Hunters trying to make last-minute applications for a 2010 Utah big game permit were stalled by a slow Division of Wildlife Resources' Web site Sunday and early Monday, to the point that the agency was forced to extend the deadline

Hunters were supposed to have applications in by Monday at 11 p.m., but, because of the online problems, the DWR extended the application a week until 11 p.m. March 8.

Applicants can apply online for most of the state's big game permits except for the general-season elk hunt with permits offered in June on a first-come, first-served basis.

"When you go in and try to apply, the Web site is just crawling," DWR spokesman Mark Hadley said Monday, attributing the glitch to technical problems. "By extending the deadline, applicants will now have some extra time to get them in."

Hadley said he expects no permits will remain for the limited-entry hunts after the extended application deadline has passed.

"Every year, more and more people are taking advantage of getting a permit through the draw," he said. "Last year, there were some archery and muzzle loader permits left over, but generally there aren't any left if you don't get your application in before the deadline."

Hadley said the DWR's Web site almost always slows as the application deadline nears for the state's big game hunts, but never to this extent.

Kenny Johnson, the DWR's business analyst, said he was waiting for a final report on what exactly happened to hunters applying online. He said that Wildlife Administrative Services of Nevada, which administers the drawing, was preparing a report on the problem which he said was resolved about 2 p.m. Monday.

He said that he heard from a handful of people about the issue. Vendors selling other types of licenses around Utah were not affected.

Joe Johnson, manager of Buck's Ace Hardware in Hurricane, confirmed that. He was having no trouble selling licenses. Johnson heard from one customer who had trouble getting into the system to apply and had questions.