Non-Residents Must Enter Drawing for Elk and Deer Licenses in Idaho
Boise State Public Radio News |
Published December 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM MST
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is implementing a new system for non-residents seeking elk and deer licenses for the 2026 hunting season.
Starting next year, out-of-state hunters will be required to enter a drawing to obtain a tag for elk and deer hunting in Idaho. Previously, non-resident tags were available over-the-counter or online on a first-come, first-served basis. Roger Phillips from Idaho Fish and Game noted that many hunters would travel to Idaho specifically to purchase these tags in person, often waiting in long lines or even camping outside the offices.
“We saw that it was unsustainable,” Phillips stated. “There was also a fairness issue for those who couldn’t take time off to come to Idaho and physically buy a tag or spend four to six hours in front of their computer.”
He explained that the high demand for Idaho tags was driven by limited options in other states.
In 2025, Fish and Game sold 13,000 non-resident elk tags and 17,000 deer tags, which do not impact local hunting tags. “Resident general tags are unlimited,” Phillips clarified. “There’s this misconception that we’re giving non-residents things that residents can’t get. That’s just incorrect.”
Last year, the Department sold nearly 230,000 tags to local hunters. The new drawing will apply to elk, regular deer, and white-tailed deer tags.
Non-residents applying for a license this year will also need to pay a non-refundable $200 general hunting license fee. This license will remain valid throughout the season and allows hunters who do not secure an elk or deer tag to purchase other over-the-counter tags, such as bear, mountain lion, turkey, and wolf tags. It also permits non-residents to participate in waterfowl or upland hunting or to apply for a controlled hunt in the spring.
The drawing will be conducted through an automated computer program managed by a contractor. “They handle this for multiple states and are audited, so it’s a serious process,” Phillips added.
The application period for the drawing runs from December 5 to December 15, with results expected to be announced in early January. For more information, visit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website.
Source: https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2025-12-05/non-residential-license-2026-season-idaho-fish-and-game-elk-deer-tag
