Idaho Going to NR Draw for Elk and Deer?

[Sheltowee]

Is this good? I think its good?

ALERT: Idaho nonresident general season elk and deer tags moving to a draw for the 2026 season // GOHUNT. The Hunting Company

Application period will be in early December of 2025 for the 2026 tags

gohunt.com

 

[TheGrayRider]

I’m in. What’s another state license and some more gambling fees? It’s only money…

Someone, smarter than me, should make a flowchart with all the arrows, boxes, footnotes, etc. about the various draw systems and points system - beginning with no draws and no points and ending somewhere with exponential points, limited tags, disgruntled applicants, and outfitter/landowner/influencer preferences.

Good luck! Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[PRO MO]

its better than the mad rush waiting room BS, but the amount of applications is going to be interesting to see. might be something we regret wishing for.

 

[Matthew57]

might be something we regret wishing for.

I know I’m in the minority, but I suspect this will be the case.

 

[buxnbullz]

I had a feeling this was eventually going to happen. I personally think this is a good thing.

 

[SAJ-99]

I know I’m in the minority, but I suspect this will be the case.

I would love to hear your view on how this is negative. The positives are pretty obvious.
1) frees up a morning/day that you don't have to be waiting and staring at your computer or driving to an ID agent
2) Eliminates (I think it does at least) outfitters standing in line to buy tags for NR clients, giving everyone the same chance at better tags.
3) makes people do some real research before applying for a tag
4) mostly reduces the number of people buying tags they really don't want and turn in later. (good and bad in that, I guess)

I highly doubt it will result in an increase in demand. Something like 40,000 people logged (multiple times in many cases) to see what their number would be. This should give a clearer picture on the number of people interested in some of these tags and which ones they are really interested in. Just seems cleaner to me. Always interested in other takes.

 

[brymoore]

I highly doubt it will result in an increase in demand. Something like 40,000 people logged (multiple times in many cases) to see what their number would be. This should give a clearer picture on the number of people interested in some of these tags and which ones they are really interested in. Just seems cleaner to me. Always interested in other takes.

I think demand will be strong in that the first draw is in December for all of the out of state hunters, specifically easterners, hoping for a western hunt. For the price of a license, they can apply in the December tag draw and the May tag draw. A lot of hunters will try to grab a safety tag which may be returned if they draw a better tag elsewhere. I don’t know how you’d calculate if the demand last year to this year changes because of the multiple computers used by people. We really don’t know how many people represent the 40k.

My IDFG experience is every time they try to a procedure to limit tag demand for general/ underperforming units, IDFG make the situation worse - capped tags, NR individual units, etc.

May draw demand should go up with the December draw hunters throwing in for another chance.

I have out of state friends contacting me already asking about how the December draw system works and what units to apply.

If I was an out of state hunter wanting an elk tag, I’d apply in December.

 

[Elktrack]

The 40k number only represents the amount of people that logged in. It’d be interesting to know how many tags are sold in person and how many via the internet. I have several buddies that are standing in line for the doors to open when they go on sale. Some buy for other hunting buddies that can’t make it because of work and such. The new system should allow for better demand information. It’s going to be interesting…

 

[SAJ-99]

I think demand will be strong in that the first draw is in December for all of the out of state hunters, specifically easterners, hoping for a western hunt. For the price of a license, they can apply in the December tag draw and the May tag draw. A lot of hunters will try to grab a safety tag which may be returned if they draw a better tag elsewhere. I don’t know how you’d calculate if the demand last year to this year changes because of the multiple computers used by people. We really don’t know how many people represent the 40k.

My IDFG experience is every time they try to a procedure to limit tag demand for general/ underperforming units, IDFG make the situation worse - capped tags, NR individual units, etc.

May draw demand should go up with the December draw hunters throwing in for another chance.

I have out of state friends contacting me already asking about how the December draw system works and what units to apply.

If I was an out of state hunter wanting an elk tag, I’d apply in December.

That sounds like a pretty complicated theory. I can say what I have done on old system. Log in to get my number in line, determine if it is worth it, and stay or go. If I stay I have to buy the license to get a unit/zone permit. If I don’t like the number (last year #44,000ish) log off and don’t buy the tag until May. This forces people to buy the tag just to apply. No more “let’s see what # I get” freebie. That changes the calc.

Also, what would really suck is if my number is under 500 and still can’t get the tag i want because some
Outfitter bought a bunch of NR tags for their clients. Some said that was the main pushback on this change. I think the ability of everyone to be fairly placed in the draw might draw more people? Just speculation. The top units might get more demand, while the mid and lower tier units get less?

 

[cgasner1]

Would be nice if they did the draw elk tags with the general to avoid people drawing a le tag later turning it in and having to deal with all that. Might help the draw odds in some hard units also

 

[Matthew57]

I would love to hear your view on how this is negative. The positives are pretty obvious.
1) frees up a morning/day that you don't have to be waiting and staring at your computer or driving to an ID agent
2) Eliminates (I think it does at least) outfitters standing in line to buy tags for NR clients, giving everyone the same chance at better tags.
3) makes people do some real research before applying for a tag
4) mostly reduces the number of people buying tags they really don't want and turn in later. (good and bad in that, I guess)

I highly doubt it will result in an increase in demand. Something like 40,000 people logged (multiple times in many cases) to see what their number would be. This should give a clearer picture on the number of people interested in some of these tags and which ones they are really interested in. Just seems cleaner to me. Always interested in other takes.

