Idaho deer draw odds
Idaho has no preference points, so every year is a fresh random draw. Here is how the 2026 draw went across the state, what it costs to apply, and how often hunters fill their tags.
Idaho deer draw odds at a glance
Out of every 100 first-choice applications, how many got a tag. These are statewide averages across many hunts, so your odds on a specific hunt will differ.
| Opportunity | Who | Got a tag, 2026 | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled hunts | Residents | 22% | Limited tags, drawn at random |
| Controlled hunts | Nonresidents | 11% | Capped at 10% of tags in most hunts |
| General draw | Nonresidents | 50% | New in 2026; up to five choices |
| General tags | Residents | No draw | Bought over the counter |
Controlled hunts by year
Every adult controlled deer hunt together (private-land-only hunts left out), counting first choices only. The odds count applications, not people.
| Year | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 24%58,927 applications | 14%7,817 applications |
| 2023 | 24%59,822 applications | 13%7,898 applications |
| 2024 | 23%62,605 applications | 13%8,410 applications |
| 2025 | 23%65,641 applications | 12%9,242 applications |
| 2026 | 22%65,927 applications | 11%11,179 applications |
Nonresident applications went up 43% from 2022 to 2026 (7,817 to 11,179), and the share that drew fell from 14% to 11%. Residents went from 24% to 22%. Averages hide a lot: some hunts draw nearly everyone who applies, and others draw very few.
The nonresident general deer draw started in 2026. It offered 14,555 tags across 145 unit tags and 50% of the 25,310 first-choice applications drew. Among tags with 100 or more first-choice applications, odds ran from 8.7% to 100%.
How the Idaho draw works
Idaho has no points. Someone who has applied for ten years has the same chance as someone applying for the first time.
Controlled hunts have a limited number of tags, drawn at random and split between residents and nonresidents. Nonresidents can get no more than 10% of the tags in most controlled hunts.
In 2026, controlled hunt applications for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and turkey ran May 1 to Jun 5. Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat have their own earlier window, and you can apply for only one of the three each year. Check Idaho Fish and Game for each year's dates.
Deer opportunities in Idaho
- Controlled hunts. 131 controlled deer hunts ran in 2026, giving 1,206 tags to nonresidents and 14,205 to residents in the main draw. They have limited tags, and it's a pure lottery.
- Nonresident general draw. 14,555 general deer tags in 2026, with up to five choices, so you can rank where you most want to hunt. A general tag means a general season, so expect more company than on a controlled hunt.
- Over the counter for residents. Residents can buy a general deer tag without a draw, so they can hunt every year and still apply for controlled hunts.
- Leftover tags. Nonresident tags left after the first draw go to a second application period, and controlled hunts have run a second round of leftover tags in past years.
- Other species. Idaho also runs controlled draws for pronghorn, black bear, turkey, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat.
Over-the-counter tags
Idaho sells general tags over the counter to residents. Nonresidents get theirs through a draw now, with a leftover sale after.
- Resident cost. A resident deer tag is $24.75, plus the $15.75 hunting license and $5 access fee.
- Nonresident cost if you draw or buy a leftover. The deer tag is $351.75, plus the $185 hunting license and $10 access fee.
- Controlled hunts are different. Those are drawn for residents and nonresidents alike. They are not over the counter.
Leftover availability depends on how many tags go unclaimed, so there is no guarantee any are left. Check Idaho Fish and Game for the current sale date.
What it costs to apply
You need an Idaho hunting license (with its access fee) before you can apply. You only buy the deer tag if you draw.
2026 Idaho fees. The license and the application fee aren't refunded if you don't draw, so "to apply" is what you've spent if you're not drawn. There are no points to buy. Outfitters, travel and gear cost extra. Fee schedules: nonresident and resident.
Idaho compared with other states
The big difference is points. In Colorado and Wyoming, nonresidents build preference points over the years, and a large share of tags go to the people with the most. Idaho has none, so a first-timer faces the same random draw as someone who has applied for ten years. That's great for a newcomer and a poor deal if you want years of applying to count for something. The catch: Idaho nonresident odds have been slipping as more nonresidents apply.
Harvest success: what to expect once you draw
Controlled hunts are harder to draw, but more of the hunters who draw one fill their tag. General seasons are easier to get into and harder to fill. These are Idaho Fish and Game's 2025 statewide numbers for residents and nonresidents together. Idaho reports mule deer and white-tailed deer separately, so we do too; a general deer tag covers either. Success varies a lot by unit, weapon and season, so treat it as a baseline, not a forecast for one hunt. Source: Idaho Fish and Game 2025 Hunter Harvest Report.
FAQs
Quick answers about Idaho deer draw odds.
Does Idaho use preference points for deer?
No. Idaho has no preference or bonus points at all. Controlled hunts and the nonresident general deer draw are pure random draws, so applying for more years doesn't improve your odds.
How are the odds on this page figured?
Each number is how many first-choice applications got a tag in the 2026 main draw, from Idaho Fish and Game's published results. They're averages across many hunts, so they show the overall picture and not your chance on one hunt. They count applications, not people, and leave out second-round leftover draws.
Can a nonresident buy an Idaho deer tag over the counter?
Not as a first step anymore. Since 2026, nonresident general deer and elk tags are handed out by random draw. Any tag left unsold or unclaimed afterward goes on sale to any nonresident, one per hunter, first come, first served. Residents can still buy general deer tags over the counter.
Why do resident and nonresident odds differ so much?
Idaho limits nonresidents to no more than 10% of the tags in controlled hunts (some hunts, like outfitter-allocated ones, are exempt), and far more residents apply. In 2026, 22% of resident first-choice deer applications drew, compared with 11% for nonresidents.
Sources: draw results through the 2026 draw (IDFG controlled hunt results, hunt statistics), harvest for 2025, fees for 2026. The odds count applications, not people, and leave out youth and private-land-only hunts. Hunting guides for each unit are on the Idaho deer hub.