2026 Idaho Nonresident Deer & Elk

[Firedude]

So glad the rest of the world gets to experience Idaho's "RaNdOm" draws. If it was really random the process wouldn't be such a secret.

Good luck fellas!

 

[Salmonchaser]

Well just bought my NR License, kinda expensive for a tag gamble.

 

[brymoore]

So glad the rest of the world gets to experience Idaho's "RaNdOm" draws. If it was really random the process wouldn't be such a secret.

Good luck fellas!

It’s not a secret

 

[seeth07]

Queue to get in to put the application in today. This can't be good. Also a "number in line" that appears to maybe be a running total of people that have attempted to get in? Is this per day? Since it opened on Dec 5th?

 

[brymoore]

Queue to get in to put the application in today. This can't be good. Also a "number in line" that appears to maybe be a running total of people that have attempted to get in? Is this per day? Since it opened on Dec 5th?

View attachment 395873

No one is ahead of you.

I’ve been given several numbers myself logging into the app to look up other license information. I have about 10 numbers assigned to me.

 

[TheTone]

I talked with a non resident friend the other day. I had to chuckle when he told me he put one of what I assume will be one of the hardest to draw tags as his third choice “just in case”

 

[seeth07]

No one is ahead of you.

I’ve been given several numbers myself logging into the app to look up other license information. I have about 10 numbers assigned to me.

I was 29th in line when it loaded and had to wait a few minutes

 

[mxracer317]

I applied on Dec 6 and didn’t even see that screen!

 

[Irrelevant]

I never saw that screen either...

 

[Khunter]

I talked with a non resident friend the other day. I had to chuckle when he told me he put one of what I assume will be one of the hardest to draw tags as his third choice “just in case”

LOL. I put in for a buddy and me. Just to appease his nonexistent understanding of how limited draws work (despite his long time participation in 5 diff state draws) put in a second choice on our app that will 100% be long gone after first round. No harm tho, Only really want to draw 1st choice or nothing so it appeased his need to put in useless choices just be cause you can.

 

[2rocky]

Part of me is more excited about spending weeks scouting than the actual tag itself. My priorities have really changed over the years.

As for the "illusion of choice" I'm used to it from the CA system...You can always put a Panhandle B tag as the 5th choice...

 

[44hunter45]

In most years they go unused by the outfitters and are sold first come first serve

It’s really fun to see that essentially none of the allocated controlled hunt tags go through the draw but instead are just given to the outfitters to sell

I read Saturday that unsold OA Controlled hunt tags are not moved to unsold bucket. Those disappear.

Page 4 of the supplemental pamphlet.

 

[brymoore]

I’m thinking the draw will happen before Christmas. Ho ho ho!

 

[44hunter45]

Theoretically, every NR who applies in the general tag draw and buys a license, can apply in the trophy or DEA draw. DEA would only cost an app fee. Trophy app would have to front the tag fee.

This is how I play Alaska. Alaska reg say you need a "valid license" to apply. This means you are applying for 2026 tags with your 2025 license. I'm only out the app fees for the next year.

 

[44hunter45]

OTC elk tags is better than no elk tag! Every Idaho OTC elk tag unit holds bulls from spikes to 350”+ bulls.

The amount of Idaho resident hunters isn’t growing per license sales. When I have issues at trailheads it’s usually NR license plates. Seriously. I have an OCD habit of looking at license plates. I want to know my competitors.

You and me.

WA and WI top numbers. Followed by MI and TX. But I live an hour from Spokompton. I keep saying I'm going to reciprocate with the WA High Buck hunt sometime before I age out. I am interested in OR Coastal Blacktail too. I have a son who sends me pictures of his yard bucks.

What gets me is the number of Idaho plates from distant counties. I understood NR getting sloppy second choice in my zone, but why are y'all from south of Riggins coming here? Maybe whitetails and not elk? I'm going to have to do some beer diplomacy this year.

I find the NR's usually have better manners than the locals. With e-scouting, a lot of newbs trip over my honey holes. I actually don't mind that as much as the guy who hunted it last year and brings 5 buddies this year. I suspect that NR may even be more successful. Hunting camp culture vs "I''m here to hunt"

 

[44hunter45]

Queue to get in to put the application in today. This can't be good. Also a "number in line" that appears to maybe be a running total of people that have attempted to get in? Is this per day? Since it opened on Dec 5th?

View attachment 395873

I wondered who thought this system would be better than the gold rush system. No major changes in the number of available tags and doubtful any changes to the number of applicants. Pretty soon there will be cries to bring back the gold rush.

 

[seeth07]

I find the NR's usually have better manners than the locals. With e-scouting, a lot of newbs trip over my honey holes. I actually don't mind that as much as the guy who hunted it last year and brings 5 buddies this year. I suspect that NR may even be more successful. Hunting camp culture vs "I''m here to hunt"

When I was there two seasons ago, I have never hunted an area with so many lazy hunters - R and NR. It is some tough, rough and thick country and it wasn't hard to get off the road a little bit and get into some solid elk hunting. Only saw one deer though, so perhaps they were all just deer hunters and those live by the roads

 

[rmyoung1]

I wondered who thought this system would be better than the gold rush system. No major changes in the number of available tags and doubtful any changes to the number of applicants. Pretty soon there will be cries to bring back the gold rush.

I doubt it. The old system was just online pandemonium. The only ones disadvantaged by the new system will be those NRs who could easily travel to ID license agents and buy in person.

 

[seeth07]

I doubt it. The old system was just online pandemonium. The only ones disadvantaged by the new system will be those NRs who could travel to ID license agents and easily buy in person.

Agree, this is way better. The only better way to do is to add these just right into the controlled elk draw. Now you have to pick as a NR where your app goes - into D/E/A draw to be able to put these generals likely as a second choice to have an elk tag every year or into the MSG draw.

The goal for the agency I'm sure is to not have leftover tags and perhaps they were worried about that but I just don't see how there ends up being leftovers if they do that. and even if there was, I know the residents loved buying them up as seconds

 

[2rocky]

I doubt it. The old system was just online pandemonium. The only ones disadvantaged by the new system will be those NRs who could travel to ID license agents and easily buy in person.

I did spend a Thanksgiving in Spokane one year with that intention. Icy roads cured that.

I have a friend who says that "Life is too short to ride bad horses or wait in beer lines". Kinda how i feel about OTC tag applications now.

i am really curious though about the effect this will have on License sales. Put me on OVER versus last years numbers. One could only hope it ups the Spring Bear hunt Harvest.