Nicknamed “the Gem State” since its days as a territory, Idaho is known in hunting circles for its diversity of terrain, wide swaths of public land, and hunting opportunities. Big game hunters can expect to target elk, deer, pronghorn, black bears, mountain lions, wolves, moose, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
For elk and deer, Idaho offers General tags that can be purchased in December, but the total number of nonresident tags given out are capped by specific zones. The best zones sell out quickly so be prepared going in. Click here for more information. Idaho has no point system for hunters; all tags are issued in a random drawing, and therefore all applications have an equal change.
As of April 2, 2024, the new 2024 Idaho regulations, season dates, and hunt codes are available (Big Game Seasons and Rules). The big game application period for moose, sheep, and mountain goat ends April 30, 2024, with draw results available by the middle of May. The application period for elk, deer, and antelope controlled hunts is in May with a deadline of June 5, 2024, and the results will be posted in early July.
Big game proposals for 2024 have been published and can be reviewed here.
Hunters may apply for tags with Idaho Fish and Game here.
Huntin’ Fool’s Idaho page is an excellent, updated resource for ongoing Idaho draw changes.
Idaho Draw Process FAQs
Application Dates and Deadlines: Huntin’ Fool lines out Idaho dates and deadlines.
Free for onX Elite members, Hunt Reminder’s Idaho page is also an excellent resource for timely application season reminders.
Hunting license and species costs for tags usually include:
- Application Fee
- Hunting License Fee to apply (usually need a qualifying license before you can apply)
- Species Fee (This is what you pay for the animal you want to hunt. Some you pay upfront at application, some you pay for once you get the tag.)
- Points-Only fee (fees for people just buying points and not actually applying for a hunt)
Point System
- Idaho does not have a point system. All tags are issued via random drawing, and all applicants have an equal chance.
Tag Allocation
- Up to 10% of the total tag quota for controlled hunt permits can be issued to nonresidents per species.
- If a controlled hunt has 10 or fewer permits, only one tag may be given to nonresidents.
- You may only apply for one of the following: moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat.
- If you apply for moose, sheep, or goat you cannot apply for limited-entry controlled hunts for deer, elk, or antelope unless there are unlimited permits available for the hunt.
New This Year:
- This is the second year of the two-year regulation cycle, so there were not many changes made.
- Due to low mule deer populations, the following areas that were either-sex deer tags have been changed to antlered only: hunt codes 1070, 1083, 1098, 1099, and 1100. There were also mule deer doe tags cut from units 60, 68, 70, and 73.
- Due to low antelope populations, the following areas are closed for 2024: hunt codes 4022, 4025, 4027, 4028, 4043, and 4052.
Useful Links
- Access the onX Complete Package for Western Application Research.
- Log Into Hunt Research Tools To Start Your 2024 Application Season.
- View Idaho Hunting Regulations.
- Apply for Your Idaho Hunting Tags.
- Read Idaho Hunting News and Updates.
onX Hunt’s Top Three State Application Tips
- If you are a nonresident interested in moose, you should be applying in Idaho—though drawing a tag is never easy, Idaho does have the best moose draw odds in the Lower 48.
- The 10% total species cap has a meaningful impact for nonresidents applying for moose, sheep, and mountain goat hunts. That’s why you see hunts for these species that have nonresident applicants, but no tags drawn. If there are 50 total sheep permits available, that means a maximum of five tags can be given to nonresidents across all sheep hunt codes. So don’t assume that because a particular hunt didn’t give a nonresident tag last year, that you shouldn’t apply for that hunt this year.
- If you plan to hunt big game in Idaho, consider picking up a wolf permit for $31.75. Unlimited tags are available and can be purchased at participating retailers.
Your One-Stop Application Season Stop
To maximize your time spent researching and applying—and to help you build your strategy to successfully draw in 2024 and beyond—we’re providing onX Hunt Elite Members with FREE services in one comprehensive package:
- Hunt Research Tools: In-Depth Draw Odds and Application Tools
- Huntin’ Fool: Boots-on-the-Ground Research and Insight
- HuntReminder: Worry-Free Text and Email Reminder Service
- onX Hunt: Map Your Hunt With Research Layers
