Idaho Nonresident General Season Sale Trends by Year, Total Customers, and Sales Channel

Earlier today, GOHUNT's Head of Research, Brandon Evans, shared a great report with me. At Idaho Fish and Game’s November 16, 2023, commission meeting, they presented some interesting data around their December nonresident general season elk and deer tag sale date.

As you’ll see from the “Breakdown by sales channel” table, internet sales are highest because that is the easiest method for most nonresidents to get a tag, but there is a strategy to get a tag still if you have the ability to travel to Idaho to pick up a tag in person. You'll also see that trend increase in vendor, IDFG office, and telesales purchases over the years.

Learn tips and strategies for the December tag sale date here

Below Is the Information from Idaho Fish and Game:

You can access a PDF of this report here.

As a convenience for Idaho hunters and anglers, the Department has traditionally sold future license year items starting on December 1 of each year for both residents and nonresidents. This date is not mentioned in rule or statute but is advertised to the public in Commission proclamation.

Sales on this date have become brisk over the past few years as nonresident interest in Idaho deer and elk tags have increased. When the Commission approved limits on nonresident deer and elk tags by unit/zone for 2021, December 1 sales dramatically increased from selling out capped zones on that date to all tags being in high demand.

To attempt to meet the high demand and prevent the licensing system from crashing, a “waiting room” has been used to stage internet customers and put them into a line prior to entering the sales website. The inflow of customers from this line is monitored and can be adjusted based on system performance. However, system performance and customer experience during the sale has not met IDFG’s or the public’s expectations in prior years, and many hunters and IDFG staff have expressed frustration in how the sale has operated.

During the January 2023 meeting, staff presented options for how we should approach future high volume sales events like the December 1 nonresident tag sale. Based on direction provided at that meeting, IDFG has been working diligently with our third-party vendor to identify and correct issues within the system that were likely causing poor performance.

Idaho Also Released a Statement Today about Resident Fish and Game Licenses:

Sales of Idaho resident Fish and Game licenses, tags and permits will be temporarily unavailable on Dec. 1 due to anticipated high volumes of sales of nonresident deer and elk tags.

Residents needing a license, tag or permit should plan to buy them before or after Dec. 1. High demand for nonresident deer and elk tags has caused significant system slowness in prior years, and in an effort to streamline the Dec. 1 nonresident sale, resident items will be unavailable.

Fish and Game hopes that this will avoid any frustrations from resident buyers who would likely face long lines, and/or delays when attempting to buy during the sale.

Resident licenses, permits, and tag can be purchased online at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, through the Idaho Fish and Game mobile apps for IOS and Android, or by phone at (800) 554-8685. They can also be bought in person at license vendor locations, or Fish and Game regional offices during normal business hours before or after Dec. 1.

A reminder that most 2024 licenses, tags and permits will be available after Dec. 1, and resident deer and elk tags go on sale in July.

Fish and Game regrets any inconvenience this may cause resident customers, but appreciates the patience and understanding of our Idaho residents.

A link to this resident press release can be found here.