Application period will be in early December of 2025 for the 2026 tags
A quick update for today... the Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently approved a drawing for all 2026 nonresident deer and elk tags.
So gone are the days of entering the online waiting room, or traveling and sitting in line in person to pick up a general season tag in Idaho.
Note: The application period will be in December 2025. The exact deadline date will be approved later in the year. Nonresident hunters will apply for a drawing for 2026 deer/elk tags, and they can submit their applications in early December; results will be posted by early January.
When it comes to your application choices, all first choices will be considered before moving on to your second choice, then third, etc.
DAV tags will have a separate drawing for the reduced fee DAV tags. Hunters eligible for DAV may also apply for nonresident tags, but will pay full nonresident tag prices.
Nonresident Junior Mentored Tags will continue to be available, but junior mentored hunters only need to apply for elk tags in capped zones. Uncapped elk tags and deer tags will be available over-the-counter for junior mentored hunters after the nonresident draws are completed.
Lifetime license holders who are nonresidents can buy tags outside of the nonresident quotas, so they will not have to apply for general season nonresident tags. Tags for lifetime license holders can be purchased in the summer when resident tags become available.
Stay tuned for more updates as this deadline nears in December of 2025.
A 2026 hunting license is required for a nonresident hunter to apply for a tag
There is no application fee
Up to five tag choices can be made per application per species
Up to four hunters can be on one application (each must have a hunting license)
Successful applicants must buy their tags by a deadline date, or the tag will be forfeited
Tags not drawn, or not bought by the deadline date, will be available in a second application period in January
