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State Hunting Regulations · Elk & Mule Deer
Find the row that sounds most like you. Each gives you the three things to do this year in Colorado, then read further down for the why.
CPW shows a license price; your real out-the-door number is bigger because of qualifying-license, application, habitat-stamp, and BSAR fees stacked on top. New for 2026: BSAR fee jumped from $0.25 to $1.25.
| Elk license (bull/either-sex/cow) | $845.16 |
| NR small game (qualifying) | $104.86 |
| Habitat Stamp | $12.76 |
| Application fee | $11.49 |
| (BSAR $1.25 + Wildlife Ed $1.50 baked in above) | — |
| Total cost to draw & pay | $974.27 |
| Elk license (adult) | $70.40 |
| Resident small game | $38.49 |
| Habitat Stamp (ages 18–64) | $12.76 |
| Application fee | $8.93 |
| Total | $130.58 |
| Youth elk license | $130.07 |
| Youth NR small game | $2.53 |
| Application fee | $11.49 |
| Habitat Stamp | $0.00 |
| Preference point fee | $0.00 |
| Total | $144.09 |
| Deer license | $506.92 |
| NR small game (qualifying) | $104.86 |
| Habitat Stamp | $12.76 |
| Application fee | $11.49 |
| Total cost to draw & pay | $636.03 |
| Deer license (adult) | $51.25 |
| Resident small game | $38.49 |
| Habitat Stamp (ages 18–64) | $12.76 |
| Application fee | $8.93 |
| Total | $111.43 |
| Youth deer license | $130.07 |
| Youth NR small game | $2.53 |
| Application fee | $11.49 |
| Habitat Stamp | $0.00 |
| Total | $144.09 |
| Preference point only (deer/elk) | $0.00 |
| Deer / elk preference point fee | $0.00 |
| License exchange fee | $5.00 |
| License refund processing fee | $15.00 |
| Lifetime Habitat Stamp | $384.16 |
| Add-on OTC bear (deer/elk holders) | $302.56 |
Single visual showing how Colorado's archery, muzzleloader, and four rifle seasons stack — including the rut window when bulls are most callable.
Elk-specific rule changes for 2026, paired with the strategic implication for a non-resident DIY hunter. CPW publishes the change; we tell you what to do about it.Mule deer-specific rule changes for 2026, paired with the strategic implication for a non-resident DIY hunter. CPW publishes the change; we tell you what to do about it. Items affecting both species show up regardless of selection.
The Gunnison-area trio that was an OTC fallback for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons is now a draw-only hunt for antlered bulls.
Eight northwest CO units returning to unlimited antlered-bull rifle licenses for the second and third rifle seasons.
Previously bull-only or cow-only; now hunters can take a bull or a cow on the same tag during 1st or 4th rifle.
To trim an above-objective herd, CPW added a December cow tag for unit 40.
Four units' antlerless tags reclassified, allowing them to be paired with a List A bull tag.
GMU 82 is no longer subject to the 4-point-or-5-inch-brow rule.
RFW ranches must enforce whatever antler-point restriction applies to the GMU they're inside. Multi-GMU ranches enforce the most restrictive rule across the whole property.
Four GMUs in the upper Arkansas / Sangre area joined the OTC antlerless archery list, and the limited NR archery list got a new hunt code covering all four.
Non-residents can no longer buy OTC archery elk west of I-25. Limited NR archery codes now apply for those units. NR can still hunt OTC archery elk east of I-25 with hunt codes E-F-133-U1-A and E-E-087-U1-A.
Hermosa Park Rd. (FS 578) closed Sept 8 – Oct 13, 2026 — kills access to a major portion of GMU 74 during archery, muzzleloader, and 1st rifle seasons.
Two new 1st-rifle deer hunt codes opening up in southwestern Colorado.
Two western-slope GMUs gained a 4th-season buck hunt (Nov 18–22).
The PLO archery doe and buck hunts in those three GMUs are gone for 2026.
GMU 682 (89% private) removed from the general 61/681 hunt grouping and gets its own PLO hunt code.
New PLO antlerless deer opportunities in two areas. Special area restrictions apply in GMU 84.
Voluntary CWD submission still accepted statewide, but no required testing GMUs for deer this year.
CPW requires submission of CWD test samples (heads) for all elk harvested during any rifle season in a list of specific GMUs (see brochure p. 41). Testing is free.
First increase since 1987. Funds CPW backcountry SAR operations.
Starting in 2028, half of limited tags in deer/elk/pronghorn will be allocated by random draw rather than preference points; the other half stays preference-based.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying licenses on sale | March 1 | NR small game ($104.86) required before applying |
| Primary draw application opens | March 1 | Apply early to give CPW time on payment-on-file issues |
| Primary draw application deadline | April 7, 8 PM MT | Hard deadline. Corrections also due by then. |
| Primary draw results posted | May 26–29 | Staggered by species across these dates |
| Surrender deadline (primary) | June 1, 11:59 PM MT | Window to decline an awarded tag without losing points |
| License payment deadline (primary) | June 12, 11:59 PM MT | Card on file is auto-charged once. If it fails, you lose the tag. |
| Secondary draw applications | June 18 – June 30, 8 PM MT | Doesn't use or award preference points |
| Secondary draw results | July 7 | Youth get preference for elk/deer/pronghorn/bear |
| Surrender deadline (secondary) | July 9, 11:59 PM MT | — |
| License payment deadline (secondary) | July 21, 11:59 PM MT | — |
| Leftover & OTC sales begin | Aug. 4, 9 AM MT | Online, in person, by phone — first-come |
| Reissue list refresh | Tue 11 AM, sales Wed 11 AM (from Aug 11) | Surrendered limited tags get reoffered |
| Archery season | Sept. 2 – 30 | For elk, deer, bear (and pronghorn Aug 15–Sept 20) |
| Muzzleloader season | Sept. 12 – 20 | Open/iron sights only — no scopes, no sabots, no smokeless powder |
| 1st Rifle | Oct. 14 – 18 | Deer, elk, bear only |
| 2nd Rifle | Oct. 24 – Nov. 1 | Deer, elk, bear |
| 3rd Rifle | Nov. 7 – 15 | Deer, elk, bear |
| 4th Rifle | Nov. 18 – 22 | Deer, elk, bear |
| Plains Rifle (deer only) | Oct. 24 – Nov. 3 | East of I-25, mostly private — landowner permission essential |
| GMU 40 late cow elk | Dec. 1 – 15 (NEW) | To trim above-objective herd — easy odds year one |
| GMU 60 late cow elk (E-F-060-P5-R) | Aug. 15 – Oct. 31 | Plus new code E-F-060-P6-R: Nov 11 – Jan 31 |
True preference system. Highest points wins, no fee. Apply with hunt code E-P-999-99-P (elk) or D-P-999-99-P (deer) as your first choice to bank a point only. No max points.
For hunts that require 10+ resident points to draw on average (3-yr lookback, 1-yr lag), 20% of tags go to a random pool. You need 5+ preference points and apply solo (no group apps) to qualify. Most NR quotas are exhausted in the regular draw.
NR are capped at 25% of permits per hunt code, dropping to 20% for hunts that took residents 6+ avg. points. Old quota was 35%.
Allowed for elk and deer (no max group size). Group draws on the lowest point count of any member. Same hunt code, season, method of take.
Replaces the old leftover draw. Tags that didn't go in primary + tags that took fewer than 5 points end up here. June 18–30. Doesn't gain or use points. Youth (12–17) get preference for elk/deer/pronghorn/bear.
Draw your first choice → points zero out for that species. Skip applying for any big game for 10 years → points purged.
Approved policy: starting 2028, half of limited deer/elk/pronghorn tags via preference points, half via random drawing. Detail: cpw.state.co.us/2028-draw.
Short window after the draw to surrender for refund + full point restoration. After that: surrender 30+ days before the season — choose refund OR points (not both). $15 processing fee.
Same species, $5 fee, before original season starts. OTC ↔ limited allowed if quota exists. No refund or point restoration on exchanges.
Colorado holds more elk and issues more elk tags than any other state. ~280,000 head and ~200,000 elk hunters afield each year. Most of the state is managed for quantity — a handful of units produce 330"+ bulls, but most produce a chance at any branch-antlered bull.
Bulls taken in any season must have 4 points or more on one antler, OR a brow tine ≥5". Applies in: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 85, 86, 131, 140, 161, 171, 181, 191, 211, 214, 231, 301, 361, 371, 411, 421, 431, 441, 444, 471, 511, 521, 551, 581, 591, 681, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 851, 861.
No restriction in: 1, 2, 10, 20, 29, 39, 40, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57, 58, 61, 69, 76, 82 (new for 2026), 84, 201, 391, 461, 481, 500, 501, 561, 682, 791, plus units east of I-25 (except 140). 5"+ antler minimum still applies.
Every elk tag is List A, B, or C. Max combo: 1× List A + 1× List B (or 2× List B), plus unlimited List C tags. Most premier bull tags are List A. Antlerless tags are usually List B. The "List" appears in the last column of every hunt-code table in the brochure.
Mule deer in Colorado is almost entirely a draw game — there are no general OTC mule deer licenses (only OTC whitetail-only hunts in select low-population units). Premier mule deer units take 15–25+ points; mid-tier units 4–10 points; the easiest hunts go in the secondary draw or stay in the leftover pool.
D-P-999-99-P first choice to bank a point only.Some mule deer hunt codes are "season choice" — the license lets you hunt in any or all of the seasons (archery, muzzleloader, rifle) in specified units with the correct method of take, until your tag is filled. See CPW p. 32. Exam carefully if you're matching dates around work.
None. Colorado has no antler-point restriction for deer — any buck with ≥5" antlers is legal. You decide your own standard.
Colorado is a tale of two states for the public-land DIY hunter: most of the western slope is huntable; most east of I-25 is not. Here's the rough split by region.
| Region | Public % | What's there | Pressure / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest CO Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield | ~70% | BLM, USFS (Routt & White River NF), Flat Tops Wilderness, Dinosaur NM. White River elk herd, premier mule deer. | Moderate-high in OTC seasons. Hike in 3+ miles from any trailhead to find space. |
| North-Central / Front Range Larimer, Jackson, Grand, Boulder | ~55% | Roosevelt & Arapaho NF, Rocky Mtn NP buffer GMUs, Rawah Wilderness. | Highest pressure in CO due to Front Range population. Quality requires getting away from any road. |
| Central / Sawatch / Gunnison Gunnison, Chaffee, Lake, Eagle, Pitkin, Summit | ~65% | White River, Gunnison NF, Maroon Bells–Snowmass & Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. | Wilderness elk hunts. Steep, high (10k+). Rough country rewards fitness; punishes cherry-pickers. |
| Southwest CO San Juan, La Plata, Montezuma, Dolores, Hinsdale | ~60% | San Juan NF, Weminuche Wilderness, BLM. Premier mule deer + good elk. | Moderate pressure. Watch the Hermosa Park Rd. closure (FS 578) Sept 8 – Oct 13 — kills part of GMU 74. |
| Southeast CO & plains Las Animas, Otero, Bent, Baca, Prowers | ~5–15% | Comanche NG, scattered SWA / WIA properties. Big bulls in Las Animas county but mostly behind gates. | If you don't have landowner contacts here, it's not a DIY play. |
If your situation doesn't fit Colorado in 2026, here's where to look in the rest of the West. Each state will get its own State Regulations IQ page as we build out the suite.
NR general elk requires the special-priced license + draw. Region-based NR mule deer licenses for the western half. Cheaper applications, fewer tag-stack rules.
→ See WY rankings in Hunt Research IQ ProCombination license is the gateway for NR. Permit-required units are the trophy hunts. General license is a true "tag valid in many places" model.
→ See MT rankings in Hunt Research IQ ProCapped NR allocation, OTC elk tags are first-come on Dec 1. Zone-based, not GMU-based. Less permit complexity than CO.
