A shed hunter’s haul | Utah DWR
As we slowly inch away from open hunting seasons and the winter begins to deepen, many of us undoubtedly get the itch to get afield and try our hand at a slightly different type of hunt. Without a firearm or bow in hand, heading out into the wild in search of discarded bone is a favorite pastime of many, but if you happen to have the hills of Utah in your sights this year, you’ll need to complete the state’s free, but mandatory online ethics course.
The 2026 Antler Gathering Ethics Course, which is now live on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website, takes just about 30 minutes to complete and this year, is mandatory from January 1 through May 31—an expanded period approved in 2024 to better protect wildlife (previously February 1 to April 15).
Given that big game animals face tough conditions in late winter, often running low on energy reserves. Repeated disturbances from shed hunters, dogs, or vehicles can force them to expend crucial fat stores.
Freshies | Utah DWR
"During winter, big game animals, especially deer, often have a difficult time obtaining enough nutritional food," DWR Once-in-a-Lifetime Species Coordinator Rusty Robinson said. "As a result, they often survive on fat reserves they have built up before winter. If the animals receive constant pressure from people and repeatedly have to run or move, they can use up the fat reserves and energy they need to make it through the winter. Being disturbed briefly once or twice isn't too significant, but we have over 20,000 people who routinely shed hunt in Utah each year, so ongoing, repeated disturbances can be detrimental to deer."
With more than 20,000 shed hunters traversing Utah’s wilds each year, he and many others believe that education is key to minimizing impact. The course covers essentials including spotting animals from a distance, avoiding harassment, sticking to durable trails to prevent habitat erosion, and respecting area closures.
Complete the quiz, download your certificate and be sure to have it on you while out in the field. According to the DWR, officers will be checking and handing out fines to all those without the proper certificate on-hand. The same rules apply to off-trail use or bringing unleashed dogs.
Elk dead head | Utah DWR
For now, Utah stands alone among U.S. states in mandating this education-based approach. While neighbors like Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana enforce seasonal closures on public lands to shield wintering herds, none require a specific ethics course. Utah swapped a former full closure for this unique system around 2019, focusing on teaching responsibility over outright bans.
If, however, your test taking days are over, simply wait until after May 31, and no course is needed. That said, for those after those prime early drops, you can get ahead of the New Years Day deadline and knock out the free course now at wildlife.utah.gov/shedantler.
