Utah Dwr opens 49,597 acres through Walk-in Access Program

Utah dwr opened 49,597 acres of private land to public hunting and fishing in 2025 through its Walk-in Access Program. Hunters and anglers can enter enrolled property with a free Walk-in Access Authorization number, which must be obtained each year before use.

Aaron Sisson on access

Aaron Sisson, the DWR Walk-in Access Coordinator, said the program creates an important partnership between the agency and private landowners. He also said, "Typically, hunting opportunities are limited to state and federally-owned lands for most hunters," and added, "This program creates an important partnership between our agency and private landowners who are willing to open their lands for public use."

The 2025 program covered 116 properties, along with 39.4 miles of stream and 221 acres of flat water. DWR said the majority of the enrolled properties were in northern Utah, giving hunters and anglers a concentrated set of access points rather than a single continuous block of land.

2005 pilot launch

The Walk-in Access Program began in Utah in 2005 as a three-year pilot program. DWR said it has expanded as more landowners joined, and Sisson said the participating landowners want to provide additional opportunities for hunting and fishing for future generations.

For readers planning to use the program, the practical step is simple: get the free authorization number first, then check the DWR website for the enrolled properties and the activities allowed on each one before heading out. Without that yearly number, access does not apply.