Idaho Super Hunt for Nonresidents 2027: Odds & Cost

Yes, nonresidents can enter Idaho's Super Hunt drawings. You don't need to live in Idaho, and you don't need to purchase an Idaho nonresident hunting license simply to apply. That makes Super Hunt one of the easiest ways for an out-of-state hunter to add another Idaho opportunity to a broader Western application strategy without the upfront cost of a license.

Instead of purchasing a hunting license and applying for a specific controlled hunt, you simply buy Super Hunt entries for the species you want to hunt. Idaho currently places no limit on how many entries an individual can purchase, which means you can buy as many chances as your budget allows for deer, elk, pronghorn, or moose.

What Is the Idaho Super Hunt?

The Idaho Super Hunt is a special drawing administered by Idaho Fish and Game. Hunters purchase entries for four big-game species: deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. There is also a separate Four-Species Super Hunt Combo, where the winner receives an opportunity for all four species.

Unlike a normal controlled-hunt application, you don't choose a specific unit or controlled-hunt number when purchasing a Super Hunt entry. You enter for the species. If you win, you decide where to hunt afterward based on any open Idaho general or controlled hunt for that species.

What Can a Super Hunt Winner Hunt?

A Super Hunt winner can participate in any open Idaho general or controlled hunt for the species drawn. That's what makes these tags so valuable. For example, an Elk Super Hunt winner isn't locked into one elk zone or one controlled-hunt number; the winner can research Idaho's open elk opportunities and decide where to use the tag. The same concept applies to deer, pronghorn, and moose.

But there is an important limitation: all other rules of the individual hunt still apply. Winning Super Hunt doesn't eliminate Idaho's season dates, weapon restrictions, hunt boundaries, or other regulations. You still need to comply with those requirements for whichever hunt you participate in.

Do Nonresidents Need an Idaho Hunting License to Enter?

No. Idaho Fish and Game currently states that no hunting license is required to enter a Super Hunt drawing for either residents or nonresidents. That's a major difference from Idaho's standard controlled-hunt process. It means a hunter from New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Texas, or any other state can purchase Super Hunt entries without first buying an Idaho nonresident hunting license simply to enter.

If you win, you'll still need to satisfy the applicable licensing and hunting requirements before going into the field. But the barrier to entry is much lower than for many other Western states' special drawings or controlled-hunt systems.

How Much Does Idaho Super Hunt Cost for Nonresidents?

Under Idaho's current fee structure, each species entry costs $6. That includes deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. The Four-Species Super Hunt Combo costs $20 per entry. The basic Super Hunt entry price isn't higher simply because you're a nonresident.

Additional processing fees can apply to online and telephone transactions. Verify final 2027 pricing before entering, but the low entry cost is one of the reasons Super Hunt remains attractive to out-of-state hunters.

Is There a Limit on Super Hunt Entries?

No. Idaho Fish and Game currently places no limit on the number of Super Hunt entries an individual can purchase. If you want to enter the elk drawing once, you can purchase one entry. If you want additional chances, you can purchase additional entries. The same applies to deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, and the Super Hunt Combo.

Each additional entry gives you another entry in that drawing. However, more entries don't make a difficult drawing easy. Historical odds remain extremely low across all species, and buying multiple entries is simply a way to increase your chances proportionally.

What Species Are Included in Idaho Super Hunt?

There are four Super Hunt species: deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. Super Hunt does not include bighorn sheep or mountain goat. Hunters interested in those species need to research Idaho's regular controlled-hunt system. If you're looking for flexibility across multiple big-game species in Idaho, the Idaho Elk Super Hunt guide provides a detailed look at one of the most popular entries.

What Is the Idaho Super Hunt Combo?

The Super Hunt Combo is a separate entry option. The winner receives an opportunity to hunt all four Super Hunt species: deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. Under the current structure, Idaho awards one Combo in the first drawing and one Combo in the second drawing, for a total of two Combo winners annually.

How Many Idaho Super Hunt Tags Are Awarded?

Idaho currently awards 34 Super Hunt opportunities each year through two drawings. The first drawing awards eight deer tags, eight elk tags, eight pronghorn tags, one moose tag, and one Super Hunt Combo, for a total of 26 winners. The second drawing awards two deer tags, two elk tags, two pronghorn tags, one moose tag, and one Super Hunt Combo, for a total of eight winners. Combined, that's 34 Super Hunt winners per year.

Idaho Super Hunt Deadlines

Idaho currently conducts two drawings. Entries for the first drawing must be received by May 31, and winners are drawn in June. Entries for the second drawing must be received by August 10, and winners are drawn in August.

One important detail: entries from the first drawing do not carry into the second drawing. If you want to participate in the second drawing, you need to purchase entries for that drawing. Hunters planning for 2027 should verify the official schedule before entering.

