Parks, Wildlife Areas & Forests
You may carry a firearm openly or concealed in Utah state parks, wildlife management areas, national parks, national forests, and national wildlife refuges.
Firearm carry, entering federal buildings, target shooting, and hunting have different requirements.
Dangerous Wildlife & Animal Attacks
When hiking, camping, or visiting public lands, you may encounter dangerous wildlife, including black bears, cougars, and other wild animals. You may use deadly force against protected wildlife when you reasonably believe it is necessary to stop an imminent attack likely to cause severe bodily injury or death to you, another person, or a domestic animal.
You cannot intentionally provoke or attract a dangerous animal to create a threatening encounter. If you kill or wound protected wildlife in self-defense, you must notify the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources within 12 hours.
Using Deadly Force Against AnimalsWhere You Can Carry Firearms
Utah State Parks
Age 21 & Older: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, without a concealed firearm permit if you can legally possess firearms.
Ages 18–20: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, with a valid Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit. Without a provisional permit, you may openly carry an unloaded firearm.
Carrying A Firearm
Wildlife Management Areas
Age 21 & Older: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, without a concealed firearm permit if you can legally possess firearms.
Ages 18–20: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, with a valid Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit. Without a provisional permit, you may openly carry an unloaded firearm.
Hunting, shooting, seasonal closures, and vehicle access are regulated separately from firearm carry.
Carrying A Firearm
National Parks & Wildlife Refuges
Age 21 & Older: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, without a concealed firearm permit in the Utah portions of national parks and national wildlife refuges if you can legally possess firearms.
Ages 18–20: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, with a valid Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit. Without a provisional permit, you may openly carry an unloaded firearm.
Firearms are prohibited inside covered federal facilities.
Carrying A Firearm
National Forests
Age 21 & Older: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, without a concealed firearm permit on national forest land in Utah if you can legally possess firearms.
Ages 18–20: You may carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, with a valid Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit. Without a provisional permit, you may openly carry an unloaded firearm.
Carrying a firearm does not authorize shooting in areas where discharge is prohibited.
Carrying A FirearmWildlife Management Area Access
Beginning July 1, 2026, individuals age 18 or older entering designated Wildlife Management Areas in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties must have a free digital WMA access permit or a valid Utah hunting, fishing, or combination license.
Some wildlife areas also have seasonal closures or restrictions on vehicle access.
Wildlife Management AreasNational Parks Crossing State Lines
If a national park, forest, or wildlife refuge extends into another state, you must follow the firearm laws of the state where you are physically located.
Federal Buildings & Restricted Areas
Federal Facilities
PROHIBITED: You cannot carry a firearm inside any federal facilities, including:
- Ranger stations.
- Federal administrative offices.
- Visitor centers staffed by federal employees.
- Fee collection buildings.
- Federal courthouses.
A Utah Concealed Firearm Permit does not authorize firearm carry inside these facilities.
Federal Prohibited AreasRestrooms & Outdoor Shelters
A freestanding restroom or open picnic shelter is not a prohibited area.
Federal firearm restrictions only apply to a building or part of a building where federal employees regularly perform their official duties.
Signs must be posted at public entrances to covered federal facilities unless the person has actual notice of the firearm prohibition.
Target Shooting & Discharging Firearms
National Forests
PROHIBITED: You cannot discharge a firearm:
- Within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area.
- On or across a National Forest System road.
- Across a body of water adjacent to a National Forest System road.
- Into or within a cave.
- Anywhere a discharged firearm could injure someone or damage property.
National Parks & Wildlife Refuges
National Parks: You cannot target shoot unless the National Park Service has specifically designated a location and time for target practice.
National Wildlife Refuges: Hunting may be allowed in designated areas during authorized seasons. Recreational target shooting may be prohibited.
Utah State Parks & Wildlife Management Areas
You cannot discharge a firearm in Utah state park campgrounds, picnic areas, developed beaches, overlooks, parking areas, or other locations where firearm discharge is prohibited.
Hunting in wildlife management areas requires compliance with Utah hunting seasons, hunting licenses, and area-specific restrictions.
Utah State Park RulesFirearms While Camping & Driving
Camping & Temporary Residences
Individuals age 18 or older who can legally possess firearms may have a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, inside their lawful temporary camp without a concealed firearm permit.
You cannot discharge the firearm where shooting is prohibited.
Vehicles On Public Lands
Individuals age 18 or older who can legally possess firearms may have a loaded handgun, openly or concealed, inside a vehicle they own or have permission to use.
Rifles, shotguns, and muzzle-loading rifles must be unloaded unless you have a valid concealed firearm permit.
Firearms In VehiclesApplicable Utah & Federal Laws
- 23A-2-304 — Wildlife Board Powers
- 23A-2-305 — Wildlife Board Rulemaking
- Utah Administrative Rule R657-63 — Self-Defense Against Wild Animals
- 53-5a-102.2 — Open & Concealed Carry
- 53-5a-102.3 — Firearms At A Residence Or Camp
- 76-11-204 — Firearms In Vehicles
- 76-11-209 — Improper Firearm Discharge
- 18 U.S.C. 930 — Firearms In Federal Facilities
- 36 CFR 261.10 — National Forest Firearm Discharge
- 36 CFR 2.4 — National Park Weapons
- 50 CFR 27.42 — Wildlife Refuge Firearms