AmmoSight

Idaho Draw Odds

Idaho's controlled hunts are a pure random drawing with no preference or bonus points: every application has the same chance, and nonresidents can take at most 10% of each hunt's tags (one tag in hunts of 19 or fewer), so nonresident odds in popular hunts are often 1-3%. To apply you need an Idaho hunting license ($185 nonresident) and pay an $18 nonrefundable fee per species (two hunt choices); the deer, elk and pronghorn tag itself ($651.75 elk / $351.75 deer / $342.75 pronghorn) is bought only if you draw.

Deer, elk and pronghorn applications run May 1 - June 5 with results in mid-to-late June and an Aug 1 deadline to buy the tag; unclaimed tags go to a second drawing Aug 5-15, then leftovers sell first-come Aug 25. Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat are a separate April 1-30 draw (one species only) where the full $2,626.75 tag fee is paid with the application and refunded if you are not drawn.

Sources: Idaho Department of Fish and Game documents, last verified August 31, 2026. · 64 sources

Odds by Species

Deer

147 hunt codes
33 public-access hunts a nonresident had an even chance at in 2026
Tags 2026, All Residencies
17,832
NR Applicants
11,440
See every deer hunt →

Elk

190 hunt codes
44 public-access hunts a nonresident had an even chance at in 2026
Tags 2026, All Residencies
20,072
NR Applicants
12,753
See every elk hunt →

Moose

94 hunt codes
5 public-access hunts a nonresident had an even chance at in 2026
Tags 2026, All Residencies
513
NR Applicants
1,699
See every moose hunt →

Antelope (Pronghorn)

57 hunt codes
14 public-access hunts a nonresident had an even chance at in 2026
Tags 2026, All Residencies
5,729
NR Applicants
4,151
See every pronghorn hunt →

Bighorn Sheep

35 hunt codes
0 public-access hunts a nonresident had an even chance at in 2026
Tags 2026, All Residencies
98
NR Applicants
2,335
See every bighorn sheep hunt →

Mountain Goat

20 hunt codes
0 public-access hunts a nonresident had an even chance at in 2026
Tags 2026, All Residencies
40
NR Applicants
278
See every mountain goat hunt →

The Rules, Side by Side

Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.

Deer, Pronghorn
Rule Nonres.Resident
System Random 1Random 1
Choices 22
NR Share 10% 1—
Elk
Rule Nonres.Resident
System Random 1Random 1
Choices 22
NR Share 10% 1—
Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat
Rule Nonres.Resident
System Random 4Random 4
Choices 22
NR Share 10% 4—

NR Share

Elk
10% Counted per controlled hunt, and a hunt with 19 or fewer tags issues at most one nonresident tag; the cap is not applied in the second drawing or to leftover tags.
Deer and pronghorn
10% Counted per controlled hunt, and a hunt with 19 or fewer tags issues at most one nonresident tag.
Moose
10% A tenth of the controlled-hunt tags for the species, with at most one nonresident tag in a hunt of 10 or fewer.
Bighorn sheep
10% A tenth of the controlled-hunt tags for the species; the auction and lottery rams come out of the nonresident share but are not counted against it.
Mountain goat
10% A tenth of the controlled-hunt tags for the species, counted per hunt as well.
How This Draw Works, With an Example

Random draw: Every applicant has the same chance: tags divided by applicants. No points count in this draw.

Buying Points

Idaho has no points to buy: every applicant has the same chance each year.

Fees

2026 Fee Nonres. Resident
Every Applicant
Hunting license (adult; includes 3-day fishing) - required to apply for any controlled hunt 3,5 To apply $185 $15.75
Controlled hunt application fee (per person, per species) - nonrefundable 5,6 To apply $18 $6.25
Moose/sheep/goat controlled hunt application fee - nonrefundable, paid with the tag fee 5,6 To apply $45.75 $16.75
Access / Depredation fee (charged with the first annual license of the year) 5,6 To apply $10 $5
Archery permit (needed to hunt an archery-only controlled hunt; bowhunter education proof required) 5,6 If drawn $81.75 $19.50
Muzzleloader permit (needed to hunt a muzzleloader-only controlled hunt) 3,5 If drawn $81.75 $19.50
Deer
Deer tag (regular or white-tailed; general or controlled) - bought only if drawn, by Aug 1 5,6 If drawn $351.75 $24.75
Elk
Elk tag (general or controlled) - bought only if drawn, by Aug 1 5,6 If drawn $651.75 $36.75
Moose
Moose tag - entire amount submitted with the application, refunded if not drawn 5,6 To apply $2,626.75 $199.75
Pronghorn
Pronghorn tag - 'Tag fee applies ONLY if drawn' 5,6 If drawn $342.75 $36.50
Bighorn
Bighorn sheep tag - entire amount submitted with the application, refunded if not drawn 5,6 To apply $2,626.75 $199.75
Goat
Mountain goat tag - entire amount submitted with the application, refunded if not drawn 5,6 To apply $2,626.75 $199.75
Cash to Apply, One Species $213–$2,867.50 $27–$237.25

Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.

Next Application Deadlines

Unless a row says otherwise, tag fees are charged only if you draw.

  1. Moose 4

    results about May 11

    (Last cycle ran Apr 1 – Apr 30, 2026.) You pay the full tag fee when you apply. Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat share this window. The tag fee is paid with the application and refunded by about July 1 if you miss. A second drawing for leftover tags takes applications June 15–25.

    Apr 1–30, 2027 195 days expected

  2. Bighorn sheep and mountain goat 4

    results about May 11

    (Last cycle ran Apr 1 – Apr 30, 2026.) You pay the full tag fee when you apply.

    Apr 1–30, 2027 195 days expected

  3. Deer and pronghorn 2

    results about Jun 17

    (Last cycle ran May 1 – Jun 5, 2026.)

    May 1 – Jun 5, 2027 231 days expected

  4. Elk 2

    results about Jun 17

    (Last cycle ran May 1 – Jun 5, 2026.) Deer, elk, pronghorn, fall bear and fall turkey share this window. Only the application fee is paid up front. Drawn tags must be bought by August 1, or they go to a second drawing (applications August 5–15).

    May 1 – Jun 5, 2027 231 days expected

Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by Idaho Department of Fish and Game's own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.

Legal cartridges in Idaho by species and weapon

Sources (64)

Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines

  1. 1. Idaho Department of Administration, Office of Administrative Rules / Idaho Fish and Game Commission · IDAPA 13.01.04 - Rules Governing Licensing (Idaho Department of Fish and Game), current chapter (section dates 7-1-26) · 2026
  2. 2. Idaho Department of Fish and Game · Controlled Hunt Information (IDFG web page, with 2026 news teasers)
  3. 3. Idaho Department of Fish and Game · Idaho Big Game 2026 Seasons & Rules (brochure, 124 pp., last updated 04-07-2026)
  4. 4. Idaho Department of Fish and Game · Idaho Moose, Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat 2025 & 2026 Seasons & Rules (brochure, 52 pp.)
  5. 5. Idaho Department of Fish and Game · License, Tag, and Permit Costs - Nonresidents (IDFG web page) · 2026
  6. 6. Idaho Department of Fish and Game · License, Tag, and Permit Costs - Residents (IDFG web page) · 2026

Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2022–2026

2026 · 10 documents
2025 · 14 documents
2024 · 13 documents
2023 · 10 documents
2022 · 11 documents
Report an error on this page

Every report is checked against the agency source before we change anything.

About These Numbers

Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from Idaho Department of Fish and Game documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.