→ See ID rankings in Hunt Research IQ ProPure random draw — no points, ever. One deadline: March 18. NR cap 6% (10% with an outfitter), and E-PLUS landowner tags run alongside the draw. → Open the New Mexico panel
Two point systems: bonus (squared) for limited-entry, preference for general deer; general-season elk is OTC. → Open the Utah panel
Apply for $10 and only pay the tag if you draw; OTC general archery elk statewide. Hard 5% nonresident cap on controlled hunts. → Open the Oregon panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Wyoming is a preference-point state with a uniquely flexible draw: a regular vs. special license choice, a 25% random pool so first-timers always have a shot, and a deep bench of opportunity hunts. Find the row that sounds like you.
Wyoming makes you pay the full license fee up front with your application (refunded if you don't draw). The $15/species application fee is already baked into the license prices below; a 2.5% card processing fee is not. Fees shown are the announced 2026 nonresident figures.
| Elk regular license (incl. $15 app fee) | $707.00 |
| Conservation Stamp (required) | $21.50 |
| Preference point (optional) | $52.00 |
| Archery permit (special archery only) | $72.00 |
| Typical all-in (license + stamp) | $728.50 |
| Elk special license (incl. $15 app fee) | $1,965.00 |
| Conservation Stamp (required) | $21.50 |
| Preference point (optional) | $52.00 |
| Cow/calf elk license (alt.) | $303.00 |
| Youth elk license | $290.00 |
| Resident elk license | $57.00 |
| Conservation Stamp | $21.50 |
| Resident archery stamp | $16.00 |
| Resident youth elk | $15–25 |
| Total (license + stamp) | $78.50 |
| Deer regular license (incl. $15 app fee) | $389.00 |
| Conservation Stamp (required) | $21.50 |
| Preference point (optional) | $41.00 |
| Doe/fawn deer license (alt.) | $49.00 |
| Typical all-in (license + stamp) | $410.50 |
| Deer special license (incl. $15 app fee) | $1,215.00 |
| Conservation Stamp (required) | $21.50 |
| Preference point (optional) | $41.00 |
| Youth deer license | $125.00 |
| Doe/fawn youth | $34.00 |
| Resident deer license | $42.00 |
| Conservation Stamp | $21.50 |
| Resident youth deer | $15–25 |
| Total (license + stamp) | $63.50 |
| Antelope — regular / special | $341 / $1,215 |
| NR archery permit (adult / youth) | $72 / $12 |
| Pref point — elk / deer / antelope | $52 / $41 / $31 |
| Black bear / gray wolf | $373 / $187 |
| Moose / bighorn sheep | $2,767 / $3,017 |
| Card processing fee | 2.5% |
General shape of a Wyoming season (exact dates vary by unit/region and are set in the regs). 2026 dates finalize after the April Commission meeting; this reflects the 2025 structure applicants are using.
Changes for the 2026 application cycle, paired with the strategic implication. (Final 2026 rules are confirmed after the April Commission meeting.)
Wyoming split its general elk regions into three, increasing the number of nonresident general licenses available.
Unit 148 moved into Region F from Region L; unit 156 moved into Region F from H; unit 155 absorbed unit 146 in Region H.
An additional ~3,000 antelope licenses are proposed for 2026 across type 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 options.
Bighorn sheep, moose, goat, and bison draw results are scheduled for May 21 — about two weeks later than usual — landing on the same date as NR elk.
WGFD issued additional reduced-price ewe/lamb licenses; these are random-draw and do not affect your points.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NR elk application deadline | Feb 2 | Online only; party apps allowed (max 6, NR only) |
| Super Tag / Trifecta raffle deadline | Feb 2 | $10 / $30 per chance; winners announced Feb 15 |
| Moose / sheep / goat / bison deadline | April 30 | Bison window opens Mar 2; no party apps |
| NR application correction deadline | May 8 | Modify or withdraw online |
| Deer, antelope & resident elk deadline | June 1 | Resident elk also June 1 |
| NR elk / sheep / moose / goat / bison results | May 21 | All on the same date this year |
| Deer & antelope results | June 18 | Resident + nonresident |
| Leftover draw application | June 22 – 26 | No fee, no points; res + NR can party up |
| Leftover draw results | July 8 | Remaining tags sold "issue-after," first-come |
| Points-only application period | July 1 – Nov 2 | Required to build an elk point if you also drew/applied |
| Elk general / archery seasons (2025 structure) | ~Sept – late Nov | Archery from ~Sept 1; confirm unit dates |
| Deer general seasons (2025 structure) | ~Sept – late Nov | Varies by region; archery early Sept |
Nonresidents build preference points for all species except goat & bison (pure random). Most points wins. Max into 2026: elk 20, sheep/moose 31. To build an elk point you must buy it in the points-only window (Jul 1 – Nov 2).
For elk, sheep & moose, 75% of tags go to the highest-point applicants and 25% are drawn randomly — on hunts with at least 4 NR licenses. Points don't matter in the random 25%, so a first-time applicant has a real shot.
Two price pools for the same tag. Elk splits 60% regular / 40% special. The special license costs much more but draws with better odds — often a unit a year or two sooner.
Elk is ~84% resident / 16% nonresident. Moose, sheep, goat & bison are 90/10 (since 2023) — expect very low NR trophy tag numbers for the foreseeable future.
All applicants' first choices are considered before anyone's second choice, for every species. Put your true target first; use 2nd/3rd for opportunity hunts.
Allowed for elk (max 6; NR can't party with residents). Points are averaged to 4 decimals and the group draws on that average. Not allowed for moose, sheep, goat, or bison.
You lose your points if you fail to apply two consecutive years or draw your first choice. Drawing your 2nd or 3rd choice for elk does not burn points.
Many deer & antelope units draw with ≤1 point, and second-choice licenses don't burn points. The special pool widens this further. Great for hunting now while building points.
Wyoming is a must-apply elk state: millions of acres of public land, genuine trophy potential, and a draw that always gives you a chance via the 25% random pool. The general regions are the engine for hunters who want to be afield most years — and for 2026 they were split three ways, adding nonresident general tags.
Max elk points into 2026 is 20. If you're not near the top of the point pool for a premium unit, target hunts that have a random license available and/or apply in the special pool. Remember to buy your elk point in the points-only period (Jul 1 – Nov 2) — it's a separate application from the draw.
Wyoming deer is region-based and covers both mule deer and white-tailed deer. It's one of the best opportunity states in the West — many regions draw with 0–1 points (especially in the special pool), and second-choice licenses don't burn points. After three mild winters, 2026 deer numbers and quality are trending up.
Three changes to know before you apply: unit 148 moved into Region F (from L), unit 156 moved into Region F (from H), and unit 155 absorbed unit 146 in Region H. If you're building points on a region or targeting one of those units, confirm where it now sits.
Wyoming has vast public land (BLM + national forest) and a strong walk-in network, but two NR-specific rules shape where you can actually hunt: the wilderness guide requirement and the ORV license. Read these before you pick a unit.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| BLM & National Forest | Millions of acres open to hunting statewide. | Follow travel/MVUM restrictions; great for general-region elk and public deer. |
| Designated Wilderness | NR rule | Nonresidents must be accompanied by a licensed guide or a Wyoming resident to hunt big game in wilderness. Big chunks of some units are wilderness — check before applying. |
| Access Yes | WGFD program opening private + landlocked public land (4M+ acres). | Find areas at wgfd.wyo.gov/public-access; some require an online permission application. |
| HMA / WHIA | Walk-in private and WGFD lands — key for "easy-draw" private-heavy units. | Expect opening-week pressure; hunt later dates or archery for quieter access. |
| ORV use | ATV/ORV on public land. | Requires a Wyoming ORV license (sold at ATV dealerships). |
If Wyoming's points, NR caps, or wilderness rule don't fit your 2026 plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
True preference points and the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West. NR caps 25%/20%. → Open the Colorado panel
Pure random draw — no points at all. Capped 10% NR, A/B general elk tags, December NR general-tag draw. → Open the Idaho panel
Combination license is the NR gateway; permit-required units are the trophy hunts. → Open the Montana panel
Pure random draw — no points, ever. One deadline: March 18. NR cap 6% (10% with an outfitter), and E-PLUS landowner tags run alongside the draw. → Open the New Mexico panel
Two point systems: bonus (squared) for limited-entry, preference for general deer; general-season elk is OTC. → Open the Utah panel
Cheap to enter — $10 application, tag only if you draw — plus an OTC general archery elk tag good across most of the state. → Open the Oregon panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Montana's twist: as a nonresident you first draw a combination license in the general draw, then use it to apply for special limited-entry permits. The general combo alone gets you ~11 weeks of hunting across all general units. Find the row that fits.
Montana bundles most fees into the combination license. The combo prices below already include the base hunting license, conservation license, AIS pass, fishing, upland bird, and application fees. A 3% + $0.20 online fee applies; archery adds a $10 bow & arrow license. Fees shown are the announced 2026 nonresident figures.
| Elk Combination (all fees included) | $1,184.50 |
| Bow & arrow license (archery) | $10.00 |
| Special elk permit application | $9.00 |
| Bonus point (optional, per species) | $20.00 |
| Wolf license (with combo) | $25.00 |
| Big Game Combination (all fees included) | $1,384.50 |
| Youth Big Game Combo | $723.50 |
| Preference point only (combo) | $100.00 |
| Outfitter preference point | $100.00 |
| 17,000 Big Game/Elk combos available | — |
| Resident elk license | $20.00 |
| Base hunting license | $10.00 |
| Conservation license | $8.00 |
| Elk application fee | $9.00 |
| General licenses sold over the counter | — |
| Deer Combination (all fees included) | $781.50 |
| Bow & arrow license (archery) | $10.00 |
| Special deer permit application | $5.00 |
| Bonus point (optional, per species) | $20.00 |
| 4,600 Deer combos available | — |
| Youth Deer Combination | $447.50 |
| Youth Elk Combination | $623.50 |
| Youth Big Game Combination | $723.50 |
| Bow & arrow license | $10.00 |
| Apprentice Hunter certification | $5.00 |
| Resident deer license | $16.00 |
| Base hunting license | $10.00 |
| Conservation license | $8.00 |
| Deer application fee | $5.00 |
| Total | $39.00 |
| Antelope (incl. $5 app fee) | $205.00 |
| Bow & arrow license (archery, all hunts) | $10.00 |
| Bonus point / preference point | $20 / $100 |
| Wolf license (alone / with combo) | $50 / $25 |
| Moose / sheep / goat / bison license | $1,250 ea |
| Online fee | 3% + $0.20 |
Montana's signature is a long general season — about 11 weeks. A general combination license covers all general units through archery and the famous 5-week general rifle season. Special-permit districts have their own dates; confirm per district in the regs.
The 2026 changes that move the needle for a nonresident DIY hunter, with the strategic implication.
FWP reduced NR deer combo licenses for 2026. Projected odds: ~42% with 0 points, ~3% with 1 point, ~100% with 1.2–3 points.
A couple of new rifle elk hunts were added for 2026 (detailed in FWP's rifle elk section).
A large share of antlerless Deer B licenses are restricted to private land for 2026.
The base hunting license fee more than tripled for 2026, alongside a slight overall NR price increase.
