Why is Idaho one of the latest states in the West for draws?

The Commission sets big game rules and seasons around March of each year to ensure they are incorporating the most current deer and elk information into the season recommendations. Those recommendations are shaped by things like mandatory hunter reporting October through December; aerial surveys in the following spring, and public comment periods prior to the March commission meeting. Those rules are then applied to the controlled hunts for that season, so the timeline for the drawings is based on the March season setting dates, the application periods established to allow hunters adequate time to apply, and the time needed to conduct the drawings once the applications have closed.