9 March Idaho OTC Deer Tags: A Finite Resource March 9, 2020By George McQuiston (blog) Announcements, General Information Archery Hunts, Elk Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts, Mule Deer Hunts, OTC Tags, Over-the-counter Tags 0 Idaho has some great opportunities for hunting trophy mule deer with OTC tags on public land—as good as or better than anywhere in the West. General, OTC, any-weapon deer tags are valid in any game unit in the state which is not limited to controlled-hunt tags only. This includes the general deer seasons in Units 27 and 28 where Wild Idaho Outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters operate.Although a general, any-weapon deer tag is valid over much of the state, the dates of opening day and the length of the season fluctuate from one game unit to the next. Roughly speaking, you can hunt mule deer somewhere in Idaho with an OTC, any-weapon tag from September 15th to October 31st. There are also OTC, any-weapon whitetail-only deer tags for the northern game units, which extend deer season into December. Unit 27 general deer season opens during the last stages of velvet on September 15th, and carries through to the beginning of the rut on October 31st, (a full 6 weeks). Unit 28 general deer season runs from October 10th to October 24th (2 full weeks). Idaho OTC deer tags are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, though nonresident tags are a finite resource, as they have a predetermined, state-wide quota. Resident tags do not have a cap. Nonresident, OTC deer tags that are not sold by August 1st may then be purchased as a “second deer tag” by residents or nonresidents, for the cost of a nonresident tag. As controlled-hunt tags in neighboring states become increasingly difficult to draw, the demand for Idaho OTC tags has been increasing also. Last year for example, there were still 1,000 nonresident OTC deer tags available when I arrived in Challis, Idaho the third week of August. As I had come to Challis to guide hunts, not to hunt myself, I hesitated to buy to one. When I returned to the vendor to purchase a tag 3 days later, they had already sold out. This year, Idaho Fish & Game expects nonresident OTC deer tags to sell out shortly after the leftover nonresident tags go on sale as “second-tags” the first of August, if not sooner. With the increasing demand for Idaho OTC tags, I would highly recommend keeping a close eye on the number of remaining tags available throughout the summer if you want to ensure an opportunity to hunt deer this fall. You can do this by clicking on this link: https://idfg.idaho.gov/tag/quotas-nonresidentIdaho also offers some OTC archery-only deer tags, although the selection is somewhat limited compared to some Western states. Worthy of mention is a Unit 28 archery-only deer season that runs the entire month of December. As far as I know this is a mostly untapped resource, waiting for serious bow hunters to explore. There are also archery-only deer seasons in the month of September for Units 36A, 36B, and 37, which border the Challis area. Good hunting,Joe Cavanaugh Related Posts Spot Available for Late Season Idaho Mule Deer Hunt in the Rut Putting in for draw hunts in multiple states, at first glance, seems like it would increase your odds of drawing a tag…and you would be right…BUT it also increases your chances at drawing the potentially unwanted scenario of drawing 2 tags in 2 states and being married to a woman who only allows 1 hunt per year An Idaho Elk Hunt to Remember This is a “short” story about a hunter/client/friend of ours who is part of a group of guys we affectionately call the “Cali boys”. His name is Bill Bunch and someone in his group has hunted with us consistently for 11 straight seasons. He is one of those guys that in my opinion is a true sportsman. Let me explain. 10 Reasons Why Idaho is THE Best Place to Hunt in the West in 2014 1. Tags…Idaho has tags 2. Game…Idaho has always, and is doing even more so now, producing good QUALITY elk, deer and bear, and now we can even hunt wolves. Idaho Controlled-Hunt Application Period Now Open for Elk, Deer, Antelope, and Fall Bear The tag application period in Idaho for controlled-hunt elk, deer, pronghorn, and fall bear tags runs from May 1 to June 5. Successful applicants will be notified by July 10, and tags must be purchased by August 1. Tags not purchased by August 1 will be forfeited to a second application period, which runs from August 5 to August 15. New Idaho Youth Deer Hunting Opportunity Because of some recent changes in antlerless deer tags allowed in our area and recent Idaho laws changed involving private lands, Idaho and specifically Wild Idaho Outfitters is able to offer a new and unique youth deer hunting opportunity. Idaho OTC Elk Tags: Hurry or Be Left Out There is no other state in the Western US comparable to Idaho when it comes to providing you the opportunity to go elk hunting every year, using OTC (over-the-counter) tags. However, as controlled-hunt tags in neighboring states become increasingly difficult to draw, the demand for Idaho OTC tags has been increasing also. An example of this is the nonresident Salmon B elk tags, which sold out this year in just 3 days (Dec. 1–3, 2019), and resident tags sold out within a week of that. Comment (0) Comments are closed.