Montana is introducing a black bear draw; hunters can apply or build points only.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deer & elk application deadline | April 1 | 11:45 p.m. MDT · online only · applications are final |
| Moose / sheep / goat / bison deadline | May 1 | $50 application fee |
| Antelope application deadline | June 1 | — |
| Alternate list signup | June 1 | — |
| Deer & elk draw results | Mid-April (≈Apr 15) | Combo + special permits |
| Moose/sheep/goat/bison results | Mid-May (≈May 8) | — |
| Super Tag deadline | June 30 | $5/chance, any district, per species |
| Bonus points-only purchase | July 1 – Sept 30 | Special deer/elk permits (squared points) |
| Preference points-only purchase | July 1 – Dec 31 | General combination licenses |
| Archery season (general) | ~Early Sept – mid-Oct | Requires $10 bow & arrow license |
| General rifle (5 weeks) | ~Late Oct – late Nov | Through ~Thanksgiving; covers all general units |
| Youth-only deer season | Oct 15 – 16 | Licensed youth 10–15 |
Nonresidents must first draw a Big Game, Elk, or Deer Combination license in the general draw. 17,000 Big Game/Elk combos and 4,600 Deer combos are available. The combo alone lets you hunt all general units.
With a combo in hand you can apply for special limited-entry deer/elk permits ($9 elk / $5 deer app). Three choices; first choices are all processed before any second choices.
75% of general combos go to the most-preference-point applicants; the other 25% go to zero-point applicants — so a first-timer can still draw. $100/point. Points purge if you skip a year.
Special permits use bonus points, which are squared for your chances (3 pts → 9 + 1 = 10 chances). Max 24 into 2026. You must buy a point at application to use accrued points — otherwise you enter with zero.
Nonresidents get up to 10% (not guaranteed) of a district's quota. If a deer/elk permit area has fewer than 10 tags, NR aren't considered at all.
Allowed for deer & elk, max 5. Preference points averaged to a decimal; bonus points averaged and rounded. A resident in your party pushes the whole group into the 10% NR pool.
Keep the combo for general seasons, take an 80% refund, or (Big Game combo) swap the elk portion for a deer combo + a $315 refund. Deer combo: 80% by Aug 1, 50% before the season.
There's no waiting period to reapply after drawing a deer or elk permit. (Sheep/moose/goat carry a 7-year wait.)
Montana is the land of opportunity: ~11 weeks of general elk hunting on a combo license, with genuine trophy bulls in the harder-to-draw special districts. The general regions reward boots and persistence; the special permits reward points and patience.
Two systems at once: build preference points if you need them to draw the combo, and bonus points (squared) for the special permit. Remember you must buy a bonus point at application to use your accrued points — skip it and you enter that permit draw at zero. Don't bank preference points unless you'll reapply (they purge).
Montana deer means both mule deer and whitetail on a single combo license. It's an opportunity state more than a trophy state right now — the mule deer herd is recovering from winter loss — but the whitetail hunting is strong and the general season is long.
Whitetail come from both the timbered west and the eastern rolling/ag country, with some quality bucks. Mule deer quality is down from winter loss and is expected to rebound with management — a few select districts still produce big bucks via special permits.
Montana pairs vast public land with the West's standout walk-in program. The general combo lets you roam all general units; Block Management opens millions of private acres on top of that.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block Management | 6.8M ac | Cooperative program opening private (and isolated public) land to free public hunting. | Regional Hunting Access Guide publishes by Aug 15; some areas need a sign-in or permission slip. Call 406-444-2612. |
| National Forest & BLM | Millions of acres of public land statewide. | Great for general-combo elk & deer; follow travel restrictions. | |
| General combo footprint | Your combo is valid in all general units. | Hunt the long general season anywhere general units are open — no special permit needed. | |
| State trust lands | Many open to hunting with a license. | Check current access rules; some require a recreational-use license. | |
| Wolf country (western MT) | ~300 wolves harvested/yr. | Carry a wolf license ($25 with a combo) when hunting the western half. |
If Montana's combo-then-permit system or the tighter 2026 deer odds don't fit your plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
Preference points, a 25% random pool, and a regular-vs-special license choice. Strong general-region elk. → Open the Wyoming panel
Pure random — no points. Capped 10% NR, A/B general elk tags, December NR general-tag draw. → Open the Idaho panel
True preference points and the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West. → Open the Colorado panel
Pure random draw — no points, ever. One deadline: March 18. NR cap 6% (10% with an outfitter), and E-PLUS landowner tags run alongside the draw. → Open the New Mexico panel
Two point systems: bonus (squared) for limited-entry, preference for general deer; general-season elk is OTC. → Open the Utah panel
Preference points with a 25% random pool, a $10 application, and OTC general archery elk — but only 5% of controlled tags go to nonresidents. → Open the Oregon panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Find the row that sounds most like you. Idaho gives you two very different paths — buy a general tag and just go, or apply for a controlled hunt in a pure-random lottery. Each card lists the three things to do this year; read down for the why.
Idaho quotes a tag price, but your real out-the-door number also includes the annual hunting license & access fee and (for controlled hunts) an application fee. Online/phone transactions add a processing fee — apply at a regional office with cash/check/debit to avoid it. New for 2026: NR general deer/elk tags are issued by random draw.
| Nonresident elk tag | $651.75 |
| Annual hunting license & access fee | $195.00 |
| Controlled-hunt application fee (if applying) | $22.15 |
| Archery or muzzleloader permit (if used) | $81.75 |
| General-tag total (license + tag) | $846.75 |
| Resident elk tag | $36.75 |
| Hunting license | $15.75 |
| Access-depredation fee (first license/yr) | $5.00 |
| Controlled-hunt application fee (if applying) | $6.25 |
| Total | $57.50 |
| Junior mentored elk tag | $299.75 |
| NR youth hunting license & access fee | $95.75 |
| Total | $395.50 |
| Nonresident deer tag | $351.75 |
| Annual hunting license & access fee | $195.00 |
| Controlled-hunt application fee (if applying) | $22.15 |
| General-tag total (license + tag) | $546.75 |
| Resident deer tag | $19.75 |
| Hunting license | $15.75 |
| Access-depredation fee (first license/yr) | $5.00 |
| Controlled-hunt application fee (if applying) | $6.25 |
| Total | $40.50 |
| Junior mentored deer tag | $176.75 |
| NR youth hunting license & access fee | $95.75 |
| Total | $272.50 |
| Wolf tag (OTC) | $31.75 |
| Black bear tag (NR) | $231.75 |
| Archery / muzzleloader permit (NR) | $81.75 |
| Archery / muzzleloader permit (resident) | $18.25 |
| Second deer tag (after Aug 1, if unsold) | $351.75 |
| Second elk tag (after Aug 1, if unsold) | $651.75 |
Dates vary by zone and unit, but this is the typical shape of an Idaho deer/elk year. A-tag elk archery lands right in the September rut; B-tag rifle opens around Oct 10. Always confirm your specific zone/unit dates in the regs.
The 2026 rule changes that actually affect a hunter's plan, paired with the strategic implication. Items affecting both species show regardless of the elk/deer selection.
Starting with 2026, NR general-season deer and elk tags are no longer a calendar first-come scramble — they're allocated through a random draw. 2026 tags were drawn in December 2025 (results posted Jan 6, 2026).
It's now unlawful to use thermal imaging, night vision, transmitting trail cameras (on public land), or drones for hunting or scouting big game between Aug 30 and Dec 31. (Does not apply to wolves, mountain lions, or other predatory wildlife.)
The end date for motorized hunting restrictions moved from Dec 31 to Nov 14, and Units 30, 30A, 36A, 37, 47, 49, 70, and 72 were removed from the rule.
The deadline to exchange a general-season deer or elk tag has changed to July 31. No general-season deer or elk tag may be exchanged after that date.
Eligibility rules and the sliding-scale refund dates for returning a tag have changed for 2026 (see Refunds/Returns/Transfers).
The minimum age to hunt big game dropped from 12 to 10. A 9-year-old may buy a license to apply for a controlled hunt, but must be 10 at the time of the hunt.
Mandatory CWD testing applies to hunter-harvested mule deer and white-tailed deer in Units 14, 18, 23, 63A, 64, 69, and a portion of Unit 1, within 10 days of harvest.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NR general deer/elk tag draw (apply) | by Dec 15, 2025 | New: NR general tags now random draw. Results Jan 6, 2026 |
| Controlled hunt application (deer/elk/antelope) | May 1 – June 5 | First controlled-hunt period. First choice is what counts. |
| Trophy species apply (sheep/moose/goat) | April 1 – 30 | Apply for only one of the three; two-year season cycle |
| Super Hunt — 1st drawing deadline | May 31 | Any unit, any open season. Funds Access Yes! |
| Controlled hunt results posted | early July | At GoOutdoorsIdaho.com |
| Resident general deer & uncapped elk tags on sale | early July | After controlled-hunt results released |
| Resident capped elk tags on sale | July 8 | Sawtooth capped elk: July 10 |
| Last day to exchange general deer/elk tags | July 31 (NEW) | No exchanges after this date |
| Deadline to buy controlled-hunt tags drawn | Aug 1 | Forfeited if not purchased (excludes unlimited tags) |
| Second tags (unsold NR tags) available | after Aug 1 | $351.75 deer / $651.75 elk; some units excluded |
| Second controlled hunt application period | Aug 5 – 15 | Leftovers from main draw; results by Aug 25 |
| Super Hunt — 2nd drawing deadline | Aug 10 | Second chance to win an any-unit tag |
| Leftover second-draw tags on sale | Aug 25, 10 a.m. MT | First-come, first-served |
| Tech-use restrictions in effect | Aug 30 – Dec 31 | Thermal/NV/transmitting trail cams (public)/drones |
| General archery elk (A tag, typical) | Aug 30 – Sep 30 | In the rut; varies by zone |
| General rifle elk (B tag, typical) | Oct 10 – Oct 24/Nov 3 | Centerfire; varies by zone |
| General rifle deer (typical) | Oct 10 – Oct 31 | Some units to Nov 3 / Dec 1; whitetail seasons separate |
There is no preference or bonus point system in Idaho. Every applicant enters on equal footing each year. A first-time applicant has the same odds as someone who's applied for 20 years — so apply every single year.
You list two hunt choices on the application, but everyone's first choice is awarded before any second choices are considered. On premier hunts, your first choice is effectively the only one that matters.
NR are capped at 10% of permits per controlled hunt, and 10% of statewide permits per species. On hunts with 10 or fewer permits, only one can go to a nonresident — in practice NR draw far less than 10%.
In some areas a small number of controlled tags (and a share of NR general tags) are reserved for outfitters' clients, which further trims the DIY nonresident pool.
Nonresident general-season deer and elk tags are now allocated by random draw in December rather than a first-come sale. Returned tags are re-listed online monthly and sold first-come.
You may apply for only one of sheep / moose / goat, and if you do you generally can't also apply for controlled deer/elk/antelope (unless that hunt has unlimited permits). Plan your single big application carefully.
Unclaimed and leftover controlled tags go to a second draw (apply Aug 5–15); anything still unclaimed sells first-come on Aug 25 at 10 a.m. MT. NR quotas don't apply to some second-draw trophy tags.
Draw a moose/sheep/goat and you wait two years to reapply if unsuccessful in harvest; lifetime limits apply (one of each bighorn type; no goat reapply if you've taken one since 1977).
Idaho is one of the West's most balanced elk states — a blend of opportunity-driven general seasons and quality controlled hunts. Elk are managed across 28 elk zones; bulls over 300″ B&C turn up in many units, though Idaho enters relatively few bulls into the record book compared with neighboring states. Wolves remain a real factor on elk numbers in the central and northern zones.
A and B tags split the opportunity within a zone. In general, A tags carry the archery and muzzleloader seasons (many include the Aug 30 – Sep 30 general archery hunt in the rut), while B tags carry the centerfire-rifle seasons (commonly Oct 10 – Oct 24, some into November). You choose one or the other for your zone — confirm the exact A/B seasons and weapon/antler restrictions for your specific zone in the regs.
Wolf predation has pulled elk numbers down in parts of the central and northern zones. The flip side: OTC wolf tags are just $31.75 with no purchase limit, and an unfilled elk tag can be used on a wolf. Carry a wolf tag on every elk hunt.
