Idaho offers two very different deer hunts. The north, from the Panhandle down through the Clearwater, is thick timber and farm country with strong whitetail numbers and long seasons. Central and southern Idaho are mule deer country, from sagebrush foothills to high, rugged backcountry. Licenses are affordable, there are no points to build, and you can often hunt deer and elk on the same trip.
The big change: starting with 2026, nonresident general deer tags are issued through a December drawing instead of first-come sales.
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Idaho deer hunting at a glance
| Where to apply | Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG), through GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, license vendors, or IDFG offices |
| Nonresident general tag drawing (2027 season) | December 5–15, 2026; results early January 2027 |
| Tag purchase deadline | January 20, 2027 |
| Second round | February 5–15, 2027 |
| Controlled hunt applications | May 1 – June 5 (2026) |
| Nonresident costs | $185 hunting license + $10 access/depredation fee + $351.75 deer tag |
| Resident costs | $15.75 hunting license + $5 access/depredation fee + $24.75 deer tag |
| Nonresident deer tag quota | 15,500 regular and white-tailed deer tags combined |
| 2026 seasons | Archery from August 30 in many units; many any-weapon seasons open October 10 |
Fees and dates are from IDFG. Season dates are for 2026.
Mule deer or whitetail?
Idaho sells two kinds of general deer tags at the same price:
- Regular deer tag: Good for mule deer and whitetails, within each unit’s season rules. Many any-weapon seasons on this tag are antlered-only.
- White-tailed deer tag: Good for whitetails only, usually with longer seasons and often either sex.
You can hold only one general deer tag (aside from any second tag bought in August), so pick the one that fits your hunt.
Step 1: Pick your unit and tag
Deer seasons in Idaho are set unit by unit. Nonresidents choose specific units on their drawing application, so know where you want to hunt first.
Learn how Idaho general deer tags work
Step 2: Apply in December
Buy a nonresident hunting license, then apply December 5–15 with up to five choices. Groups of up to four can apply together. There are no points.
Read our step-by-step guide to Idaho’s deer draws
Step 3: Pick your season
Archery seasons in many units run August 30 – September 30. Many any-weapon mule deer seasons open October 10 and run two to three weeks. Some whitetail seasons run into November and December.
See 2026 Idaho deer season dates
Step 4: Budget for it
A nonresident pays about $565 for a hunting license, access/depredation fee, application fee, and deer tag. DIY trips usually run $1,300 to $4,150. Guided deer hunts commonly run $5,500 to $7,000, with trophy hunts much higher.
Break down the cost of an Idaho deer hunt
Step 5: Guided or DIY?
Idaho has a lot of public land and no guide requirements. Mule deer in the backcountry and whitetails in north Idaho’s timber both reward hunters who scout.
Compare guided and DIY deer hunts
Requirements every hunter needs
- Hunter education for hunters born after 1974, on file with IDFG.
- Archery permit for archery-only seasons ($81.75 nonresident), plus archery education.
- Muzzleloader permit for muzzleloader-only seasons ($81.75 nonresident).
- Antler rules. In antlered-only seasons, deer must have at least one antler longer than 3 inches, and antlers must stay with the carcass in transit.
- Motorized Hunting Rule in many units.
- Landowner permission for private land.
Find an Idaho deer outfitter
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See Idaho mule deer and whitetail outfitters
Also see discount guided hunts, self-guided and DIY hunts, and hunting leases.
Hunting elk too? See our Idaho elk hunting guide.