How to apply in Idaho

Application dates, points, group rules and fees for Idaho’s draws.

Apply onlineIdaho draw odds

Dates

Reminders for Idaho deadlines
2027 license year
  • Nonresident and DAV Draw - first application period
    Main draw · Deer, Elk · Nonresidents
    Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 15, 2026
    Results Early January, 2027
  • Spring black bear controlled hunt application period
    Main draw · Black bear
    Jan 15, 2027 – Feb 15, 2027
  • Spring turkey controlled hunt application period
    Main draw · Turkey
    Feb 1, 2027 – Mar 1, 2027
    Results Mar 20, 2027
  • Fall turkey controlled hunt application period
    Main draw · Turkey
    May 1, 2027 – Jun 5, 2027
    Results Jul 10, 2027
  • Nonresident Draw - second application period
    Second draw · Deer, Elk · Nonresidents
    Feb 5, 2027 – Feb 15, 2027
    Results Early March 2027
  • Leftover spring turkey controlled hunt tags
    Leftover licenses · Turkey
    Opens Mar 25, 2027
  • Leftover fall turkey controlled hunt tags
    Leftover licenses · Turkey
    Opens Jul 15, 2027
2026 license year
  • Nonresident and DAV Draw - first application periodClosed
    Main draw · Deer, Elk · Nonresidents
    Dec 5, 2025 – Dec 15, 2025
    Results Early January, 2026
  • Spring turkey controlled hunt application periodClosed
    Main draw · Turkey
    Feb 1, 2026 – Mar 1, 2026
    Results Mar 20, 2026
  • Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunt application periodClosed
    Main draw · Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mountain goat
    Apr 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2026
    Closes midnight Mountain Time
    Results Jun 10, 2026
  • Fall turkey controlled hunt application periodClosed
    Main draw · Turkey
    May 1, 2026 – Jun 5, 2026
    Results Jul 10, 2026
  • First controlled hunt application period (deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear)Closed
    Main draw · Black bear, Deer, Elk, Pronghorn
    May 1, 2026 – Jun 5, 2026
    Results by early July
  • Nonresident Draw - second application periodClosed
    Second draw · Deer, Elk · Nonresidents
    Feb 5, 2026 – Feb 15, 2026
    Results Early March, 2026
  • Second moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat drawingClosed
    Second draw · Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mountain goat
    Jun 15, 2026 – Jun 25, 2026
    Results early July
  • Second controlled hunt application period (deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear)Closed
    Second draw · Black bear, Deer, Elk, Pronghorn
    Aug 5, 2026 – Aug 15, 2026
    Closes Midnight Mountain Time
    Results Aug 25, 2026
  • Leftover spring turkey controlled hunt tags
    Leftover licenses · Turkey
    Opened Mar 25, 2026
  • Leftover moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat tags from the second drawing
    Leftover licenses · Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mountain goat
    Opened Jul 10, 2026
  • Leftover fall turkey controlled hunt tags
    Leftover licenses · Turkey
    Opened Jul 15, 2026
  • Leftover controlled hunt tags from second drawing (first-come, first-served)
    Leftover licenses · Black bear, Deer, Elk, Pronghorn
    Opened Aug 25, 2026
  • Resident capped elk zone tags (excluding Sawtooth)
    Over the counter · Elk · Residents
    Opened Jul 8, 2026
  • Resident capped Sawtooth elk zone tags
    Over the counter · Elk · Residents
    Opened Jul 10, 2026
  • Landowner Appreciation Program designated huntsClosed
    Black bear, Deer, Elk, Pronghorn
    May 15, 2026 – Jun 15, 2026

Before you apply

  • Deer, Elk · Nonresidents

    All nonresidents are required to purchase a 2027 Idaho hunting license, valid for big game, to be eligible to apply in the draw.

Points

Random draw, no points
Deer, Elk

  • Controlled hunts have a limited number of tags that are issued by a random drawing.

  • Controlled hunt tags are allocated by a random drawing.

How tags are drawn

  • Deer · Nonresidents

    Statewide nonresident general-season deer quota: 15,500 tags

  • Elk · Nonresidents

    Statewide nonresident general-season elk quota: 12,815 tags, including capped elk zones

Applying as a group

  • Two to four hunters may apply together for the same deer, elk, or pronghorn controlled hunt.

  • If there are nonresident members on a group application, the application can only be successful if there are enough tags available to award all resident and all nonresident group members without exceeding the 10% nonresident limit.

  • Black bear, Turkey, Moose, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goat

    Two hunters may apply together for the same black bear, turkey, moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat controlled hunt.

Waiting periods and limits

  • Any person whose name was drawn for a limited controlled hunt for antlered-only deer or antlered-only elk is not eligible in the subsequent one (1) year to apply for a limited antlered-only controlled hunt of the same species drawn

  • Bighorn sheep

    Two years after being drawn for any bighorn sheep controlled hunt (either subspecies)

  • Moose

    Two years after being drawn for a controlled moose hunt (leftover tags excepted)

  • Mountain goat

    Two years after being drawn for a mountain goat controlled hunt without harvesting

  • Pronghorn

    One year: anyone drawn for a limited controlled pronghorn hunt in the first application period may not apply for any limited pronghorn controlled hunt the next year (not unlimited hunts)

Draw results

  • Deer, Elk · Nonresidents

    email (valid email on GoOutdoorsIdaho account) and online lookup in the license account

After the draw

  • Deer, Elk · Nonresidents

    Tags not bought by the first deadline go into the second application period; tags not bought by the second deadline go to the first over-the-counter Returned Tag Sale of the year

Application fees

  • Nonresidents

    The fee is $6.25 for residents and $18.00 for nonresidents

  • Residents

    The fee is $6.25 for residents and $18.00 for nonresidents

License and tag fees

Every hunter
License or tagResidentNonresident
Moose sheep goat tag$166.75$2,626.75
Moose sheep goat tag without price lock$199.75–
Black bear
License or tagResidentNonresident
Bear tag$11.50$231.75
Bear tag without price lock$13.75–
Deer
License or tagResidentNonresident
Deer tag$19.75$351.75
Deer tag dav–$23.75
Deer tag junior mentored–$176.75
Deer tag without price lock$24.75–
Deer tag youth senior dav$10.75–
Deer tag youth senior dav without price lock$12.50–
Elk
License or tagResidentNonresident
Elk tag$30.75$651.75
Elk tag dav–$39.75
Elk tag junior mentored–$299.75
Elk tag without price lock$36.75–
Elk tag youth senior dav$16.50–
Elk tag youth senior dav without price lock$18.75–
Mountain lion
License or tagResidentNonresident
Mountain lion tag$11.50$204.50
Mountain lion tag without price lock$13.75–
Pronghorn
License or tagResidentNonresident
Pronghorn tag$31.25$342.75
Pronghorn tag without price lock$36.50–
Turkey
License or tagResidentNonresident
Turkey tag$19.75$88
Turkey tag without price lock$22.75–
Wolf
License or tagResidentNonresident
Wolf tag$11.50$31.75
Wolf tag without price lock$13.75–

Source: IDFG · Updated Nov 13, 2026