Idaho deer hunting splits into two species and two tag types. The Regular Deer Tag is valid for mule deer or white-tailed deer in the regular seasons; the White-tailed Deer Tag is whitetail-only for the dedicated whitetail seasons. Mule deer dominate the south and central units; whitetail dominate the Panhandle and Clearwater country.
Regular seasons (mostly mule deer country, south and central) typically run Oct 10 – Oct 31, with some units to Nov 3 or Dec 1. Dedicated whitetail seasons in the north push later to catch the November rut. Pick your tag based on the unit and the animal you're after.
Restrictions are unit-specific in Idaho — some seasons are limited to whitetail-only, mule-deer-only, or "2-point" deer. There's no single statewide antler rule; check your unit's season line for any point or species restriction before you hunt.
Idaho is a strong public-land state: many units are primarily public (national forest, BLM, wilderness), and the Access Yes! program opens additional private and locked-up public land. The trade-off is wolves and rugged country in the best backcountry zones.
| Area | Public access | What's there | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central backcountry Frank Church / Selway wilderness zones | Very high | Vast wilderness, remote elk, classic DIY archery in the rut. | Demanding terrain; wolves a factor. Reward for fitness and remoteness. |
| Panhandle / Clearwater (North) Units 1–10A, 8, 8A, etc. | High | Public timber; strong white-tailed deer, elk. November whitetail rut. | CWD testing required in parts (Units 14, 18, part of 1). Some Unit 8 access limited by private. |
| Southwest / Valley & Adams Units 19A, 20A, 22–34, etc. | High | Top B&C elk counties (Valley, Adams); mixed mule deer + elk. | Popular zones — pressure rises in general seasons. |
| Southeast / Fremont & Upper Snake Units 60, 60A, 61, 62, 62A | Moderate–high | Fremont leads typical-bull B&C entries; mule deer country. | Mix of forest and ag-edge; some access via Access Yes!. |
| Magic Valley / South Units 53–57, etc. | Varies | Mule deer; some nontypical bull history (Cassia county). | More private and ag ground — line up permission or use Access Yes!. |
If Idaho's December NR draw or 10% caps don't fit your 2026 plan, here's where else to look in the West. Each state gets its own State Intel IQ panel as we build out the suite.
True preference-point system, the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West, and NR caps of 25%/20%. The opposite of Idaho's pure-random model. → Open the Colorado panel
NR general elk requires the special-priced license + draw; region-based NR mule deer for the western half. Cheaper apps, fewer tag-stack rules. → Open the Wyoming panel
Combination license is the NR gateway; permit-required units are the trophy hunts. General license is "valid in many places." → Open the Montana panel
Pure random draw — no points, ever. One deadline: March 18. NR cap 6% (10% with an outfitter), and E-PLUS landowner tags run alongside the draw. → Open the New Mexico panel
Weighted bonus points squared for limited-entry, preference for general deer, and OTC general-season elk. → Open the Utah panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Preference points instead of Idaho's pure random, a $10 application, OTC blacktail deer and OTC general archery elk. Washington summary still to come. → Open the Oregon panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Utah runs two different point systems at once: bonus points (weighted, squared) for limited-entry bull elk and buck deer, and preference points (sequential) for general-season buck deer. On top of that, general-season elk is sold over-the-counter. Nonresidents draw from a separate 10% pool, so you're not competing against residents. Find the row that sounds like you.
Utah makes you buy a hunting or combination license first ($147 NR) before you can apply, then a $21 application fee per species. You pay the permit fee only if you draw (or when you buy a general OTC tag). A new 2.2% processing fee applies to all transactions. Figures are 2026 nonresident.
| General spike or any-bull permit | $850.00 |
| NR hunting/combo license (to apply) | $147.00 |
| Application fee (per species) | $21.00 |
| Multi-season general tag (archery+ML+rifle) | $1,250.00 |
| Typical all-in (general + license) | $997.00 |
| LE bull elk permit (general season) | $1,950.00 |
| LE multi-season tag | $2,655.00 |
| NR hunting/combo license | $147.00 |
| Bonus point (point-only application) | $21.00 |
| Resident general any-bull/spike permit | $45.00 |
| Resident LE bull permit | $285.00 |
| Resident combo license | $34.00 |
| General-season buck deer permit | $599.00 |
| NR hunting/combo license (to apply) | $147.00 |
| Application fee (per species) | $21.00 |
| Preference point (point-only) | $21.00 |
| Dedicated Hunter (3-yr general buck deer) | see UDWR |
| Typical all-in (permit + license) | $746.00 |
| LE buck deer permit | $1,070.00 |
| NR hunting/combo license | $147.00 |
| Bonus point (point-only application) | $21.00 |
| Premium units (Henry Mtns / Paunsaugunt) | 25–30 pts |
| Resident general buck deer permit | $40.00 |
| Resident LE buck permit | $80.00 |
| Dedicated Hunter (3-yr general buck deer) | see UDWR |
| Resident combo license | $34.00 |
| NR hunting / combination license | $147 / $147 |
| Application fee (per species) | $21 |
| Bonus / preference point (point-only) | $21 |
| Pronghorn — general / LE | see UDWR fee schedule |
| Moose / bison / sheep / goat (OIL) | $1,500–$2,500+ |
| Processing fee (all transactions) | 2.2% |
General shape of a Utah season (exact dates are set in the UDWR guidebook and vary by hunt). These reflect the published 2026 general-season structure.
Changes for the 2026 cycle, paired with the strategic implication.
UDWR added a 2.2% processing fee applied to every license, permit, point and application transaction.
The Henry Mountains premium deer unit added two any-legal-weapon permits for 2026.
On the Paunsaugunt, management-buck permits increased by 10 while cactus-buck permits dropped by 10.
Any-bull and spike general elk permits remain over-the-counter, sold from July until the statewide quota is reached.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Big game application period opens | March 19 | 8 a.m. MDT · online at utahdraws.com or by phone |
| Big game application deadline | April 23 | 11 p.m. MDT · LE elk/deer, general deer, OIL species |
| Draw results posted | by May 31 | Email + utahdraws.com · helpline 855-883-7297 |
| Bonus/preference point-only & antlerless application | June 9 – 23 | Buy a point without applying for a hunt |
| General-season bull elk permits on sale | July | Over-the-counter until statewide quota fills |
| Elk archery (general) | ~Aug 15 – mid-Sept | Any-bull to ~Sep 16; spike units to ~Sep 4 |
| Elk general rifle / muzzleloader | Oct – early Nov | Any-bull rifle ~Oct 3–16; muzzleloader ~Oct 28–Nov 5 |
| Deer general archery | Aug 15 – Sept 11 | Statewide general-season units |
| Deer general muzzleloader / rifle | Sept 23 – Oct 25 | ML ~Sep 23–Oct 1; rifle ~Oct 17–25 |
Utah uses bonus points for limited-entry & once-in-a-lifetime hunts (LE bull elk, LE buck deer, pronghorn, moose, sheep, goat, bison) and preference points for general-season buck deer. They behave very differently — know which one your hunt uses.
For LE/OIL, your bonus points are squared in the random draw — 10 points = 100 entries (like Montana, Arizona & Nevada). This heavily favors long-term applicants while keeping a sliver of luck.
Half of each LE hunt's permits go to the applicants with the most bonus points; the other half are drawn randomly (where your points = extra entries). Low-point hunters still have a real shot at non-premium units.
General-season buck deer is sequential: the most points draw first, in order. Each year you also get a random number for your application and one per point — your lowest number is used. No waiting period.
Any-bull and spike general elk permits are over-the-counter — no draw. Sold from July until the statewide quota fills. On spike units the general tag is legal for spike bulls only.
Nonresidents receive up to 10% of the permits for each hunt with 10+ tags, in a separate pool — you're not competing against residents in the draw. Premium units issue very few NR tags.
If you draw a limited-entry or OIL permit you forfeit all bonus points for that species and serve a waiting period before re-applying (varies by species). The preference (general deer) draw has no waiting period.
CWMUs (private-land cooperative units) offer a few public-draw permits plus landowner vouchers — a back door to quality ground. Dedicated Hunter is a separate and deer-only program: enroll for three consecutive years, put in 32 service hours, and hunt every general-season buck deer hunt — archery, muzzleloader, any legal weapon and extended archery — instead of committing to one weapon. Capped at two deer across the three years, one per year. It does not cover elk, and nonresidents can enroll at a higher fee.
Utah is a two-track elk state: an accessible over-the-counter general season (any-bull or spike units) for hunters who want to be afield every year, and a premium limited-entry tier that produces some of the best public-land bulls in the West — but takes years of squared bonus points to draw.
Bonus points are squared, and half of each hunt's permits go to the top-point pool, so the gap between a 5-point and a 15-point applicant is huge on premium units. If you're not near the top, target LE hunts with enough permits to keep a meaningful random 50%, or simply hunt the general OTC season while you bank points. Buy a point in the point-only window (June 9–23) if you don't apply for a hunt.
Utah mule deer splits cleanly into two systems: a general-season buck draw on preference points (sequential, no waiting period, huntable for most applicants within a few years) and a limited-entry / premium tier on bonus points where the famous units take a quarter-century of patience.
General-season deer is the rare Utah hunt on true preference points — if you apply consistently, your turn comes in a predictable number of years. The premium LE units are the opposite: bonus, squared, and effectively max-point-only for nonresidents. Decide early which game you're playing — accumulate-and-go on a general unit, or a multi-decade bank toward a Henry Mountains buck.
Utah is one of the most public-land-rich states in the West (~63% public), which makes it a genuine DIY destination. The main thing to learn is the patchwork of agencies and the SITLA state-trust rules.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | ~22M acres | Canyon, desert & plateau country across southern & western Utah. Open to hunting; mind travel/OHV restrictions. |
| National Forest | ~8M acres | High country — Wasatch-Cache, Uinta, Manti-La Sal, Fishlake, Dixie. Prime early archery & muzzleloader ground. |
| SITLA state trust | ~3.4M acres | Most trust land is open to hunting, but rules vary by parcel — verify before relying on it (some leased/restricted). |
| Walk-in Access | UDWR program opening private land to hunters. | Find enrolled properties on the UDWR site; respect posted conditions. |
| CWMU | Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (private). | Hunt via a drawn public CWMU permit or a landowner voucher only. |
If Utah's squared bonus points or long premium-unit waits don't fit your 2026 plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
True preference points and the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West. NR caps 25%/20%. → Open the Colorado panel
Preference points with a 25% random pool and a regular-vs-special price choice; more NR general elk tags for 2026. → Open the Wyoming panel
Pure random draw — no points at all. Capped 10% NR; A/B general elk tags. → Open the Idaho panel
Combination license is the NR gateway; permit-required units are the trophy hunts; bonus points (squared) like Utah. → Open the Montana panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Pure random draw — no points, ever. One deadline: March 18. NR cap 6% (10% with an outfitter), and E-PLUS landowner tags run alongside the draw. → Open the New Mexico panel
Preference points rather than Utah's squared bonus points, a $10 application, and OTC general archery elk — with a hard 5% nonresident cap on the draw. → Open the Oregon panel
Oregon is the West's cheap-to-enter preference-point state: you apply for $10 and only pay the tag if you draw. The catch is a hard 5% nonresident cap on controlled deer and elk hunts. The way in for most nonresidents isn't the draw at all — it's the general archery elk tag, which is over-the-counter statewide. Find the row that sounds like you.
