Due to high demand for nonresident deer and elk tags, Fish and Game commissioners on July 27 decided to keep them at full price.
In 2016, commissioners discounted nonresident elk tags sold to resident hunters as second tags during the month of August to spur sales. However, this year’s sales of nonresident deer and elk tags are selling even faster than last year when the nonresident deer allocation sold out for the first time since 2008, and nonresident elk came close to selling out with less than 800 tags remaining.
On Aug. 1, resident Idaho hunters can buy nonresident deer and elk tags as second tags, but must pay the full nonresident price of $301.75 for deer and $416.75 for elk. Nonresidents can also buy these as second tags starting Aug. 1.
F&G administration bureau chief Michael Pearson said that at current sales rate, nonresident deer tags could be sold out by late October, and nonresident elk tags by mid October.
Fish and Game limits the sale of nonresident tags, which is 14,000 for deer and 12,815 for elk. Deer tags sold out last year, which prompted the commission to issue an additional 1,500 deer tags that were valid only for white-tailed deer.
With nonresident tags available to residents as second tags on Aug. 1, sales could spike and nonresident hunters may want to buy earlier than in the past to ensure they get a tag.
Fish and Game keeps a tally of the tags on the license, tags and permits webpage.
Hunters can buy their licenses and tags online here.