Idaho's new Deer/Elk License System

Big Game Hunting > Out Of State Hunting

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RB:

--- Quote from: andrew_in_idaho on December 02, 2025, 11:08:30 PM ---It would absolutely be possible to be drawn for different areas. Best bet is to pick a unit you would expect to be lower demand for both and put it as 1st choice

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--- End quote ---

Ok, appreciate the feedback, only hunted Idaho once back in the late 90's when getting tags was easy. We had Deer tags and saw more Elk than Deer.

Thank You

dilleytech:
I’m a little confused, is the current Dec 5 a Dec 15 application period just for the general tags? Or general and controlled hunt tags. for elk specifically.

andrew_in_idaho:

--- Quote from: dilleytech on December 07, 2025, 09:09:45 AM ---I’m a little confused, is the current Dec 5 a Dec 15 application period just for the general tags? Or general and controlled hunt tags. for elk specifically.

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General tags, controlled hunt period will be April for OIL and May for deer, elk, antelope

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Shawn Ryan:
Strategy question for ID non-res elk draw:

This is from the ID Fish & Game: "All first choices will be evaluated first, and tags will be issued if there is still quota available for that hunt choice. After all first choices are evaluated, the draw returns to the lowest random number application and evaluates second choices – skipping those that have already won from the first choice or where no quota is available for their second hunt choice, and issuing tags to those that have quota available for that hunt choice. That process is then repeated for the third, fourth, and fifth choices."

That is a different process from: when my number gets to the front of the line, all my choices are reviewed and I get my lowest numbered choice for a zone that still has tags available. This type of draw encourages me to rank my choices from best hunt to fifth worst, with some incentive to include a zone that is more likely to have tags available later in the draw.

The Idaho process makes a difference in how a guy chooses which hunts to apply for. It discourages me from choosing my favorite/best units as choices 1,2,3, etc. because those zones are likely to all be drawn as someone else's first choice. Thus, I think I should rank a mid-range hunt fairly high in my choices, so that when my number is called, I have a better chance of drawing a tag.

Put my first choice as a hard-to-draw hunt with my second choice as a mid-range hunt or put the mid-range as my first choice or choose all great zones for all my choices?

Thoughts, opinions, or comments? Not asking for which zone you'd choose, just asking if anyone is willing to share their basic strategy.

Shawn Ryan:
If you're applying in ID, the non-res brochure is helpful: https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses/tag/quotas/nonresident.

Unlike some others, I like helping hunters draw tags, even if it degrades my own chances. Different strokes.

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