Oregon separates the application from the tag. You pay a $10 controlled hunt application per series plus your hunting license up front, and only buy the tag if you draw. General-season tags are simply sold over the counter. All fees below are the published 2026 figures.
| Nonresident hunting license | $193.00 |
| Elk tag (general or controlled) | $660.00 |
| Controlled hunt application (per series) | $10.00 |
| Late tag purchase fee (after deadline) | $25.50 |
| Typical all-in (license + tag) | $853.00 |
| Resident hunting license | $39.00 |
| Elk tag | $56.00 |
| Controlled hunt application (per series) | $10.00 |
| Sports Pac (bundles deer + elk + bear + cougar + turkey) | $253.00 |
| Pioneer elk (age 65 + 50 yrs residency) | $29.00 |
| Uniformed services hunting license (res / NR) | $19 / $39 |
| Uniformed service elk — general season | $56.00 |
| Uniformed service elk — controlled (NR) | $660.00 |
| Disabled veteran elk (resident) | $29.00 |
| Disabled veteran combination license | FREE |
| Nonresident hunting license | $193.00 |
| Deer tag (general or controlled) | $500.00 |
| Controlled hunt application (per series) | $10.00 |
| Late tag purchase fee (after deadline) | $25.50 |
| Typical all-in (license + tag) | $693.00 |
| Resident hunting license | $39.00 |
| Deer tag | $33.00 |
| Controlled hunt application (per series) | $10.00 |
| Sports Pac (all-species bundle) | $253.00 |
| Senior hunting (age 70 + 5 yrs residency) | $25.00 |
| Youth combination license (ages 12–17) | $10.00 |
| Youth Sports Pac (resident) | $75.00 |
| Deer tag (resident youth) | $33.00 |
| Elk tag (resident youth) | $56.00 |
| Pronghorn antelope — res / NR | $58 / $443 |
| Black bear / cougar (res & NR) | $16.50 / $16.50 |
| Bighorn sheep / Rocky Mtn goat — res / NR | $159 / $1,695 |
| Controlled hunt application (big game) | $10.00 |
| Wildlife area parking — daily / annual | $10 / $30 |
| Duplicate tag / late tag fee | $2.00 / $25.50 |
General (over-the-counter) seasons are shown with their published 2026 dates. Controlled hunt dates vary by hunt number — always read the hunt table row, not this chart.
ODFW highlights every change in yellow in the printed book. These are the ones that change how you apply or where you hunt.
The whole eastern-side deer structure was rebuilt on GPS-collar research covering both summer and winter range. New hunt names, new hunt numbers, new boundaries — see pages 30–43 of the book, or ODFW's interactive map at myodfw.com/articles/eastern-oregon-deer-hunts.
A number of the new northeastern hunt areas now specify mule deer or white-tailed deer in the bag limit rather than "deer."
ODFW added greater clarification that hunting with electronic devices attached to or incorporated in the firearm or scope is prohibited (page 19 of the book).
Taking game mammals is now prohibited within 500 feet of designated highway wildlife crossing structures.
Report on your deer and elk tags by Jan 31, 2027 for hunts ending Apr 1 – Dec 31, 2026, or pay a $25 fee. On-time reporters are entered to win a special big game tag with an extended season and expanded hunt area.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring black bear application deadline | Feb 10 | 700 series; results Feb 20 |
| All other big game application deadline | May 15 | Deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep, goat — one application per series, up to 5 choices |
| Application correction window closes | May 25 | Free online, unlimited changes; $2 per change at an ODFW office |
| Cancelled-hunt notifications | Apr 15 | Rare; affected applicants are emailed and roll to 2nd choice |
| Guides & Outfitters unsold tags return to the draw | Apr 15 | Tags not sold to certified guides re-enter that year's drawing |
| Draw results posted | June 12 | Spring bear results were Feb 20 |
| Leftover controlled tags on sale | July 1, 10:00 am | Online only, first-come; not available as an additional tag |
| Point-saver window (if you skipped the draw) | July 1 – Nov 30 | One per series; no other hunt choices allowed in that series |
| Elk / deer general archery tag sale deadline | Aug 28 | $25.50 late fee + attestation after this date |
| Elk — general archery season | Aug 29 – Sept 27 | Statewide OTC; bag limit varies by unit |
| Deer — general archery season (W. OR) | Aug 29 – Sept 27 | Late seasons in some units run Nov 14 – Dec 13 |
| Western OR buck deer tag sale deadline | Oct 2 | Any legal weapon general tag |
| Deer — Western OR general rifle | Oct 3 – Nov 6 | Units 10–30; one buck with visible antler |
| Elk — West Cascade general | Nov 7 – Nov 13 | Units 16, 19, 21, 22, 29, 30; tag deadline Nov 6 |
| Elk — E. OR Rocky Mtn 2nd season (spike) | Nov 7 – Nov 15 | Units 49, 50, 52, 53, 61–63 + parts of 48 & 51; tag deadline Nov 6 |
| Elk — Coast 1st / 2nd season | Nov 14–17 / Nov 21–27 | Tag deadlines Nov 13 and Nov 20 |
| Mandatory harvest report deadline | Jan 31, 2027 | Hunts ending Apr 1 – Dec 31, 2026. $25 fee if you miss it |
Every year you don't draw your first choice you earn a point. Draw your first choice and your points reset to zero — whether or not you actually buy the tag. Points live on your ODFW ID# and are tied to a hunt series, not a hunt number, so you can change targets and keep them.
For deer, elk, pronghorn and spring bear (premium hunts excluded), 75% of tags go to the first-choice applicants with the most points and the remaining 25% are drawn randomly among all first-choice applicants. Everyone always has a chance at their first choice.
You may list up to five hunt choices per series, but points and the 25% pool only apply to your first choice. Choices two through five are pure leftovers — distributed randomly if tags remain after all first choices are filled.
100 buck deer · 200 elk · 400 pronghorn · 500 bighorn sheep · 600 antlerless deer · 700 spring bear · 900 Rocky Mtn goat · L/M/N premium deer/elk/pronghorn. One application per series per year.
5% max of controlled deer, elk and bear tags and 3% max of pronghorn tags go to nonresidents; sheep and goat run 5–10%. Nonresident applications get no preference other than the points already held.
Everyone draws or nobody does. Points are averaged across the party (.51 and up rounds up, .50 and down rounds down). The party leader applies first and their choices govern the group. Not allowed for sheep, goat or premium hunts — and a party will not be split to fit under the nonresident cap.
Can't hunt, or hunting a general season instead? Apply for a point saver and still bank the point — you just can't list any other hunt choices in that series. Available in the regular draw, or July 1 – Nov 30 if you skipped it.
Premium hunts (series L, M, N) are pure random — no preference points, and so are bighorn sheep and Rocky Mtn goat. Premium tags are in addition to a general or controlled tag, and carry long seasons across wide areas.
A number of tags equal to half the nonresident tags drawn the previous year is set aside for certified Oregon guides to market — no draw required for the hunter who buys one. Tags unsold by Apr 15 go back into that year's drawing.
Oregon holds two subspecies: Roosevelt elk west of the Cascade summit — bigger-bodied, heavier-beamed, and hunted in dark timber — and Rocky Mountain elk on the dry eastside. For a nonresident, Oregon's headline is that the general archery elk tag is sold over the counter and valid across most of the state during the September rut, while the controlled rifle hunts are gated behind a 5% nonresident cap.
Because points reset to zero the moment you draw your first choice, Oregon rewards deciding what you're actually building toward. If you want to hunt every year and build, the clean play is: hunt the OTC general archery elk tag, and put a genuine target hunt as your first choice in the 200 series — or a point saver if nothing is worth burning on. Don't scatter your first choice across "maybe" hunts; second through fifth choices don't use points at all.
Oregon deer splits cleanly at the Cascade crest. West of it is Columbian black-tailed deer, hunted on a general over-the-counter tag every year. East of it is mule deer — entirely controlled, and for 2026 completely restructured into new Deer Hunt Areas. Northeast Oregon also holds a growing white-tailed deer population, which is why many of the new hunt areas now name the species in the bag limit.
ODFW replaced Wildlife Management Units with Deer Hunt Areas for eastern Oregon deer, built from GPS-collar data on real summer and winter range use. Practically: hunt names changed, hunt numbers changed, boundaries changed, and several northeastern areas now carry separate mule deer and whitetail bag limits. Historical draw odds still tell you something about demand, but the applicant pools are being re-cut across new lines this year — treat prior-year odds as directional, not precise. ODFW's interactive map at myodfw.com/articles/eastern-oregon-deer-hunts is the fastest way to find your ground under its new name.
Oregon has no nonresident wilderness-guide rule and no landowner-tag gate on public ground, so access here is mostly about knowing which hunts are quietly private-land hunts and where vehicles are allowed. ODFW flags the private-heavy hunts right in the tables — read those highlights before you apply.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| National Forest & BLM | Millions of acres statewide — the Cascades, Blues, Wallowas, Ochocos, and Coast Range. | Backbone of any DIY Oregon hunt. Check the MVUM and forest travel rules before you plan a drive-in camp. |
| Industrial timberland | West side | Large private timber blocks in the Coast Range and west Cascades. Many require a paid access permit and some are gated or closed seasonally — verify the company's current program before you count on it. |
| Travel Management Areas | Areas with motor-vehicle restrictions during hunting seasons. | TMAs are listed starting on page 85 of the regs and mapped at myodfw.com/articles/maps. Getting this wrong is a citation, not a warning. |
| Access & Habitat | ODFW program that opens private land to public hunting in exchange for habitat investment. | A&H hunting area maps are linked from myodfw.com/articles/maps — worth checking against any private-heavy hunt you're eyeing. |
| ODFW Wildlife Areas | State-owned wildlife areas open to hunting. | Several require a parking permit: $10 daily or $30 annual. Special area restrictions start on page 90. |
| Landowner Preference (LOP) | Tags issued to registered landowners, valid only inside the registered property boundary. | Not a nonresident door in itself — but LOP hunts can be listed as a sixth choice by the May 15 deadline if you have permission. |
If the 5% nonresident cap, the eastside restructure, or blacktail hunting isn't your 2026 plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
True preference points and the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West, with NR caps of 25%/20% instead of Oregon's 5%. → Open the Colorado panel
Pure random draw, no points at all, and OTC zone elk tags — the fastest way to hunt this year if you don't want to build anything. → Open the Idaho panel
Preference points with a 25% random pool and a regular-vs-special price choice; more NR general elk tags for 2026. Pay-up-front draw, unlike Oregon. → Open the Wyoming panel
Combination license is the NR gateway; permit-required units are the trophy hunts. → Open the Montana panel
Two point systems — bonus (squared) for limited-entry, preference for general deer — and general-season elk is OTC. → Open the Utah panel
Pure random draw — no points, ever. One deadline: March 18. NR cap 6% (10% with an outfitter), and E-PLUS landowner tags run alongside the draw. → Open the New Mexico panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
New Mexico is the West's pure lottery: no points, no waiting, no seniority. Everyone gets the same shot at some of the best bulls in the country — and the same long odds, because nonresidents without an outfitter are capped at 6%. The state's real side door isn't the draw at all: it's E-PLUS, a landowner-authorization market where a unit-wide elk tag can be valid on public land. Find the row that sounds like you.
