Beginning for the 2026 season, Nonresident general season deer and elk tags will be issued via an application and draw process.
The deadline to purchase tags from the first application period was 01/20/2026 (except DAV tags). Any tags that were not claimed have been forfeited and will be available to apply for in the second application period, February 5 - 15.
Q. Will nonresident general season deer and elk tags be issued via a draw for 2026 season tags?
Yes. The Commission approved rule that authorizes 2026 nonresident general season deer and elk tags to be issued via draw. There will be a Nonresident Draw for all eligible nonresidents, and a Disabled American Veteran (DAV) draw for those eligible for DAV licenses and tags.
Q. When will the 2026 Nonresident and DAV Draw applications be open?
Q. Will a hunting license be required to apply for the Nonresident and DAV Draw?
Yes. All hunters will be required to have a hunting license, valid to hunt big game, to apply. Disabled American Veteran (DAV) hunters will be required to have a DAV-specific license to be eligible to apply for the DAV draw.
Q. Where can nonresidents find information on what hunts they can apply for?
The 2026 Nonresident General Tags brochure includes the hunt numbers for each unit and zone that can be applied for (similar to controlled hunt numbers). This supplemental brochure will also denote capped and uncapped zones for DAV applicants. Note that general tag seasons and rules information can still be viewed in the Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure.
Q. How does the draw process work? How are hunt choices and groups reviewed in the draw process?
The process will work similarly to how controlled hunt draws are conducted in Idaho. After the application period is closed, all applications will be randomly assigned a number, and tags will be issued from the lowest random number to the highest random number. All first choices will be evaluated first, and tags will be issued if there is still quota available for that hunt choice. After all first choices are evaluated, the draw returns to the lowest random number application and evaluates second choices – skipping those that have already won from the first choice or where no quota is available for their second hunt choice, and issuing tags to those that have quota available for that hunt choice. That process is then repeated for the third, fourth, and fifth choices.
Groups are evaluated as a single application. When a group application is reached in the draw process, the group will only be awarded if there are tags available for all group members. For example, if there is one tag left in a hunt, and the next application in the draw process is a group application with 4 members, the group application will not be awarded because there are not enough tags left to award all members. Group applications do not receive multiple entries into the draw, since the group is treated as one application.
Q. Does IDFG use preference or bonus points?
No. IDFG does not use any point system in our draw process.
Q. How can Nonresident Disabled American Veterans (DAV) participate in the draw?
Nonresident DAV hunters can participate in both the Nonresident Draw and the DAV Draw.
The DAV draw will require that the applicant have a NONRES HUNTING/3-DAY FISHING – DAV license. DAV applicants are eligible to apply for a DAV Deer tag (Regular Deer or White-tailed Deer) and for a DAV Elk tag. For the 2026 season, DAV Elk tags will only be available for uncapped elk zones; DAV hunters do have the opportunity to apply for capped elk zones by applying in the Nonresident Draw, and, if awarded, paying full priced nonresident fees.
If a DAV hunter is successful in both the DAV Draw and the Nonresident Draw for the same species, they will be required to pick a single tag when claiming the tag. They are not eligible to purchase both tags.
There will only be one application period for the DAV draw (Dec 5 – 15) to allow for an extended claim period for DAV hunters. The deadline to claim DAV tags will be the final draw process deadline, 03/20/26.
DAV eligibility paperwork must be received by 12/12/25 at 2pm to guaranteed it can be processed before the close of the application period. Any paperwork received after 12/12/25 at 2pm is not guaranteed to be completed before the close of the application period.
Q. Why are DAV hunters only able to apply for uncapped elk zones?
DAV hunters can apply for both capped and uncapped elk zones. However, only uncapped elk zones will be available at the DAV reduced price.
Q. Do nonresident Junior Mentored hunters need to participate in the draw?
Nonresidents with a NONRES HUNTING - JR MENTORED license only need to participate in the Nonresident draw if they are applying for a capped elk zone.
Regular and White-tailed deer tags, and uncapped elk zone tags are unlimited for junior mentored hunters, and therefore, they do not need to apply for those in the Nonresident Draw. Those tags will be available after the drawing process is completed for the 2026 season.
