SALT LAKE CITY (March 18, 2025) — Each year, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources captures big game animals to perform important health assessments and to place GPS collars on the animals to learn more about their migration patterns and survival rates. This winter, a record 1,901 big game animals were captured, providing important data about big game herds across …
SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 23, 2025) — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been awarded up to roughly $37.2 million in federal grants that would help benefit fish and wildlife in southeastern Utah through several habitat improvements projects. The awarded grants were announced Friday as part of the first round of funded projects from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Upper Basin Environmental …
Salt Lake City (Jan. 9, 2025) — Utah Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Joel Ferry named Riley Peck as the new director for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, effective Monday, Jan. 13. A resident of Eagle Mountain, Utah County, Peck started working for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in 2006 as a native aquatics technician. In 2009, …
SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 9, 2025) — Anyone who goes fishing knows how thrilling it is to catch a fish, especially if it is a large, potentially record-breaking one. And in 2024, anglers set a few new fishing records in Utah. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources began tracking records for harvested fish in the early 1900s. Since then, the …
SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 6, 2025) — The group that makes the final decisions about hunting, fishing and how wildlife is managed in Utah has three positions to fill, and members of the public who have an interest in wildlife are encouraged to apply. The terms for the three positions on the Utah Wildlife Board will begin in August 2025, and will …
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 10, 2024) — In an effort to enhance fishing and boost native fish populations, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources stocks a variety of fish species throughout Utah every year, and in 2024, over 12.8 million fish were stocked into waterbodies across the state. A whopping 12,831,218 fish — totaling a combined 1,238,903 pounds — were stocked …
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 26, 2024) — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources director Justin “J” Shirley announced his retirement on Nov. 12 after 22 years of service with the division. His retirement will be effective Jan. 1, 2025. A resident of Stockton, Shirley joined the division in 2002 and became director in 2021 after serving as law enforcement chief since …
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 12, 2024) — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and other partnering agencies worked hard inspecting and decontaminating boats across the state this year to prevent the spread of invasive quagga mussels in Utah. Lake Powell is currently the only Utah waterbody infested with invasive quagga mussels. Statewide, aquatic invasive species technicians with the DWR, Utah …
With the pending retirement of Mike Fowlks, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Executive Director Brian Steed has named Rory Reynolds, current DNR deputy director, to serve as DWR interim director.
Beginning this weekend, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is boosting its inspection and decontamination capacity along the routes leaving Lake Powell to more efficiently meet boater needs.