunting, fishing, and habitat conservation. Comparable in licensing structure, hunter education program, and habitat management mandate.

Regional players

• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Oregon's state wildlife agency with comparable fishing, hunting, and conservation programs. Operates in a different but adjacent regional market with similar licensing and habitat management structures.

Broad incumbents

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Texas's large state agency encompassing wildlife management, state parks, and historic sites. A broader incumbent with overlapping hunting/fishing licensing and wildlife programs but a wider portfolio than Utah DWR's.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal agency overseeing national wildlife refuges, endangered species, and migratory bird management. A broader incumbent at the federal level; partners with Utah DWR on National Wildlife Refuge coordination and waterfowl management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/utahdwr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/UDWR
• Facebookfacebook.com/UtahDWR
• Instagraminstagram.com/utahdwr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utah-wildlife-resources

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Utah Division of Wildlife Resources