Aug. 1 deadline to buy controlled hunt tags is fast approaching

All controlled hunt tags that are not purchased by the Aug. 1 deadline will be forfeited and offered in the second drawing.

The deadline to purchase controlled hunt tags is Aug. 1 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. 

It is the applicant’s responsibility to see if they drew a controlled hunt tag and to buy it by this deadline. All controlled hunt tags (except unlimited and January hunts) that are not purchased by the Aug. 1 deadline will be forfeited and offered in the second drawing. There are no exceptions. 

Hunters who applied for controlled hunt tags for deer, elk, pronghorn, fall black bear, and fall turkey can check their draw status through Fish and Game’s licensing system if they already have an account.

Hunters who already have a general season tag must return the general season tag to a Fish and Game office to exchange for the controlled hunt tag. Exchanges cannot be processed online, and tags mailed to an office must be received on or before Aug. 1.

Those without an online license system account can get step-by-step instructions on the Controlled Hunt Results webpage. Hunter can also check their results and buy tags at Fish and Game offices, at any license vendors, or by calling (800) 554-8685.

Sage Grouse and Sandhill Crane Tags are available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 10 a.m. MDT on Aug. 1

Sage-grouse

Sage-grouse tags will be available on Aug. 1. A total of 5,030 tags will be offered in 12 hunting zones across parts of southern Idaho. The sage-grouse general season runs Sept. 20 through Oct. 31, 2025 and the falconry season runs Aug. 15, 2025 through Mar. 15, 2026. Hunters can buy up to two tags and may buy a tag for more than one zone.

During its July 17 meeting in Coeur d’Alene, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the 2025 sage-grouse hunting seasons and tags. The number of sage-grouse tags for 2025 remained about the same as 2024. A video recap of the full commission meeting and the sage-grouse presentation is available on Fish and Game’s YouTube channel.

Available Tag List

An updated sage-grouse seasons and rules brochure, including number of tags available for each hunting zone, is available online at the sage-grouse seasons and rules webpage.

Statewide, sage-grouse lek counts remained about the same as 2024, with increases in some zones and decreases in others. Most sage-grouse populations show periodic increases and decreases in abundance in roughly 10-year cycles, and Idaho sage-grouse are currently in the upward portion of that cycle. The sage-grouse tag allocation is designed to limit harvest to no more than 10% of the fall population in each reporting zone.

To set tag numbers for each zone, Fish and Game staff first determine allowable harvest of 5% of the fall population index in each hunting zone, then apply a zone specific 3-year average harvest success rate (tags filled divided by tags sold) to calculate total tags offered. The fall population index is calculated based on spring counts of males on leks, estimates of lek attendance and male survival to fall, and average male-to-female and juvenile-to-adult female ratios derived from hunter harvested wings from prior seasons. 

Fish and Game officials expect to adjust tag numbers annually to maintain sustainable sage-grouse hunting opportunities in Idaho.

Important Dates 

AUGUST 2025

8/1 – DEADLINE to purchase controlled hunt tags (except unlimited and January hunts) (Learn more)

8/1 – ON SALE: Sage-grouse and sandhill crane tags at 10 a.m. MDT (Learn more)

8/5 – OPEN: Second application period for deer, elk, pronghorn, and fall bear controlled hunts (Learn more)

8/6 – ON SALE: Leftover early-season controlled hunt tags at 10 a.m. MDT

8/7 – ON SALE: Second tag and returned tag sale at 10 a.m. MDT 

8/10 – DEADLINE to apply for second Super Hunt drawing 

8/15 – CLOSED: Second application period for deer, elk, pronghorn, and fall bear controlled hunts

8/25 – ON SALE: Leftover controlled hunt tag sale at 10 a.m. MDT (if available)

8/30 – OPEN: General archery season for deer and elk in most of the state

8/30 – OPEN: Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare seasons; fall turkey season in most of Idaho; forest grouse season