Ask Fish and Game: Resident Tags

Q. I'm a resident, why can't I buy my tags yet? Nonresident tags and licenses already went on sale. A. Residents can buy hunting licenses starting December 1, but resident deer and elk tags don't go on sale until after deer, elk and pronghorn controlled hunt drawings. Hunters can pay for deer and elk receipts when they buy their license and redeem the receipt for a deer or elk tag after the controlled hunt drawings in July of 2008 so those whose names were drawn don't have to exchange their general season tags for controlled hunt tags at a Fish and Game office. Instead the controlled winners are simply issued a controlled hunt tag at any license vendor. The rest are issued general season tags.