Many of you are aware of the new random drawing system that Idaho is using to allocate their Nonresident “OTC” tags. Over the past several years, their system has been a first come first serve system that was not fair for all. I previously wrote about the Idaho Legislature trying to create a law that would mandate this type of system for the nonresident tag allocation. Well, that law did not pass fortunately, but Idaho Fish and Game wisely decided to go with that system anyway. Refer to my other article for further reading on why that is a good thing. (No More Idaho OTC Nonresident Deer and Elk Tags! – Eastmans’ Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans’ Hunting Journals)
Idaho Fish and Game have finalized what that “OTC” Tag drawing will look like. Here are some of the highlights.
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- First Application Period – December 5-15th, 2025
- Nonresident and DAV Draw
- First Application Period Successful Applicants Announced – Early January 2026
- Deadline to purchase tags (EXPECT DAV) – January 20, 2026
- Second Application Period – February 5-15th, 2026
- Nonresident Only
- Second Application Period Successful Applicants Announced – Early March 2026
- First Application Period – December 5-15th, 2025
- Deadline to purchase tag (DAV INCLUDED) – March 20, 2026
Breaking It Down
To participate in this “OTC” draw, you MUST purchase a 2026 Idaho Big Game Hunting License ($185.00). Those 2026 Hunting Licenses go on sale starting December 1, 2025. That $185 license fee is nonrefundable. You will however be able to participate in the controlled hunt draw later in 2026 with that hunting license. There are no application fees for this “OTC” drawing. There still will be application fees for the controlled hunt draws later in the year.
You can apply for up to 5 hunt choices per application. You can apply as a party of up to 4 people. That party will share all the same (up to 5) hunt choices. If there are at least 4 tags left in that hunt unit, if one of the party members draws that tag, the entire party will receive that tag. If there are not enough tags left in that hunt unit (for the size of your party) when one of your party members is drawn, the party will be skipped over for the next in line.
How It Works
The drawing will work just like the controlled hunt draw. At the start of the drawing, everyone will be assigned a random number and then the draw will start. Once your number is “called” your first choice and first choice on the application will be looked at. If there is a tag available in your first-choice unit, you will be awarded that tag. If there is not a tag available, you will be skipped, and the next person’s first choice will be looked at. Once all the first-choice applications have been looked at, they will do that same thing over again for everyone’s second choice. This will go on the same way until all 5 choices have been looked at.
Application Strategy
This makes things interesting on what people should put in for their first choice. It might be worth putting in for a tag that might not be your number 1 unit but a unit that will be more of a sure thing to get but might be your number 3 unit. Some units traditionally sell out faster than most and I imagine the same will hold true for the random draw. Go to the link below for the 2026 Nonresident General Tag Brochure published recently by IDFG. There is a question-and-answer section that will answer a lot of common questions people may have.
2 comments
Interesting change…