Nonresident hunters who missed out throughout Idaho’s first common season deer and elk tag drawing could have one other alternative in early February. The Idaho Division of Fish and Recreation (IDFG) has scheduled a second utility interval for remaining nonresident common deer and elk tags from Feb. 5 by way of Feb. 15, 2026.
This second drawing consists of unsold tags from the primary spherical. Hunters who drew a tag for a species within the January interval are not eligible to use for that very same species on this second go-around. Candidates ought to evaluate the Large Recreation Seasons and Guidelines brochure and know the deer Recreation Administration Unit or Elk Administration Zone they need earlier than making use of.
Tag Prices, Licenses and Necessary Deadlines
To enter the drawing, hunters should maintain a 2026 Idaho looking license legitimate for large recreation — charges should not refundable if a tag isn’t drawn. Nonresident licenses sometimes run round $200 plus processing charges, and if drawn, the tag charges are roughly $651.75 for elk and $351.75 for deer. Further permits (archery or muzzleloader) might apply relying on season choice. Correct quotas and tag availability will be discovered on the Idaho Fish and Recreation nonresident tag itemizing.
Key dates to recollect:
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Utility interval: Feb. 5–15, 2026
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Drawing outcomes introduced: Early March
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Deadline to purchase tags: March 20, 2026. Tags not claimed by March 20 can be forfeited.
Group purposes of as much as 4 hunters are permitted, and if one within the group attracts, tags are issued for the complete social gathering, offered tag quotas stay. First-time patrons born after 1974 should present proof of Hunter Schooling; archery hunters should additionally display archery certification.
Idaho Deer and Elk Looking: Draw Odds and Harvest Success
For nonresident common season tags, Idaho’s system does not use bonus factors — each applicant begins contemporary every year, so draw odds are strictly primarily based on quota vs. purposes. Particular unit-by-unit odds can be found by way of IDFG’s Hunt Planner software, the place hunters can filter by species, weapon and season to see relative demand and historic drawing chance.
As soon as afield, success charges differ by species and unit:
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Elk: In 2024, about 24% of all elk hunters had been profitable in harvesting an elk, with common hunts averaging close to 19% success and managed hunts round 42% success. General harvest included greater than 20,900 elk statewide.
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Mule Deer: Throughout Idaho in 2024, hunters harvested practically 23,900 mule deer. Basic hunts confirmed roughly 28% success, whereas managed hunts had been increased at about 53%.
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White-tailed Deer: 2024 noticed to greater than 20,900 whitetails taken, with common season success round 40% and managed hunts close to 46%.
Harvest success can differ broadly by unit and season construction. For instance, smaller japanese Idaho deer models usually mirror decrease success charges in high-pressure common seasons in contrast with models the place managed hunts are supplied. IDFG’s interactive hunt planner supplies harvest statistics and drawing odds for particular models, which is a necessary analysis step earlier than making use of.
Strategic Utility Suggestions
As a result of Idaho doesn’t reward prior purposes with level programs — and models fluctuate in recognition and success — savvy candidates analysis unit quotas, historic success, and tag availability utilizing instruments just like the IDFG Hunt Planner or third-party analysis companies earlier than submitting their decisions.
Nonresident hunters might submit one deer and one elk utility, itemizing as much as 5 unit/zone decisions per species. Realizing relative draw odds and harvest success may also help prioritize which models to incorporate on these selection lists.
See the Idaho Recreation and Fish web site for extra data.
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