Nonresident hunters can apply for 2026 deer/elk tags in December; here are the details
Fish and Game recently announced details on new nonresident drawing for deer and elk tags for 2026. The drawing replaces the traditional first-come, first-served sale that occurred online and at license and tag vendors.
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 Deadline for the second Super Hunt drawing is August 10
Super Hunt winners get the best of the best by being able to hunt any open hunt in Idaho for the species they draw. This includes general or controlled hunts, until you tag an animal. Drawings will be held for deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. A license is not required to enter a Super Hunt drawing for both residents and nonresidents, and there is no limit to the number of entries. Super Hunt entries are only $6 for individual species or $20 for a combo of all four!
Any Super Hunt tag is considered an extra tag so you can still use your general or controlled hunt tags.
 Aug. 1 deadline to buy controlled hunt tags is fast approaching
The deadline to purchase controlled hunt tags is Aug. 1 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Hunters who applied for controlled hunt tags for deer, elk, pronghorn, fall black bear, and fall turkey can check their draw status through Fish and Game's licensing system if they already have an account.
Second big game controlled hunt drawing application period is Aug. 5-15
The application period for Idaho’s second big game controlled hunt drawing runs Aug. 5-15. Any hunter who drew a controlled big game hunt tag has until Aug. 1 to buy it, and those that aren't purchased will be available for a second drawing. To see available big game tags available for the second application period, check out the Controlled Hunt Information webpage.
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 Sage-grouse and sandhill crane tags go on sale Aug. 1
Sage-grouse and sandhill crane tags go on sale Aug. 1 on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 a.m. MDT. A total of 5,030 sage-grouse tags will be offered in 12 hunting zones across parts of southern Idaho, while 715 sandhill crane tags will be available for six hunting areas.
Returned big game tags offer more hunting opportunity and are on sale Aug. 7
Idaho Fish and Game will sell primarily returned nonresident, general season big game tags starting at 10 a.m. MDT on Aug. 7. A list of available tags will be listed at 10 a.m. MDT on Aug. 6 on the Nonresident License and Tag webpage.
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