Utah Hunting Laws

No minimum or maximum caliber for big game rifles — any centerfire rifle firing expanding bullets is legal.

"A rifle used to hunt big game must: (a) fire centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets"

R657-5-8(1)(a) · verified Oct 2026

Big game rifles must fire expanding-type bullets.

"A rifle used to hunt big game must: (a) fire centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets"

R657-5-8(1)(a) · verified Oct 2026

'Smart' firearms/scopes with computerized targeting systems that mark a target, calculate a firing solution, and automatically discharge the firearm are prohibited for taking big game.

"a firearm equipped with a computerized targeting system that marks a target, calculates a firing solution and automatically discharges the firearm at a point calculated most likely to hit the acquired target; or (d) a..."

R657-5-7(2)(c)-(d) · verified Oct 2026

A big game rifle may carry no attachment capable of electronic function other than an illuminated reticle. The same limit applies to shotguns, airguns, handguns, and muzzleloaders.

"A rifle used to hunt big game must: (a) fire centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets; and (b) have no attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated reticles."

R657-5-8(1)(b) · verified Oct 2026

Shotguns for big game must be 20 gauge or larger (i.e., no smaller-bore than 20 gauge), loaded with 00 buckshot or larger, or slugs.

"A shotgun used to hunt big game must: (a) be 20 gauge or larger; (b) fire only 00 or larger buckshot or slug ammunition; and (c) have no attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated reticles."

R657-5-8(2) · verified Oct 2026

Turkey shotgun loads must be shot size BB or smaller in diameter.

"Wild turkey may be taken only with: ... (b) a shotgun, firing shot sizes BB and smaller diameter"

R657-54a-4(1)(b) · verified Oct 2026

Nontoxic shot is required statewide for waterfowl, snipe, coot, and sandhill crane. Lead shot may not even be in your possession while hunting them.

"Only nontoxic shot may be in possession or used while hunting waterfowl, snipe, coot; and sandhill crane. ... A person may not possess or use lead shot: (a) while hunting waterfowl, snipe, coot or sandhill crane in an..."

R657-9-9(1)-(2) · verified Oct 2026

Deer and pronghorn handguns must be at least .24 caliber and fire a centerfire cartridge with an expanding bullet.

"A handgun may be used to take deer and pronghorn, provided the handgun: (a) is a minimum of .24 caliber; (b) fires a centerfire cartridge with an expanding bullet; and (c) develops 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muz..."

R657-5-9(2) · verified Oct 2026

Deer and pronghorn handgun loads must develop at least 500 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle.

R657-5-9(2)(c) · verified Oct 2026

Handguns for elk, moose, bison, bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain goat must be at least .24 caliber and fire a centerfire cartridge with an expanding bullet.

"A handgun may be used to take elk, moose, bison, bighorn sheep, and Rocky Mountain goat, provided the handgun: (a) is a minimum of .24 caliber; (b) fires a centerfire cartridge with an expanding bullet; and (c) develo..."

R657-5-9(3) · verified Oct 2026

Elk and moose handgun loads must develop at least 500 ft-lb of energy at 100 yards, a tougher test than the muzzle-energy standard for deer and pronghorn.

R657-5-9(3)(c) · verified Oct 2026

Muzzleloaders for big game must fire a lead or expanding bullet/projectile of at least .40 caliber.

"A lead or expanding bullet or projectile of at least 40 caliber must be used to hunt big game."

R657-5-10(2)(a) · verified Oct 2026

On a muzzleloader permit, sights must be open sights, peep sights, or a non-magnifying sight or scope of no more than 1x. A hunter with an any-weapon permit may use a magnifying scope on a muzzleloader.

"has open sights, peep sights, or not more than a 1x scope or sight which contains no internal or external components that make it capable of magnifications"

R657-5-10(1)(b), (4)(b) · verified Oct 2026

Muzzleloaders must be single-barrel with a minimum barrel length of 18 inches.

"has a single barrel; (d) has a minimum barrel length of 18 inches"

R657-5-10(1)(c)-(d) · verified Oct 2026

Big game hunters must wear at least one primarily hunter-orange garment — a hat, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater — where it can be seen. Exempt: once-in-a-lifetime, statewide conservation and statewide sportsman hunts; archery, muzzleloader and restricted-weapon hunts outside an any-weapon general season buck deer or bull elk area; cooperative wildlife management units; and nuisance-removal hunts.

"An individual shall wear a hat, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater made of primarily hunter orange material and so the item can be seen while hunting any species of big game, with the following exceptions"

R657-5-49(1) · verified Oct 2026

No Utah rule bans suppressors — the 2026 guidebook's prohibited-weapons list covers only fully automatic firearms, beam-projecting sights and aiming devices, computerised targeting systems and remote-control firing, and adds that no electronics may be attached except illuminated reticles. But Utah works the other way round from most states, and the guidebook says so outright: 'You may only use firearms and archery tackle that are expressly permitted in this guidebook.' A suppressor is never expressly permitted there. The only stated rifle requirements are centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets, which reads as allowing a suppressor on an otherwise legal rifle, but no Utah statute, rule or guidebook names suppressors at all, so ask the Division of Wildlife Resources before you rely on it. Either way the suppressor has to be lawfully possessed under federal law and Utah's weapons statutes.

Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices

"You may only use firearms and archery tackle that are expressly permitted in this guidebook. While hunting big game, you may not use: A firearm that's capable of being fired fully automatic; Any light-enhancement devi..."

2026 Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook p.26 'Firearms and archery equipment — Prohibited weapons' (citing Utah Code §§ 23A-5-309 and 23A-5-307 and R657-5-7) and p.26 'Rifles, airguns, shotguns and crossbows' (citing § 23A-5-309 and R657-5-8). Backed by Utah Code § 23A-5-309(1)(d)-(e): 'a person may not ... take protected wildlife with a weapon, ammunition, implement, tool, device, or any part of any of these not specifically authorized in this title or a rule, proclamation, or order of the Wildlife Board'. No mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in the statute, in R657-5 or in the 2026 guidebook (all re-read 2026-10-16); pending a DWR or Wildlife Board statement that suppressors are an authorized rifle attachment. · checked Oct 2026 · needs review