I'm definitely not certain, and I hope you're correct. To start, i'm defining positive as will it be more likely or less likely that i'm able to get a tag. I know there's been some inherent unfairness in the system, and that's aggravating for sure. However, I've had success getting a tag ever since i started having interest in hunting Idaho about five years ago. There aren't many states where that would even be possible, so in my mind I've had it very good.

Simply put, I've observed an incredible level of willingness by people to shell out $200 for a decent chance at a tag. I expect the number of licenses purchased to go up this year versus last year because people now will have to do so to be in the game. If you're a person doing out of state hunts, $200 is likely not a lot of money. I'd expect all those license holders to apply for Controlled Hunts if they're unsuccessful in the regular draw and expect the competition to increase for leftover tags. That's what i would do to try and justify the sunk cost. Those are two of the avenues where i've had a lot of success getting tags. I don't expect demand to decrease in part due to the timing of the draw, and the stupid level of promotion done by every hunter or hunting organization with a podcast. People view Idaho as an insurance policy that allows them to have a hunt planned for the year and that isn't going to change.

Take your case as an example. You hop in the online chaos the first day to see if you can somehow get a good number. If you don't, i'm likely not competing against you for leftover or controlled hunt tags. I admit, i'm primarily looking at this through my own lens because i was more than happy to drive to Idaho and wait in line. I heard people were driving or flying ridiculous distances to do the same. I also did the online thing a couple times. I think a $200 barrier to entry is overall a lower barrier to entry. How many more people will now be interested in applying now that they don't have to wait in the online queue and didn't want to drive to Idaho? If i was a hunter in the same financial situation as i am now, and I lived a good distance from Idaho, I'd be jumping on the new process this year and applying.

I'm glad the new system will be more fair, and outfitters and random people won't be able to stand in line and buy tags for other people. I always thought that was ridiculous. I wish they'd simply closed the loophole and said you can't buy a tag for another person, only yourself. Hopefully the new system is great, we shall see!

 

[El Jason]

Would be nice if they did the draw elk tags with the general to avoid people drawing a le tag later turning it in and having to deal with all that. Might help the draw odds in some hard units also

Are you sure they don’t? The article is a little vague, but it says ALL deer and elk tags.

 

[TheTone]

Are you sure they don’t? The article is a little vague, but it says ALL deer and elk tags.

You will be able to draw a “general” tag in the January time frame and then turn around in may and apply for a controlled hunt. Then if you draw the controlled have the option to turn in the general tag and get the controlled one. I’d expect the non resident draw odds for controlled hunts to get even worse with this

 

[El Jason]

You will be able to draw a “general” tag in the January time frame and then turn around in may and apply for a controlled hunt. Then if you draw the controlled have the option to turn in the general tag and get the controlled one. I’d expect the non resident draw odds for controlled hunts to get even worse with this

Roger that. That was a stupid idea, for whomever cooked that up.

Will all first choice draws go, then second choice or will they go through all selections for the hunter drawn?

If they will go thru all selections then the odds will really suck regardless of the first choice selection.

 

[Potsie]

Would be nice if they did the draw elk tags with the general to avoid people drawing a le tag later turning it in and having to deal with all that. Might help the draw odds in some hard units also

This.

I advocated for them to pull the 10% NR tags out of the controlled hunts and run them with the lottery for the general tags - i.e. make all NR tags a controlled hunt.

Would have simplified it greatly. Now you’ll end up washing out the controlled hunt odds because everybody that applied for a general tag (and purchased a liscense) will be applying for a controlled hunt - what’s $6 more once you’ve already purchased the license.

 

[El Jason]

I advocated for them to pull the 10% NR tags out of the controlled hunts and run them with the lottery for the general tags - i.e. make all NR tags a controlled hunt.

This is the way. And pick first choices apps first.

 

[Potsie]

This is the way. And pick first choices apps first.

I believe we do roll through all first choices first, then pull 2nd choice if available.

The only other way that makes sense to me is to let everybody apply for the general tag lottery, but not need to purchase a liscense. If you draw, you buy a liscense and that’s it. No app for controlled hunts. But, then make NR buy a a liscense to apply for the controlled hunts.

That way there’s an element of risk, and NR will have to pick their poison.

 

[cgasner1]

This.

I advocated for them to pull the 10% NR tags out of the controlled hunts and run them with the lottery for the general tags - i.e. make all NR tags a controlled hunt.

Would have simplified it greatly. Now you’ll end up washing out the controlled hunt odds because everybody that applied for a general tag (and purchased a liscense) will be applying for a controlled hunt - what’s $6 more once you’ve already purchased the license.

Also if you did them all at once it would make it so you can’t draw a general then apply for the big 3 so it should help a little with that also.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Idaho needs to cap at 6% tags for NR and draw only, they have to pick either general or LE tag to apply for, done and done!
Matt

 

[Khunter]

I am OK witht he change although I had sorted out how to play the game and consistently get the same tag 3 years in a row so part of me hates to see that guaranteed outcome evaporate.