Q. Do former Idaho residents with a lifetime license need to participate in the draw?
Former Idaho residents with a lifetime license will not need to participate in the draw. Those hunters are eligible to purchase general season tags out of the resident quota, which will be available in late June/early July.
Q. Can a hunter get a refund on their hunting license if they are not successful in the draw?
No. Hunting license fees are non-refundable. However, hunters can use their license for other opportunities throughout the year, like applying for a controlled hunt or a Returned Tag sale.
Q. Will an application fee be required to apply for the Nonresident or the DAV Draw?
No. There is no application fee for the 2026 NR Draw. However, this could change in future years.
Q. Can hunters apply as a group? How many can be in a group application?
Applications can be submitted with up to 4 members in a group. Group applications for the DAV draw must include all DAV-eligible applicants. Group applications do not receive multiple entries into the draw, since the group is treated as one application.
Q. How many applications can be submitted for the Nonresident and DAV Draw?
Most hunters can submit a total of two applications: one for Elk and one for Deer. Regular Deer and White-tailed Deer do not have separate applications and can be applied for on the same application.
DAV hunters can submit a total of four applications: DAV Elk, non-DAV Elk, DAV deer, and non-DAV deer.
Q. How many choices are allowed on an application?
Hunters will be able to submit up to five hunt choices on each of their applications. One exception is the DAV Deer drawing, which will only have two choices: DAV Regular Deer or DAV White-tailed Deer.
Q. If someone is successful in the first application period can they apply again in the second application period?
No. Hunters who draw in the first application period are not eligible to apply in the second application period for the same species that they drew for, even if they do not claim their tag. However, they are eligible to apply for the species that they did not draw. Note that there is no second application period for DAV tags.
Q. What happens to a tag that is not claimed by the designated deadline dates?
Tags unclaimed by the first application period deadline date (01/20/26) will be forfeited by the hunter and made available in the second application period. Tags unclaimed by the second application period deadline date (03/20/26) will be forfeited by the hunter and made available in the first over-the-counter Returned Tag Sale of the year.
Q. If someone applies for the Nonresident or DAV Draw, does that impact their ability to apply for controlled hunts?
No. Tags issued in the draw are general season tags and do not impact a hunter's ability to apply for a controlled hunt.
Plan before the draw
Review the Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure for general season tag details. Hunters should know the deer Game Management Unit and/or Elk Management Zone for the tag(s) they want to apply for. The 2026 Nonresident Supplement brochure will have the hunt codes needed when applying, so be sure you have that available when submitting an application.
Have proof of Hunter Education Certification
Hunters born after 1974 must have proof of hunter education certification on file before purchasing a hunting license and tags. Archery hunters must also prove their archery certification.
If you are needing IDFG staff to add your Hunter Education Certification to your profile, paperwork must be submitted by 12/12/25 at 2pm to be guaranteed that is is processed before the close of the application period. IDFG recommends any hunter needing to add their information to their profile after 12/12 do so by adding it themselves via their profile at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com.
Create or review your online license account
Make sure your GoOutdoorsIdaho.com profile is the most up-to-date, including your email and mailing address.
Hunters are encouraged to review the Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure for general season tag details. Hunters should know the deer Game Management Unit and/or Elk Management Zone for the tag they want to apply for.
Nonresident deer and elk hunters interested in applying for general season deer and elk hunts in the first-ever Nonresident Tag Drawing can see what tags are available for 2026, and apply for those tags in Dec. 5-15.
Junior Mentored license holders only need to apply in the Nonresident Tag Drawing for general deer/elk tags if they are seeking a tag in a capped elk zone. Regular and white-tailed deer tags, and uncapped elk zone tags, will be available for nonresident junior mentored hunters to buy after the Nonresident Tag Drawing is completed for the 2026 season.
Nonresident Disabled American Veterans applying for tags in the Nonresident Tag Drawing for 2026 general season deer and elk hunts will have opportunities in two drawings.
Seasons may change. Verify your hunt with the most current big game brochure.
Locations and info about Elk Zones and Game Management Units (GMUs).