Idaho Changing Nonresident Elk and Deer Tag Purchase

Traditionally the Idaho Nonresident Deer and Elk Tags became available for first come first serve purchase on December 1^st every year.  While tens of thousands of Nonresident hunters felt the sting of this process, they weren’t alone.  December 1^st marks the first time that both Residents and Nonresidents are able to renew their hunting license for the following year.  This is not as important to some as it is to others.  

With big same seasons ending, upland and waterfowl hunters enjoy their pursuit with their seasons extending into the new year.  Idaho is a state where the license is for a calendar year, making not being able to receive your next year’s license in the mail a problem for some.  With the flood of people on the Idaho Fish and Game website every year on December 1^st, many people aren’t able to renew their license in time to get it in the mail prior to the new year.  

The Department heard a lot of the complaints and have moved back the Nonresident Elk and Deer first come, first serve purchase to December 10^th, 2024, for the 2025 tags.  The time is still 10 a.m. MST.  This gives prospective hunters a chance to buy their hunting license prior to getting in line for a tag.  While this can be a benefit, it can also be a curse.  In years past I heard horror stories of people who waited in the online queue for hours, only to get their turn and not be able to purchase a tag because the website said they didn’t have the appropriate license. 

Hard to tell if that was a computer error or user error as I didn’t witness it firsthand. The new date change will allow those people who are worried about this type of thing happening to them to buy their license ahead of time.  That comes at a price of $185 if you wait your turn in line and your tag is sold out.  Even if you don’t get your tag in December, that doesn’t mean that you wasted your money in Idaho.  There are plenty of opportunities to get returned tags, controlled tags and left over tags on separate dates.  

Idaho Tags Still Available – Eastmans’ Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans’ Hunting Journals