New Mexico charges the full license fee with your application and refunds it if you don't draw — but the $13 application fee and the $90 game-hunting license are gone either way. Two small add-ons are easy to miss and both are mandatory: the $4 HMAV for any hunting, and the $10 Habitat Stamp for hunting on Forest Service or BLM land. Fees below are the 2026–27 figures — they went up this year.
| Game-Hunting License (NR) | $90.00 |
| Standard elk license — MB or ES | $773.00 |
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $13.00 |
| Habitat Management & Access Validation | $4.00 |
| Habitat Stamp (USFS / BLM land) | $10.00 |
| Game-Hunting License (NR) | $90.00 |
| Quality or High-Demand elk — MB or ES | $998.00 |
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $13.00 |
| HMAV + Habitat Stamp | $14.00 |
| Difference refunded if you draw a cheaper hunt | yes |
| Mature-Bull or Either-Sex | $773.00 |
| Quality Mature-Bull or Either-Sex | $998.00 |
| Antlerless | $573.00 |
| Landowner administrative fee (primary/special zone) | $9.00 |
| Authorization price | set by landowner |
| Game-Hunting License | $25.00 |
| Elk license — MB or ES (standard or quality) | $100.00 |
| Antlerless elk | $70.00 |
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $7.00 |
| HMAV + Habitat Stamp | $14.00 |
| Game-Hunting License (NR) | $90.00 |
| Standard deer license | $398.00 |
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $13.00 |
| HMAV + Habitat Stamp | $14.00 |
| Quality / High-Demand deer license (alt.) | $623.00 |
| Private-Land Only Deer — Standard | $385.00 |
| Private-Land Only Deer — Quality | $610.00 |
| Game-Hunting License (NR) | $90.00 |
| Private-Land Only Pronghorn | $410.00 |
| Available from | Jul 1 |
| Game-Hunting License | $25.00 |
| Deer license (S, Q or HD) | $60.00 |
| Junior / Senior deer | $35.00 |
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $7.00 |
| HMAV + Habitat Stamp | $14.00 |
| Pronghorn — draw / private-land | $423 / $410 |
| Bear / cougar (OTC) | $360 / $360 |
| Javelina — draw / OTC | $178 / $165 |
| Barbary sheep / oryx / ibex | $373 / $1,623 / $1,623 |
| Bighorn sheep (ram or ewe) | $3,523 |
| Shed hunting license (NR — new) | $200 |
New Mexico runs short, tightly-defined hunts — most any-legal-weapon seasons are five days. The windows below are the common statewide pattern; your exact dates come from your hunt code, so always read the hunt-table row.
The agency itself changed names this cycle, and fees moved. These are the changes that affect how you apply, what you pay, or where you can hunt.
The former New Mexico Department of Game and Fish was renamed by the legislature, with a broadened mandate beyond traditional game species. The website is still wildlife.dgf.nm.gov and the phone number is unchanged.
NMDOW raised license fees for 2026–27. Nonresident standard elk is $773 and quality/high-demand is $998; nonresident standard deer is $398 and quality/high-demand is $623.
There is now a limit on the number of private-land pronghorn licenses in GMUs 41, 42, 47, 56, 57, 58 and 59.
Chronic Wasting Disease regulations have been extended to Game Management Unit 29.
All nonresident shed antler hunters must buy a $200 Shed Hunting License. Residents do not need one.
New Mexico residents participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are eligible for a 25% discount on NMDOW licenses.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bear & turkey draw permit deadline | Feb 11 | 5 p.m. MT; results Feb 18. No license purchase needed to apply |
| 2025–26 harvest report deadline | Feb 15 | Deer, elk, pronghorn, turkey — even if you never hunted. $8 late fee after this date |
| Big game draw application deadline | Mar 18 | 5 p.m. MDT. Deer, elk, pronghorn, ibex, oryx, javelina, Barbary, bighorn + PLO deer in Units 2A/2B/2C/4/5A |
| Absolute last day to file a late harvest report | Mar 18 | Miss it and every draw application is rejected |
| OTC licenses for the new year go on sale | Mar 25 | Before this date, game-hunting licenses are only sold inside the draw application |
| 2026–27 license year begins | Apr 1 | All 2025–26 licenses expire |
| Harvest report deadline — Barbary, ibex, javelina, oryx, trapper | Apr 7 | Same consequence: failure rejects all draw applications |
| Big game draw results | Apr 22 | Only successful applicants are emailed — check your account either way |
| Habitat Stamp deadline for draw licenses | May 15 | Must be purchased by this date for the license/tag combo to be complete |
| OTC private-land licenses available | Jul 1 | Javelina, fall turkey, private-land deer & pronghorn, secondary-zone private-land elk |
| Elk — archery seasons | Sept 1–14 · Sept 15–24 | Two separate licenses; pick one |
| Deer — archery season | Sept 1–24 | Second archery window Jan 1–15, 2027 in many units |
| Deer — muzzleloader | Sept 27 – Oct 3 | Common statewide window |
| Elk — muzzleloader | Oct 10–14 | Common statewide window |
| Any-legal-weapon deer & elk hunts | Oct 17 – Nov 18 | Mostly five-day hunts; exact dates by hunt code |
| Antlerless elk (largely resident-only) | Dec | Nonresidents are ineligible for antlerless elk draw licenses |
Every application gets a random seven-digit sequence number. The system works through applications in that order, matching first, then second, then third choices against remaining licenses. New Mexico does not grant preference to previously unsuccessful applicants. There is nothing to build and nothing to lose.
State law fixes it: at least 84% of draw licenses to New Mexico residents, 10% to applicants (resident or not) applying with a registered New Mexico outfitter, and 6% to nonresidents applying without one. Antlerless elk and WMA-only hunts are 100% resident.
NMDOW states it plainly: it is extremely unlikely for a nonresident to draw a hunt code with 12 or fewer licenses, or for an outfitted applicant to draw one with six or fewer. Residents applying alongside a nonresident should know this too — the whole application is affected.
Choices 1–3 are specific hunt codes. The optional 4th choice is a quadrant (NW / NE / SW / SE) meaning "any available hunt over there, same sporting arm as my first choice." It improves your chance of holding a tag but is non-refundable and can produce an antlerless bag limit.
Up to four hunters may apply on one application for deer and elk (one person per application for private-land-only Unit 5A deer). Everyone draws or nobody does — so a mixed resident/nonresident party inherits the nonresident cap problem.
Whatever the most expensive hunt among your choices costs, that's what's charged at application. Draw a cheaper hunt and the difference is refunded. Draw nothing and the license fee comes back — but the application fee ($13 NR / $7 res) and the game-hunting license do not.
This is the rule that quietly disqualifies out-of-state hunters. If you held a 2025–26 deer, elk, pronghorn or turkey license you must file a harvest report — hunted or not — by Feb 15 ($8 late fee after) and absolutely by Mar 18. Miss it and all your draw applications are rejected. Keep the confirmation number.
Private-land elk licenses come through landowner authorizations, not the draw. Critically: you may not hold both a Private-Land Elk License and a Draw Elk License in the same license year, and you can't exchange one for the other. Decide which road you're on.
The Valle Vidal mature-bull and either-sex elk hunts are once in a lifetime — draw one and you can never apply again. A youth who drew a once-in-a-youth hunt stays eligible for the adult once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
New Mexico produces some of the largest bulls in North America, and because the draw is a pure lottery, a first-time applicant can win a Gila or Sacramento tag that a Colorado hunter would spend fifteen years earning. The flip side is the 6% nonresident cap and NMDOW's own warning about small hunt codes. The state's structural quirk — E-PLUS — is what makes New Mexico worth understanding properly rather than just applying blind.
MB mature bull (a spike is not legal) · ES either sex, includes a spike · MB/A mature bull or antlerless · A antlerless · APRE/6 antler-point-restricted, six or more points on one antler · APRE/6/A that or antlerless. Nonresidents are ineligible for any antlerless (A) draw license and for any hunt held exclusively on a Wildlife Management Area.
Because there's no currency to spend, the only lever you have is which hunt codes you choose. Two honest approaches: put a genuine trophy hunt first and treat it as a lottery ticket you buy every year; or stack choices toward hunts with large license counts, where the 6% slice is actually several tags rather than a rounding error. The 4th-choice quadrant is a real tool for the second approach — just understand it's binding and non-refundable. And if you want to hunt New Mexico this year regardless, E-PLUS is the answer, not the draw.
New Mexico deer means two very different animals. The north and northwest hold classic mule deer; the southwest is Coues whitetail country — small, sharp-eyed desert deer that a lot of hunters travel specifically for. The bag-limit code on your hunt tells you which one you're allowed to shoot, and getting that wrong is the most common New Mexico deer mistake.
FAD fork-antlered deer — whitetail or mule deer · FAMD fork-antlered mule deer only · FAWTD fork-antlered whitetail only · ESWTD either-sex whitetail · A antlerless. Check this before you buy a plane ticket to hunt one species on a tag written for the other.
New Mexico has excellent federal ground — the Gila, the Carson, the Santa Fe, the Lincoln, plus a lot of BLM — and unusually good State Trust Land access, since your hunting license itself grants it. The friction here is checkerboarded private ground and a strict trespass law, so know your boundaries before you walk.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| National Forest & BLM | The Gila, Apache-Sitgreaves, Carson, Santa Fe, Cibola and Lincoln forests plus large BLM holdings. | Requires the $10 Habitat Stamp in addition to your license. The core of any DIY New Mexico hunt. |
| State Trust Land | Included | An agreement between the Wildlife Commission and the Commissioner of Public Lands means your NMDOW license grants hunting access — no separate permit. Some tracts are closed or have been traded for private-land access; check the State Land Office interactive map. |
| Open Gate | NMDOW leases private land and right-of-way access for public hunting, funded by HMAV sales. | Each property has its own posted rules. Find them on the NMDOW Open Gate map — this is where your $4 HMAV goes. |
| Wildlife Management Areas | State WMAs. | Closed unless officially designated open, and nonresidents cannot draw any hunt held exclusively on a WMA. |
| E-PLUS unit-wide | A landowner authorization that produces a public-land-valid tag. | The one case where paying a private party gets you onto public ground legally. Primary management zone only. |
| Closed areas | Military reservations, national parks & monuments, state parks, recreation areas, national wildlife refuges. | Assume closed unless you've confirmed otherwise. Military reservation hunts have their own blaze-orange rules. |
If the 6% cap, the single March deadline, or the no-points lottery doesn't fit your plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
The other pure-random state — no points at all — but with a 10% NR cap and OTC zone elk tags you can buy outright. → Open the Idaho panel
True preference points, NR caps of 25%/20%, and the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West. The opposite philosophy to New Mexico. → Open the Colorado panel
Preference points with a 25% random pool, so you get both a lottery and a queue; more NR general elk tags for 2026. → Open the Wyoming panel
The combination license is the nonresident gateway; permit-required units are the trophy hunts. → Open the Montana panel
Bonus points squared for limited-entry, preference for general deer, and OTC general-season elk. Rewards patience rather than luck. → Open the Utah panel
Preference points, a $10 application with no tag payment until you draw, and OTC general archery elk statewide — but a hard 5% nonresident cap. → Open the Oregon panel
Bonus points are squared, the nonresident quota is roughly 10%, and drawing an antlered elk tag locks you out for 7 seasons — but it’s 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Nevada is over 80% public land and produces genuinely huge bulls and bucks on very small quotas. It rewards showing up every single year and never letting a point lapse. The three things that catch out-of-state hunters: points are squared, drawing certain tags puts you in a multi-year waiting period, and there's a whole second application season in February for guided mule deer. Find the row that sounds like you.
Nevada's application stack is small but has four separate lines, and elk carries a fifth. You do not pay for the tag up front — successful applicants have seven days after results to pay. All figures are the 2026–27 published fees.
| Nonresident adult combination license | $155.00 |
| Antlered elk tag (paid after you draw) | $1,200.00 |
| Big game tag application fee | $10.00 |
| Game tag application + processing fee | $4.00 |
| Elk damage fee (per elk application) | $5.00 |
| Nonresident adult combination license | $155.00 |
| Antlerless elk tag | $500.00 |
| Application fees (tag + game tag + processing) | $14.00 |
| Elk damage fee | $5.00 |
| Waiting period | none |
| Adult combination license | $75.00 |
| Hunting license only (alt.) | $38.00 |
| Elk tag (antlered or antlerless) | $120.00 |
| Application fees (tag + game tag + processing) | $14.00 |
| Elk damage fee | $5.00 |
| Nonresident adult combination license | $155.00 |
| Mule deer tag (paid after you draw) | $240.00 |
| Big game tag application fee | $10.00 |
| Game tag application + processing fee | $4.00 |
| Waiting period | none |
| Same license, tag and application fees | $409.00 |
| Guide / outfitter fee | market rate |
| Application window | Feb 9 – Mar 9 |
| Results | Mar 20 |
| Separate quota from the main draw | yes |
| Adult combination license | $75.00 |
| Hunting license only (alt.) | $38.00 |
| Mule deer tag | $30.00 |
| Application fees (tag + game tag + processing) | $14.00 |
| Youth combination license (12–17) | $15.00 |
| Big game tag application (nonrefundable) | $10.00 |
| Game tag application + processing | $3 + $1 |
| Bonus-point-only application | $10.00 |
| Silver State / PIW tag application | $20 / $10 |
| NR antelope / bear / bighorn / goat | $300 / $300 / $1,200 / $1,200 |
| Mountain lion tag — res / NR (OTC) | $28 / $100 |
Nevada seasons are set per unit group and weapon class, and many groups are split Early / Mid / Late. The bands below are the common statewide pattern — your exact dates come from the unit-group row in the quota tables.
