Idaho Controlled Hunt Draw Approaching

If you did not put in for Moose, Mountain Goat and Big Horn Sheep, you are still eligible for the 2026 Deer, Elk, and Pronghorn Controlled Hunt draw. The deadline for the draw is June 5th at midnight (MST).  The applications are currently open, so do not wait until the last minute.

Not much has changed this year for the draw. There is a change to the general season tag exchange. If you already have a general season deer or elk tag, and are successful in drawing a controlled hunt tag, you must do the exchange at a Fish and Game Office no later than July 31st. Exchanges will not be approved after July 31st. That means, you will forfeit your controlled hunt tag and be stuck with a general season tag. If you draw a tag and do not want that tag, you can always not do the exchange or choose not to purchase the controlled hunt tag.  

Successful controlled hunt tags must be purchased by August 1st or they will be forfeited. For residents (or if there are nonresident tags available in the unit you want), if you want to exchange your controlled hunt tag later for a general tag, you can do so if the controlled hunt season has not opened yet. Those exchanges must be made at a Fish and Game Officer or by sending the original tag (along with a written request for the exchange) with an exchange fee of $3.75. The kicker is you were a successful controlled hunt applicant at that point.  

That means if you drew an antlered only tag, you would have to sit out the following years drawing for antlered only tags. If you do not purchase your successfully drawn tag, you will still be eligible for the antlered only tags the following year. For those who are unsuccessful at the first application period for the controlled hunts, there will be a second chance drawing for those returned or unpurchased controlled hunt tags. The second drawing applications will be held from August 5th to midnight (MST) on August 15th.  

Any tags not drawn or purchased after that second chance drawing will be available for first come first serve purchase on August 25th (or the next business day).    

If you are a nonresident who already drew a general tag, you are already set up for the controlled hunt draw. The application fee is low, and you have a chance at drawing a coveted tag. Keep in mind that if you draw a controlled hunt tag, you must turn back in your general season tag. You will not be able to purchase it as a second tag. If tags are available later in the year, you will have an opportunity to purchase a second tag on a first come first serve basis along with resident hunters.  

If you have not already become an Eastmans EHJ/EBJ subscriber or TagHub member, do not wait until the last minute.  Get your membership now and use the MRS/TagHub tools and expert analysis to research draw trends, trophy forecasts, pressure, terrain difficulty and much more.