The Idaho Fish and Game Commission reduced the price for second elk tags if purchased during August, and hunters are taking advantage of the savings.
More than 380 elk hunters purchased second elk tags as of Friday, August 12. The price reduction coincides with high populations of deer and elk due to a series of mild winters and good survival.
Through August only, resident and nonresident hunters can buy remaining nonresident elk tags as second tags for $299, which is discounted from the regular price of $416. Starting September 1, prices will return to their regular price. These prices do not include the $1.75 vendor fees.
Second deer tags are also available but will not be discounted due to high demand. The price for second deer tags is $300 (plus $1.75 vendor fee) while supplies last.
Second elk and deer tags are sold on a first come, first served basis and are available until the nonresident tag quotas are reached. Tags can be purchased at all license vendors, Fish and Game offices, online at https://idfg.idaho.gov, and by phone with a credit card at 1-800-554-8685.
Fish and Game is forecasting good deer and elk hunting this year because of consecutive mild winters and good survival. Hunters had excellent success last year and deer and elk populations remain strong. For a preview on the upcoming season, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/idaho-hunters-another-great-big-game-season
The second tag program has been popular with hunters. For many years, portions of the nonresident quota of 12,815 elk tags and 15,000 deer tags went unsold. Since 2000, they have been available as second tags for residents and nonresidents alike, although the majority of second tags (about 70 percent) are sold to residents.
Nonresident tag quotas are factored into projected harvest rates, so Fish and Game officials don’t expect increased sales, either as nonresident tags or second tags, will lead to overharvesting of deer or elk. Last year, hunters using second tags accounted for 1.4 percent of the statewide elk harvest and 3.5 percent of the statewide deer harvest. There were over 168,000 deer and 101,000 elk tags sold in Idaho in 2015.
For more information about the second tags, including frequently asked question, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/buy/second-tag.