NDOW's own change list, filtered to what actually affects an elk or mule deer application.
NDOW combined the Big Game Application and Regulation publications into a single book. The 2026 quotas are not printed in it — they're published separately via e-regs (QR code on the cover) in May 2026.
Junior applicants (junior antlered mule deer, junior horns-shorter antelope) may now receive only one junior tag from the main draw. A second can still come as an alternate, through the second draw, or from the first-come, first-served program.
NDOW established an early spike elk season in Hunt Unit Group 161–164 running Oct 1–20.
The resident and nonresident antlerless elk any-legal-weapon early hunt changed to Sept 27 – Oct 4, and the antlerless muzzleloader season moved to Sept 17–26. Two seasons were added to the antlerless depredation hunt in Unit Group 114B/115B (Dec 1–31 and Jan 1–31).
NDOW removed the antlered depredation hunt in Hunt Unit 251.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NR Restricted Guided Mule Deer — applications open | Feb 9 | Separate draw, separate quota |
| NR Restricted Guided Mule Deer deadline | Mar 9 | Guide must sign the application before the draw |
| Guided mule deer results | Mar 20 | Two months ahead of the main draw |
| Main draw applications open | Mar 23 | Online only at ndowlicensing.com |
| Main draw application deadline | May 13, 11 p.m. PST | Up to 5 unit/season/weapon choices per species & sex class |
| Main draw results | On or before May 29 | Posted online within 48 hours of the draw completing |
| Payment window after results | 7 days | Miss it and you're treated as if you took the tag — waiting period and point cost still apply |
| Electronic tag-return window | 7 days from results | Returns restore bonus points; later returns accepted up to the last business day before the hunt |
| Second draw applications open | Jun 8 | Residents and nonresidents; junior tags are resident-only |
| Second draw deadline | Jun 15 | Bonus points for all species can also be purchased here |
| Second draw results | Jun 26 | Anything left goes to first-come, first-served |
| Tags in the mail by | Jul 1 | Contact NDOW if yours hasn't arrived |
| Mule deer — archery | Aug 10 – Sept 9 | Some late archery Nov 10–20 and Dec 1–10 |
| Elk — archery | Aug 16 – Sept 20 | By unit group: Aug 16–31, Aug 25 – Sept 16, or Sept 1–20 |
| Mule deer — muzzleloader | Sept 10 – Oct 4 | Some units Sept 10–30, Nov 10–30, Nov 21 – Dec 10 |
| Elk — antlerless (early / muzzleloader) | Sept 27 – Oct 4 / Sept 17–26 | Both moved for 2026 |
| Mule deer — any legal weapon | Oct 5 – Nov 5 | Early Oct 5–20 / Late Oct 21 – Nov 5 in many groups |
| Elk — any legal weapon | Sept 17 – Nov 20 | Early/Late splits by unit group |
| Hunt survey questionnaire | Before the next application period closes | Skip it and you're blocked from applying next year; $50 fee to lift the penalty |
Every application gets a random number from 1 to 100 million. Bonus points buy you extra random numbers: points² + 1 for the current year. Your lowest number is the one that counts. So 2 points = 5 chances, 5 points = 26, 10 points = 101. It's a weighted lottery, not a queue — a zero-point hunter can always win.
Elk alone has three separate pools: Antlered Elk, Antlerless Elk and Spike Elk. Mule deer is its own. Points are residency-agnostic — if you move states, they come with you.
Points reset to zero when you're awarded a tag or when you purchase one — including through first-come, first-served. They're forfeited entirely if you fail to apply in a category for two consecutive years when a season is available. Consistency is the whole game.
Drawing certain tags locks you out, whether or not you harvest: bighorn ram 10 seasons, antlered elk 7, antelope horns-longer 3, bighorn ewe 2, moose a lifetime. Mule deer, antlerless elk, spike elk, elk depredation and horns-shorter antelope have no waiting period.
Commission Policy 24 sets resident and nonresident allocations at approximately 90% resident / 10% nonresident. On a unit group with 30 tags that's 3 nonresident tags. Read the NR quota column — it's the number that decides your odds, not the unit's reputation.
You may list up to five unit-group / season / weapon-class choices per species and sex class, and NDOW explicitly recommends using all five. You can edit your application any time up to the deadline.
You can choose to buy your hunting license only if you draw — but then an unsuccessful application earns no bonus point. If you're building, buy the license. Note too that a license is valid 365 days from purchase, and only one point per category per year can be earned under a single license.
Available for mule deer, antlerless elk and horns-shorter antelope only. All draw or none do. Points are averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number. Residents and nonresidents can party for mule deer, but only choices open to both are valid and quota must exist for every member.
Opt in as an alternate and you can be handed a returned tag any time up to 14 days before the season opens — you'll get a text and your card on file is charged. Whatever's left after the second draw (Jun 8–15) goes first-come, first-served online. No points needed for FCFS — but buying zeroes that category.
Silver State ($20) and Partnership in Wildlife ($10) tags are in the main draw. They hunt any open unit, run a longer season, ignore waiting periods, and cost no bonus points if you win. PIW mule deer is the one with split quotas — 11 resident, 1 nonresident. The Dream Tag is a separate $5-per-chance raffle.
Nevada issues Landowner Damage Compensation Tags for deer and antelope, and those tags may be sold to any holder of a valid Nevada hunting license at any mutually agreed price. Elk Incentive Tags go to landowners who support elk and agree to provide reasonable public access to otherwise landlocked public land.
If you held a tag and didn't submit the hunt survey questionnaire, you're blocked from applying the following year. You can lift it by completing the survey and paying a $50 penalty fee — but it must be received before the application period closes.
Nevada elk is a small, tightly managed, very high-quality resource — the state grows exceptional bulls in the eastern ranges, and it protects them with small quotas, a squared-point lottery and a seven-season waiting period. For a nonresident this is a decade-scale commitment on the antlered side, and a genuinely accessible hunt on the antlerless and spike side.
The squared math changes how you should think. Going from 5 points to 6 takes you from 26 chances to 37 — a 42% jump in one year, and the curve keeps steepening. That's an argument for patience on antlered elk, and against ever letting a category lapse. Meanwhile the antlerless and spike pools are cheap, waiting-period-free places to actually hunt Nevada while the antlered pile grows. And remember: buying any tag in a category — including a first-come, first-served leftover — zeroes that category's points.
Nevada publishes resident and nonresident quotas per unit group, per season, per weapon class. On antlered elk the nonresident numbers are frequently 1 to 4 tags. A unit group's reputation is irrelevant if the NR quota is one — and the Early/Mid/Late splits mean the same unit group can be three separate applications with three different sets of odds. The 2026 quotas publish separately via e-regs in May, so confirm before the May 13 deadline.
Mule deer is Nevada's deepest draw and, for a nonresident, its best value — a $240 tag, real quotas on the big northern unit groups, and no waiting period, so you can apply again the year after you draw. Nevada is a desert mule deer state: big country, low densities, high-quality bucks, and a lot of walking.
In the big northern unit groups — 061–068, 071–079/091, 151–156, 161–164, 171–173, 221–223 — the any-legal-weapon season is cut into an Early hunt (roughly Oct 5–20) and a Late hunt (roughly Oct 21 – Nov 5), each with its own quota. The Early hunts usually carry the far larger quota; the Late hunts are smaller and catch more pre-rut movement. They draw differently. Treat them as two separate choices, not one unit.
Nevada is the most public state in the Lower 48 — over 80% public land, almost all of it open to hunting. Access here isn't about permission, it's about water, roads and distance. The private ground that does exist is concentrated in valley bottoms and along creeks, which is exactly where the animals are.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | The majority | The bulk of Nevada. NDOW advises calling the district office before your hunt — prescribed burns, wild horse gathers, fire restrictions and road closures can appear with little notice. |
| National Forest | Humboldt-Toiyabe — the largest national forest in the Lower 48. | The mountain ranges where the elk and the best bucks live. Follow travel management on designated routes. |
| Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge | Federal refuge in the northwest corner, open to hunting under state seasons. | Extra rules: camping only in designated areas (backcountry by permit), no target shooting, and vehicles, ATVs, bicycles and game carts only on designated routes. |
| State Wildlife Management Areas | NDOW-managed areas, several with their own restrictions. | Check the WMA rules in the regs — some carry weapon or access limits that differ from the surrounding unit. |
| Private land & orange posts | Concentrated in valley bottoms, meadows and water. | In Nevada, fluorescent orange paint on a post or structure is a legal no-trespassing notice — same force as a sign. Locked gates, signs and orange posts all mean stay out. And if you open a gate in a fence, you must close and fasten it. |
| Landlocked public land | Public parcels reachable only across private ground. | The Elk Incentive Tag program requires participating landowners to provide reasonable public access to adjacent public land where their property is the only way in. |
If the 90/10 quota, the squared-point math or the seven-season elk wait doesn't fit your plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
The other squared-bonus-point state, but with OTC general-season elk and preference points for general deer — you can hunt while you build. → Open the Utah panel
Pure random with no points at all, so nothing to protect and nothing to lose — plus E-PLUS landowner tags that skip the draw entirely. → Open the New Mexico panel
Pure random, 10% NR cap, and OTC zone elk tags you can simply buy. The fastest way to be hunting this year. → Open the Idaho panel
True preference points — a queue rather than a lottery — and the most OTC/limited elk opportunity in the West. → Open the Colorado panel
Preference points with a 25% random pool, so you get a queue and a lottery at once; more NR general elk tags for 2026. → Open the Wyoming panel
MT's combination license is the NR gateway to a long general season; OR sells an OTC general archery elk tag statewide for the price of a tag. → Montana · → Oregon
Biggest bulls in the country on tiny quotas — a 20% bonus pass, a 10% nonresident cap, and two separate draws (elk Feb 3, deer Jun 2). Also sells OTC archery deer and OTC elk tags. → Open the Arizona panel
Arizona grows the biggest bulls and some of the best Coues bucks in the country, and it protects them with tiny quotas. But it also quietly runs two of the most accessible over-the-counter tags in the West — the archery deer nonpermit-tag and the elk nonpermit-tag in designated hunt areas. Most out-of-state hunters only know about the draw. Find the row that sounds like you.
