Hunters who have applied for a Utah black bear permit any year since 1993 should receive a preprinted application in the mail by February
4. Beginning February 4, hunters also may obtain applications from hunting and fishing license agents statewide, Division of Wildlife Resources offices and hunter education centers, and the DWR's Internet Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov).

To be included in the draw for hunting permits, applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on March 3. Draw results will be posted by April 4.

Hunters who have an American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa credit card can apply online at the DWR's Web site. Once on the site, click on 'Apply online for available hunt drawings' selection on the right side of the home page.

Hunters who don't have one of these credit cards must mail their application in.

Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says an instruction sheet to help hunters complete their application correctly will be included with the preprinted applications hunters receive in the mail. "Read through it completely, before filling out your application," she advises.

Hunters who don't apply on the Internet are encouraged to mail their application early. "Mail service is slower now than it was before the terrorist attacks of last year, so you need to mail your application early to make sure it has plenty of time to arrive before the 5 p.m., March 3 due date," Tutorow said.

She reminds hunters that they must specify whether they want a limited-entry bear permit, or a limited-entry bear archery permit, by checking the correct box on their application. Applications will be rejected if a box isn't checked.

Tutorow also encourages hunters to obtain written permission from landowners before applying for a hunt that occurs on private land. "Written permission is required to hunt private property and we encourage hunters to obtain it before applying," she says. "We don't want hunters to draw a permit and then find they can't use it because landowners won't give them permission to hunt the area."

The DWR doesn't have a list of people who own land where black bear hunts occur, so hunters need to take time to locate the landowners.

Less than 25 percent of Utah's black bear hunts occur on private property. Hunts that do occur on private property are indicated by an asterisk in the 2003 Utah Black Bear Proclamation, which will be available by February 4.

Utah's experimental spring bear hunt will run April 12 - May 26 on four units. Season dates on the 17 units open to fall hunting are August 23 - September 28 and November 1 - 27.

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