Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on January 31 to be entered in the 2001 draw. Applications postmarked before or on that date, but that aren't received by 5 p.m. on January 31, will be rejected. Applications will not be accepted in person.

Hunters who have an American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa credit card that is valid through at least May 2001 can get their application in within a matter of minutes by logging onto the Division of Wildlife Resources Internet web site (www.nr.state.ut.us/dwr/dwr.htm). Once on the site, click on the Big Game Permit Apply Here icon at the top of the home page.

Hunters who don't apply on the Internet are reminded that it will take a few days for their application to arrive through the mail at the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office. Because of this, an overnight mail delivery service is probably the best way to help assure their application is received by the 5 p.m., January 31 due date, said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

To be entered in the draw, applications must not only arrive in time but must be completed correctly. Tutorow encourages hunters to take their time when completing their application; to review pages 8 and 9 of the 2001 Utah Big Game Proclamation; and to call the nearest Division office, or the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, if they have questions or need assistance. The Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

Division offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays with the exception of the Salt Lake City office, which opens at 7:30 a.m.

The following were the most common mistakes made by hunters applying last year:

• Late Application: Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. on January 31. Use the Internet or consider using an overnight mail service.

• Credit Card Not Processed: Credit cards must be valid through at least May 2001 to be accepted as payment. Credit card numbers are long. Take your time and make sure you write the number correctly on your application.

• Multiple Applications: You may send in only one application for general buck deer and ML300 elk, and one application for premium limited entry, limited entry, CWMU and once-in-a-lifetime hunts.

• Multiple Species: When applying for a limited entry hunt, you may only apply for one species. For example, if you apply for a deer permit, you may not apply for an elk or pronghorn permit.

• Money Short: Look closely at the fees on the application and make sure you are including enough money for the hunt for which you are applying.