Arizona bundles the application fee into the published tag price — a nonresident tag price already includes the $15 per-applicant application fee. Nonresidents have only one license option: the $160 Combination Hunt and Fish license. Fees below are the 2026 figures.
| Nonresident Combination Hunt & Fish license | $160.00 |
| Elk hunt permit-tag (incl. $15 app fee) | $665.00 |
| Bonus point only (alt. to applying) | $15.00 |
| PointGuard — per species / 3 draw cycles | $10 / $25 |
| Youth-only elk hunt permit-tag | $657.00 |
| Nonresident Combination Hunt & Fish license | $160.00 |
| Elk nonpermit-tag (over the counter) | $650.00 |
| Resident elk nonpermit-tag | $135.00 |
| Valid in | designated hunt areas only |
| Bonus points required | none |
| General Hunting license | $37.00 |
| Combination Hunt & Fish license (alt.) | $57.00 |
| Elk hunt permit-tag (incl. $13 app fee) | $148.00 |
| Elk nonpermit-tag (OTC) | $135.00 |
| Bonus point only | $13.00 |
| Nonresident Combination Hunt & Fish license | $160.00 |
| Deer hunt permit-tag (incl. $15 app fee) | $315.00 |
| Bonus point only (alt. to applying) | $15.00 |
| PointGuard — per species / 3 draw cycles | $10 / $25 |
| Youth-only deer hunt permit-tag | $407.00 |
| Nonresident Combination Hunt & Fish license | $160.00 |
| Archery deer nonpermit-tag | $300.00 |
| Resident archery deer nonpermit-tag | $45.00 |
| On sale (NR, online) | Nov 2, 8 a.m. AZ |
| Valid for | one calendar year |
| General Hunting license | $37.00 |
| Combination Hunt & Fish license (alt.) | $57.00 |
| Deer hunt permit-tag (incl. $13 app fee) | $58.00 |
| Archery deer nonpermit-tag (OTC) | $45.00 |
| Bonus point only | $13.00 |
| Pronghorn hunt permit-tag | $565 |
| Bear — draw / OTC nonpermit-tag | $165 / $150 |
| Javelina — draw / OTC nonpermit-tag | $115 / $100 |
| Turkey — draw / OTC archery | $105 / $90 |
| Mountain lion nonpermit-tag (OTC) | $75 |
| Bighorn sheep / bison (bull or any) | $1,815 / $5,415 |
Arizona's draw hunts are short and hunt-number-specific; the over-the-counter tags run long, odd windows that don't look like anywhere else in the West. Bands below are the common pattern — your exact dates come from your hunt number.
AZGFD's own change list, filtered to what affects an elk or deer hunt.
Starting fall 2026, mandatory harvest reporting for bear, mountain lion and over-the-counter archery deer is accepted online only, within 48 hours, at azgfd.gov/harvestreports. The call center and phone numbers are no longer an eligible way to report. Harvest limits are set by unit and species.
All existing crossbow permits and Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permits (CHAMPs) expired. Anyone wanting one effective July 1, 2026 or later must complete a new medical evaluation and submit a new application.
Under Commission Rule R12-4-303.A.5, no person may use images, video or data from a trail camera to take or locate wildlife. AZGFD spells out that "take" includes scouting prior to a hunt.
Canyon Lake begins a major drawdown on Sept 16, 2026 for roughly 16 weeks for dam safety work. The lake, all boat ramps and Tonto National Forest access points are closed to the public for that four-month period, and a majority of the huntable area in Unit 22 north of the lake is restricted.
Increased bag limits for deer, javelina and bear apply only to animals taken with a restricted nonpermit-tag issued through the Supplemental Hunter Pool under R12-4-115.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn & elk application deadline | Feb 3, 2026 | 11:59 p.m. Arizona time, online only at azgfd.gov |
| Pronghorn & elk tags mailed by | Apr 1, 2026 | Results posted in your AZGFD portal account |
| Elk leftover (first-come) — by mail / in person | Mar 16 / Mar 23 | 8:00 a.m. Arizona time; results are not posted |
| Deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn, bison & crane deadline | Jun 2, 2026 | 11:59 p.m. Arizona time, online only |
| Deer tags mailed by | Jul 24, 2026 | Portal account shows results as soon as posted |
| Deer leftover (first-come) — by mail / in person | Jul 6 / Jul 13 | Leftovers sell fast; one application per genus |
| Elk — archery (draw) | Sept 11 – Oct 1 | Second archery window Nov 13–26 in many units |
| Elk — general bull, early / late | Sept 25 – Oct 1 / Nov 27 – Dec 3 | The late hunt carries by far the deeper permit counts |
| Elk — antlerless & limited opportunity | Oct 2 – Dec 10 | Varies widely by hunt number |
| Deer — general rifle hunts | Oct 23 – Nov 29 | Mostly 7–10 days; some late hunts Dec 11–31 |
| OTC archery deer nonpermit-tags on sale | Nov 2, 2026 | AZGFD offices + nonresidents online at 8 a.m. AZ time; license dealers Nov 23 |
| Deer — OTC archery seasons | Aug 21 – Sept 10 · Dec 11–31 · Jan 1–31 | By unit; tag is valid one calendar year only |
| Elk — OTC nonpermit-tag windows | Apr 1 – Jul 31 · Sept 25 – Dec 31 · Jan 1 – Dec 31 | Designated hunt areas; special restrictions apply to each |
| Mandatory harvest report | Within 48 hours | Bear, mountain lion, OTC archery deer — online only from fall 2026 |
AZGFD reserves a maximum of 20% of the hunt permit-tags in each hunt number — for bear, deer, elk, javelina, pronghorn, sandhill crane and turkey — to issue to applicants who hold bonus points. The other 80% goes to a random draw everyone shares. For bighorn sheep and bison it's 20% of all hunt numbers combined statewide.
For any hunt number with fewer than five but more than one permit, the Department reserves one tag for the bonus-point pass. So even a 3-permit premium hunt has a max-point lane — and two random lanes.
No more than 10% (rounded down) of the hunt permit-tags in any hunt number may go to nonresidents for antlerless deer, antlerless elk, antlered deer, any deer, any elk, bull elk, javelina, pronghorn, sandhill crane and turkey. If a hunt number for antlered deer, bull elk, pronghorn, crane or turkey has 10 or fewer permits, nonresidents get exactly one — and if it has only one permit, that tag is resident-only.
The Department may not issue more than half of the nonresident tags through the 20% bonus-point pass. So as a nonresident, a large share of your realistic chances sits in the random 80% — which is exactly why applying every year matters more here than stockpiling.
You get one permanent bonus point per genus, free, on first graduation from a Department-sanctioned Arizona Hunter Education course (after Jan 1, 1980) or the Arizona Conservation Education course (after Jan 1, 2021). Course paperwork must reach the Department at least 30 days before the application deadline to count in that draw.
Submit a valid application — for a tag or a bonus point — at least once a year for five consecutive years for a genus and you accrue a loyalty bonus point for it. You keep it as long as you keep applying annually with sufficient funds. Break the streak and it goes.
Each Commission Order has a bonus point hunt number (elk 3000, deer 1000). Apply for it and you get the point without any chance of a tag — it costs only the license fee plus the application fee. You must be 10 years old by the deadline, and you cannot also submit another application for that genus — doing so gets both rejected as duplicates.
Bonus points across a group are averaged, and an average of .5 or higher rounds up. But it's all-or-nothing in a harder sense than most states: if any applicant in the group is rejected for any reason, everyone in the group is rejected and no bonus points are awarded. And no tags are issued to anyone in a group unless there are enough permits for all of them.
$10 per species, or $25 for three consecutive draw cycles. If you draw and then have to surrender the tag, PointGuard restores the bonus points you spent. It must be purchased with the application.
No person — including youth — may submit more than one valid application per genus of wildlife in any calendar year. You can put a general hunt first and a different weapon type for the same genus as a later choice on the same application, as long as they're in the same numerical series.
The Department will not transfer bonus points between persons or between genera. Elk points can't become deer points, and you can't inherit or gift them. Unsuccessful valid applications earn a point; leftover first-come tags do not.
AZGFD charges the tag fee at draw time using the card on file. If your payment is declined at the time of the draw, your application will not be drawn — points and all. Keep the card current, and warn your bank if you've used it on several applications.
Arizona produces the largest bulls in North America with real consistency — the Unit 1, 3A/3C, 9, 10, 23 and 5A/5B country is why people build points for a decade. What most out-of-state hunters miss is that the state also sells elk tags over the counter, in designated hunt areas, on some of the strangest and longest seasons anywhere.
These don't look like elk seasons anywhere else. Bull elk, April 1 – July 31 in St. Johns, Winslow-Holbrook, Zeniff, Dry Lake and Verde Valley. Any elk, January 1 – December 31 in Units 12A/12B/13A/13B. Antlerless, Sept 25 – Nov 26 in Dry Lake and Zeniff. Any elk, Nov 20 – Dec 31 in Units 28, 31 and 32. They exist to manage elk in agricultural and urban-interface country, so every single one carries special restrictions attached to a note number — access, land status, weapon or reporting conditions. Read the note before you buy the tag, not after.
Arizona's structure argues against pure hoarding. Because only 20% of each hunt number goes to the bonus pass and no more than half the nonresident tags can come out of it, most of a nonresident's realistic chances live in the random 80% — which you're only in if you apply. Add the two free-ish points (permanent from hunter education, loyalty after five consecutive years) and the sensible play is: apply every single year, never break the streak, and buy PointGuard so a surrendered tag doesn't cost you the pile.
Arizona holds desert mule deer across the north and west and Coues whitetail through the southeastern sky islands — and it's the best Coues state there is. The rifle hunts are drawn and short. But the archery deer nonpermit-tag is sold over the counter every year, which makes Arizona one of the few places a nonresident can plan an annual deer hunt with no draw at all.
Most southern units publish separate rows and separate harvest limits for antlered mule deer and antlered whitetail deer on the same archery season — so a unit can be closed for one and open for the other. Coues country is roughly Units 29, 30A/30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 35A/35B, 36A/36B/36C; the mule deer units run north and west through the Kaibab (12A/12B), the Arizona Strip (13A/13B), and Units 6A/6B, 8, 10 and 21. The January archery season sits in the Coues rut and is the single best reason to buy that OTC tag.
Arizona is deep in federal land — six national forests, huge BLM holdings and five BLM national monuments that are open to hunting. The two things that catch out-of-state hunters are tribal land, which is not under state jurisdiction at all, and the trail camera rule, which makes a lot of ordinary e-scouting illegal here.
| Access type | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| National Forest | Kaibab, Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves, Tonto, Prescott and Coronado. | Generally open to hunting — check with the local office for current conditions and prescribed-fire closures. Motorized big game retrieval is restricted; all national forests are under travel management. |
| BLM & national monuments | Open | Generally open to hunting, including Grand Canyon-Parashant, Vermilion Cliffs, Sonoran Desert, Ironwood Forest and Agua Fria national monuments. The San Pedro Riparian NCA (Units 30B, 34B, 35A) has special restrictions. |
| Tribal land | Reservation land inside a management unit. | Not under Arizona Game and Fish jurisdiction. Your state tag does not authorize hunting there — you need the tribe's own permission and permits. Several units contain large reservation blocks. |
| State Trust Land | Boundaries are delineated by signs; some older signage is still posted. | AZGFD's instruction is simple: all state trust land signage should be followed by hunters, anglers and trappers. |
| Trail cameras | Prohibited | Under R12-4-303.A.5 you may not use trail camera images, video or data to take or locate wildlife — and AZGFD states that scouting prior to a hunt falls under "take." This is stricter than most states. |
| Maricopa County Parks | Some county park land is open to hunting. | Firearms and arrows are prohibited in Cave Creek Recreation Area. Contact the Parks Department before planning a hunt on county ground. |
If the February elk deadline, the 10% cap or the small hunt numbers don't fit your plan, here's where else to look. Switch panels with the dropdown up top.
The other giant-bull state — pure random with no points at all, one March deadline, plus E-PLUS landowner tags that skip the draw entirely. → Open the New Mexico panel
Bonus points squared into extra lottery tickets, ~10% nonresident quota, and a 7-season lockout if you draw antlered elk. 80% public land. → Open the Nevada panel
Squared bonus points for limited-entry, preference points for general deer, and OTC general-season elk you can hunt while you build. → Open the Utah panel
True preference points — a queue instead of a lottery — and the most OTC and limited elk opportunity in the West, with NR caps of 25%/20%. → Open the Colorado panel
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