Sale Date Changes For 2024

Available Tag Numbers

Tips for Picking Up A Tag

Researching for elk units in Idaho on GOHUNT's Filtering

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General Tag List And Zone/Unit Limits

Idaho's June 27 returned nonresident general season tag list

We are now at the second round of Idaho's returned nonresident general season sold-out deer and elk tags.

If you've asked yourself... "I didn't draw a tag. Now what?" Well... this is your chance to hunt this fall!

On the June 27 return sale date in Idaho at 10:00 am MT, there are some tags available.

Note: This is only for the general season tags and has nothing to do with controlled hunts.

New for 2024, Idaho has gone away from their typical returned tag sale dates, and they have condensed them. This year, there are only five total sale dates.

The list of available tags for that period will be made available two days before the sale opens at 10:00 a.m. These tags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and they will sell out quickly!

Below is a list of the remaining returned tag available dates:

Tags on this list are ones that were returned back to Idaho through refunds, exchanges, etc., and then are made available for sale during a scheduled Returned Tag Sale.

Returned tags are sold online at GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, in person at any Idaho Fish and Game regional office or license vendor locations, and over the phone at 1-800-554-8685, beginning at 10 a.m. mountain time.

The following types of tags are available during this tag sale:

All tags below include all non-resident outfitted and not outfitted. * The asterisk below includes reserved whitetail deer tags that are made available after the initial statewide quota has sold out.

Here is a quick summary of this returned tag process:

Research on GOHUNT

You've probably heard me say it a hundred times, but in my opinion, it is very essential to prepare ahead of time for these tag sale dates because, most likely, the same long wait times that everyone experiences will happen again. Do keep in mind that certain units and zones will sell out quickly. Because of this fact, I like to have a plan in place of at least five to 10 units that I have already researched, that I'd be happy to pick up a tag for. That way, I have options if the unit or zone I'm looking at sells out, and I don't have to panic since I have a backup plan.

If you're curious about what areas of the state each Idaho elk zone is located in, you can also find that in Filtering. Once you're in Filtering, select Idaho > Species: Elk > and then at the top, tap on "Zone Profiles." A tab will open up, allowing you to scroll through the list to see the elk zones mapped out. You can then click on a zone to pull up a short "Zone Profile" to really see what units are included in each zone.

Elk hunting in Idaho is managed in 28 elk zones with a two-tag system in most zones - A tag & B tag. Hunters may select one elk zone and choose either an A tag or a B tag, depending on leftovers. In general, A tags provide more opportunities for muzzleloader and archery hunters, and B tags provide more opportunities for rifle hunters.

Before the June 27 sale date, it's a great idea to do some research ahead of time on both Filtering and GOHUNT Maps to see what units you might be interested in. Jump over to several of our hunting research tools below:

Tags listed below were up-to-date as of June 25, 2024 at 2:35 p.m. MT on Idaho's returned tag page.

Note: Nonresidents only. Elk tags can not exceed 153 total across the zone limits listed above.

Note: Nonresidents only. Regular deer tags can not exceed 95 total across the unit limits listed above.

Note: Nonresidents only. Whitetail tags can not exceed 243 total across the unit limits listed above.

You can visit Idaho's nonresident deer and elk returned tag page to see the quotas and unit/zone limits ahead of time.

• Access that link here.

• Idaho nonresident deer tags are on a unit basis, and elk are zones of units.

• Online users, only one deer tag and one elk tag may be purchased for the person that is logged in once you get through the waiting room.

If purchasing online, you will need to sit in the virtual waiting room on Idaho's website.

• You can access the waiting room here.

Jump in and get in the waiting room/line on GO Outdoors Idaho licensing page roughly 30 minutes before 10 a.m.

The time you access the GO Outdoors Idaho licensing page prior to 10 a.m. MT doesn't matter, just make sure you jump in before 10 a.m.

• For example, if you jump in 30 minutes early, it doesn't mean you will get a better random number than someone who accesses the licensing page at 9:45 a.m.

• Note, once you get through the waiting room, each hunter will need to log into their customer account to purchase a tag, and the ability to purchase tags for multiple customers under one account is not currently available.

At 10 a.m., everyone who was in the pre-sale waiting room will get randomly assigned a number.

• If you access the GO Outdoors Idaho licensing page after 10 a.m., you'll be placed at the end of the line.

Then, you will move on with a random number, and another countdown will begin.

• You’ll now be able to see your number in line, the number of users in line ahead of you, and your estimated wait time.

Once your time in the waiting room is over, the screen will move you to the licensing page.

Login to your GO Outdoors Idaho account

• Then click on "Buy a License, Permits, or Tags" which is in the upper-left portion of the main Idaho license purchase home page.

• Then select the species you want to purchase a tag for and the unit/zone.

From here, you can see the real-time number of available deer and elk tags and, if available still, purchase one.

• If this system doesn't show you any tags, sometimes I find it helpful to go back to my GO Outdoors Idaho licensing account (don't go all the way outside of your account) and then jump back into the purchase tag section to see if there are tags available. This will clear a potential bug you might experience.

• If you don't currently have a hunting license, you will be prompted to add one to your cart.

Note: No group apps are allowed for the general season elk and deer tag sales.

If you want to buy tags for another person online, you'll have to return to the virtual line and start over.