Big game applications due by March 1, 2010

If you're going to apply for a permit to hunt big game in Utah this fall, a wildlife official has some advice: Apply before the last day of the application period.

Time is running out to submit an application to hunt big game in Utah this fall. You must apply no later than 11 p.m. on March 1, 2010.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Photo

Applications will be accepted at wildlife.utah.gov until 11 p.m. on March 1.

"When you apply depends a lot on how much patience you have," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "If you apply before March 1, you should be able to get your application in fast.

"If you wait until March 1, it could take longer," she says. "Thousands of hunters wait until the last day to apply. Receiving that much traffic in a short period of time really slows our Web site down."

Tutorow says if you do wait until March 1 to apply, make sure you start applying before 11 p.m.

"Even if you haven't finished your application by 11 p.m., the system will let you complete your application as long as you don't log out before you've completed it," she says.

"If you log out after 11 p.m., and then you try and get back into the system, you'll be out of luck. Starting at 11:01, the only thing you can apply for is a bonus point or a preference point."

For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.