Nonresidents can buy deer and elk tags starting December 1, I'm a resident, why do I have to wait until summer to get mine?

Licenses and tags go on sale December 1 each year, but resident tags are not available until after the deer, elk and pronghorn controlled hunt drawings in the summer. The delay, adopted at the request of hunters, avoids the need to exchange general season tags for controlled hunt tags if the hunter is successful in the drawing. Hunters can buy either a general season tag or a controlled hunt tag for a deer, elk or pronghorn - not both.