Every western state hands out its best elk and deer tags through a draw, but no two states run that draw the same way. Some reward the people who have waited longest. Some only improve your odds a little each year. A few ignore points entirely. Knowing which system you’re dealing with is the difference between a smart ten-year plan and a decade of wasted application fees.

This page puts all eleven western states plus Alaska side by side. Each state also has its own detailed page (linked in the table), and you can check real unit-by-unit odds with our draw odds tool.

The four kinds of draw

Preference points. The applicants with the most points draw first. If a hunt took 8 points last year and you have 8, you’re in good shape. It’s predictable, but the best hunts can take decades, and “point creep” pushes the line higher every year. Colorado, Wyoming (nonresidents), Oregon, California and Montana’s nonresident combination licenses work this way, usually with a slice of tags held back for a random draw.

Bonus points. Points buy you extra chances in a random draw instead of a place in line. You can draw with zero points, and you can miss with twenty. Arizona and Utah give one extra entry per point and reserve part of the tags for the top point holders.

Squared bonus points. Your points are squared, so the advantage grows quickly the longer you apply. Nevada, Montana’s permits and B licenses, and Washington’s special permits use squared points. Everything is random; nothing is reserved for max-point holders.

No points. Idaho, New Mexico and Alaska draw purely at random. Your odds are the same in year one as in year ten, so there’s no reason to “build” anything. Just apply where the odds are best.

State by state

State	System	Point cost (res / NR)	Nonresident share	You lose points if…
Colorado	Preference, with a hybrid random draw on the hardest hunts	Free in 2026 (application fee $8.93 / $11.49)	Up to 20% in hunts needing 6+ points, up to 25% below that	You draw your first choice, or go 10 straight years without applying
Wyoming	Nonresident preference (75%) plus random (25%); residents draw at random	Residents: none. NR $52 elk / $41 deer in 2026, $75 from Jan 1, 2027	Set by area; 40% of NR tags go to special-price applicants	You draw your first choice, or skip buying a point two years in a row
Montana	Squared bonus points for permits; NR preference points for combination licenses	Bonus point $15 / $25	Up to 10% of permits; NR general tags via combination quotas	Bonus: you draw your first choice. Preference: you draw or skip a combo drawing
Idaho	No points, pure random	None (application $6.25 / $18)	Generally up to 10% of controlled hunt tags	No points to lose; 1-year wait after an antlered-only hunt
New Mexico	No points, pure random	None (application $7 / $13)	6% to nonresidents, plus a 10% outfitter pool	No points to lose
Arizona	Bonus points; 20% of tags to top point holders	$13 / $15 per point	Up to 10% for bull elk and antlered deer	You draw, or skip 5 straight years
Utah	Bonus points for limited entry (50% to max points); preference points for general deer	$10 / $21	Set hunt by hunt (about 10% for limited-entry bull elk)	You draw a permit. Skipping years doesn’t cost points
Nevada	Squared bonus points, fully random	$10 / $10	About 10%	You draw, or skip two straight years
Oregon	Preference (75%) plus random (25%), first choice only	Point Saver; application $10	Up to 5% per hunt	You draw your first choice. Skipping years never costs points
Washington	Squared points, fully random, per permit category	Application $9.61 / $152.30	No separate quota	You draw in that category
California	Preference (90% deer, 75% elk) plus random	Deer $42.38 / $377.35 application; elk $8.38	Deer: none; elk: one nonresident tag per year statewide	You draw, or skip 5 straight years
Alaska	No points, pure random	None ($5 per hunt application; bison $10)	Hunt by hunt	No points to lose

Fees are for the 2026 draw and change often. Use them to compare states, then confirm in each state’s current regulations before you apply.

How to use this

Build points in two or three preference states. Colorado’s points are free in 2026, and Wyoming and Oregon points let you plan years ahead. Pick hunts you can realistically draw within your planning horizon.

Add one or two bonus states as long shots. Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Montana permits can pay off any year, and your odds improve every time you apply. Squared states reward sticking with it.

Apply every year in no-point states. Idaho, New Mexico and Alaska cost little to enter and give everyone the same shot, so they’re your best chance at a tag this season.

Don’t forget hunts that don’t need points. Over-the-counter and general tags, leftover lists, landowner tags and private-land hunts can put you in the field while your points grow. Our state guides cover these, and outfitters in our directory often hold landowner or private-land tags.

Related: State hunting guides · Draw odds tool · Colorado elk hunting · Wyoming elk hunting

Rules and fees are from each state’s wildlife agency for the 2026 draws. Confirm in the current regulations before you apply.