Idaho
Idaho Draw Odds for Nonresident Deer and Elk
Idaho's nonresident general-season deer and elk draw, unit by unit and zone by zone, plus 2026 controlled hunt odds for residents and nonresidents, from Idaho Fish and Game's published results.
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At a glance
- Next window: Dec 5 to 15, 2026, nonresident and DAV deer and elk draw (first application period)
- Second period: Feb 5 to 15, 2027, nonresident draw only
- Point system: None. Every application gets a random number
- Cost to apply: $18 application fee per species, plus a hunting license valid for big game (nonresident adult $185.00). Tags if drawn: deer $351.75, elk $651.75. IDFG fees, checked Nov 11, 2026
Next deadline
Dec 15, 2026: nonresident deer and elk draw (opens Dec 5).
Point system: None; a random draw with up to five hunt choices. Every deadline
Hunt units, elk zones and controlled hunt areas on this page are approximate and are not legal boundary descriptions. Check the current IDFG Big Game Seasons and Rules before you apply or hunt. Full disclaimer.
Pick a species
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Other Idaho hunts: when to apply
Pronghorn
Controlled hunt applications run May 1 to Jun 5, with a second drawing for leftover tags Aug 5 to 15, per IDFG. IDFG lists these days each year without a year attached.
Moose
Controlled hunt applications run Apr 1 to 30, with a second drawing Jun 15 to 25, per IDFG. You can apply for only one of moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat each year. IDFG lists these days each year without a year attached.
Bighorn sheep
Controlled hunt applications run Apr 1 to 30, with a second drawing Jun 15 to 25, per IDFG. IDFG lists these days each year without a year attached.
Mountain goat
Controlled hunt applications run Apr 1 to 30, with a second drawing Jun 15 to 25, per IDFG. IDFG lists these days each year without a year attached.
Black bear
General season tags for the coming year go on sale Dec 1, per IDFG. Controlled hunt applications: spring bear Jan 15 to Feb 15, fall bear May 1 to Jun 5, per IDFG.
Mountain lion
General season tags for the coming year go on sale Dec 1, per IDFG.
Turkey
General season tags for the coming year go on sale Dec 1, per IDFG. Controlled hunt applications: spring turkey Feb 1 to Mar 1, fall turkey May 1 to Jun 5, per IDFG.
Wolf
General season tags for the coming year go on sale Dec 1, per IDFG.
Checked Nov 11, 2026.
How the Idaho nonresident draw works
Nonresident general-season deer and elk tags are issued through an application and draw. You apply for a deer game management unit or an elk zone, using the hunt codes in IDFG’s nonresident general tags brochure, with up to five choices. After the window closes, every application gets a random number. Tags go out from the lowest number up: all first choices first, then second choices for anyone not yet drawn, and so on. A group is treated as one application and is drawn only if there are tags left for every member.
Before you apply: you need a hunting license valid for big game (DAV hunters need the DAV license for the DAV draw). Hunters born after 1974 need hunter education on file; IDFG staff need paperwork by Dec 12 at 2 p.m. to guarantee it is added before the window closes.
Key dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| First application period (nonresident and DAV draws) | Dec 5 to 15, 2026 |
| First period results | Early January 2027 |
| Claim drawn tags, first period (except DAV) | Jan 20, 2027 |
| Second application period (nonresident draw only) | Feb 5 to 15, 2027 |
| Second period results | Early March 2027 |
| Claim drawn tags, second period and all DAV tags | Mar 20, 2027 |
| Controlled hunts: deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear, fall turkey, swan | May 1 to Jun 5 (second drawing Aug 5 to 15) |
| Controlled hunts: moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat | Apr 1 to 30 (second drawing Jun 15 to 25) |
Sources: IDFG nonresident deer and elk tags and IDFG controlled hunt application periods (that table lists days without a year).
Deadline reminder: Idaho nonresident deer and elk draw
Deadline Dec 15, 2026. Per IDFG: first application period Dec 5 to 15, 2026, for the nonresident and DAV draws.
Add To Calendar (.Ics) Includes an alert 7 days before.
Email me 7 days before
Deadline reminder: Idaho nonresident deer and elk second period
Deadline Feb 15, 2027. Per IDFG: second application period Feb 5 to 15, 2027, nonresident draw only.
Add To Calendar (.Ics) Includes an alert 7 days before.
Email me 7 days before
Frequently asked questions
When is the Idaho nonresident deer and elk draw?
The first application period for the nonresident and DAV draws runs Dec 5 to 15, 2026, with results in early January 2027. A second period, nonresident draw only, runs Feb 5 to 15, 2027.
Does Idaho use preference or bonus points?
No. IDFG uses no point system. Each application gets a random number, and tags go out from the lowest number up, first choices first.
What does it cost to apply?
An $18 application fee per species, and you need a hunting license valid for big game before you apply. A nonresident adult hunting license is $185.00, per IDFG on Nov 11, 2026.
More: 2027 draw deadlines by state, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado draw odds, and the elk hunt pack list.
Draw data: Idaho Department of Fish and Game (2026 nonresident general-season draw results and 2026 controlled hunt first-drawing odds). Tables are our own, built from IDFG figures. TagCanyon is not affiliated with or endorsed by IDFG. Dates and fees checked Nov 11, 2026.