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:

• 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.

The application period ends June 5. Lucky applicants will be notified by July 10.

Good luck!