Saturday is the first day of Idaho’s controlled hunt application period. Hunters can apply for deer, elk, antelope, fall black bear and fall turkey; however, there are some changes to be aware of for the 2021 season, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG).
For 2021, per IDFG, here are a few things for hunters to be aware of:
The application period ends June 5. Lucky applicants will be notified by July 10.
Good luck!
You have to wait five days to buy capped elk zone tags. “Residents who apply for a controlled elk hunt cannot buy a capped elk zone tag until five days after they go on sale, regardless of whether they draw a controlled hunt elk tag.” However, some controlled hunts are exempt from this waiting period, including extra elk hunts, depredation hunts, Land Appreciation Program hunts and Super Hunts.
The unlimited archery controlled antelope hunt is now a first choice only hunt. This is a result of an influx of antelope hunters over the past decade and, hopefully, a way to reduce hunter numbers for these controlled hunts.
Antelope are also reorganized into 10 hunt areas for 2021 for these new first choice only controlled archery hunts.
Further, there is now a one year waiting period for anyone successful at drawing a controlled antelope hunt. This includes those who have drawn either sex and doe/fawn tags.
Nonresidents can apply for deer and elk controlled hunts even though over-the-counter deer and elk tags are sold out. Nonresidents are allowed no more than 10% of the available tags in any individual controlled hunt.