Idaho Super Hunt Odds

Super Hunt odds depend on the number of available tags versus the number of entries. Because hunters can purchase multiple entries, these are best understood as per-entry historical odds, not necessarily per-hunter odds. Here's what happened in the first 2026 drawing.

In the first 2026 drawing, pronghorn had 11,778 entries for eight tags, giving approximate odds of 1 in 1,472 per entry, or about 0.068%. Elk had 21,030 entries for eight tags, giving approximate odds of 1 in 2,629 per entry, or about 0.038%. Deer had 51,173 entries for eight tags, giving approximate odds of 1 in 6,397 per entry, or about 0.016%. Moose had 25,986 entries for one tag, giving approximate odds of 1 in 25,986 per entry, or about 0.0038%. The Super Hunt Combo had 13,509 entries for one Combo, giving approximate odds of 1 in 13,509 per entry, or about 0.0074%.

These figures are based on Idaho Fish and Game's published 2026 results. They are historical odds, not predictions of 2027 results.

Second Drawing Odds

Idaho's second 2026 Super Hunt drawing had fewer total entries for most species, but the odds didn't necessarily improve across the board because the number of tags also dropped. Pronghorn had 4,862 entries for two tags, giving approximate odds of 1 in 2,431 per entry. Elk had 17,993 entries for two tags, giving approximate odds of 1 in 8,997 per entry. Deer had 12,627 entries for two tags, giving approximate odds of 1 in 6,314 per entry. Moose had 25,091 entries for one tag, giving approximate odds of 1 in 25,091 per entry. The Super Hunt Combo had 6,270 entries for one Combo, giving approximate odds of 1 in 6,270 per entry.

The second drawing isn't automatically easier. It depends on the species and the number of entries. For example, elk had fewer tags in the second 2026 drawing and remained highly competitive.

Do Nonresidents Have Different Super Hunt Odds?

Super Hunt isn't structured like Idaho's normal controlled-hunt allocation system. Residents and nonresidents are both eligible to purchase entries, and Idaho does not publish a separate nonresident Super Hunt quota. Your chance is therefore primarily driven by your number of entries relative to the total entries in that species drawing. That's one of the biggest differences between Super Hunt and Idaho's normal controlled hunts.

Do Nonresidents Compete Against Residents?

Yes. Super Hunt isn't a separate resident drawing and nonresident drawing; residents and nonresidents participate in the same Super Hunt opportunity. The 2026 results demonstrate that winners can come from outside Idaho.

Does Super Hunt Use Preference Points or Bonus Points?

No. There are no Idaho Super Hunt preference points or bonus points. You don't gain a point when you lose, you don't build toward a guaranteed tag, and someone who has entered for ten years doesn't automatically receive priority over someone entering for the first time. Instead, hunters purchase individual entries, and each entry gives you another chance in that drawing. Those entries don't create a permanent point balance for future years.

For more context on how different Western states use points, see Bonus Points vs Preference Points.

Does Idaho's Regular Controlled-Hunt System Use Points?

No. Idaho's normal controlled-hunt system also doesn't use preference or bonus points. However, don't confuse the two systems. Idaho Controlled Hunts require hunters to apply for specific controlled hunts with limited quotas and potential resident/nonresident allocation restrictions. Idaho Super Hunt requires hunters to purchase species-level entries with no hunting license required simply to enter, unlimited entries currently allowed, and highly flexible tags for winners. They're separate systems.

Can You Enter Super Hunt and Apply for Controlled Hunts?

Yes. Super Hunt is an additional opportunity. You can purchase Super Hunt entries while also participating in Idaho's standard application system when eligible. Winning a Super Hunt tag doesn't automatically replace a general or controlled-hunt tag you already hold; under Idaho's current rules, Super Hunt tags are considered additional tags. To learn more about how Super Hunt fits into Idaho's broader application system, read Can You Still Apply for Other Idaho Hunts If You Enter the Super Hunt?.

Does a Super Hunt Tag Give You Private-Land Access?

No. This is an important limitation. A Super Hunt tag gives you tremendous flexibility in choosing an open hunt, but it does not automatically give you permission to enter private property. If the hunt area includes private land, you still need legal access or landowner permission where required. Super Hunt proceeds help support Idaho hunting-access programs, but winning the tag itself isn't blanket private-land authorization.

Can You Hunt Multiple Open Hunts?

A Super Hunt winner isn't necessarily locked into a single hunt area. Under Idaho's current rules, the winner can participate in legal open hunts for the species until the tag is filled. That flexibility can allow a winner to adjust strategy based on season dates, animal movement, weather, hunting pressure, access, scouting, and travel schedule. You still need to comply with the rules of each hunt you participate in.

Does the Tag Override Weapon Restrictions?

No. If the hunt you're participating in is muzzleloader-only, you still need to follow the applicable muzzleloader rules. The same principle applies to other weapon-specific hunts. The Super Hunt tag provides access to open opportunities; it doesn't rewrite the regulations governing those hunts.

Super Hunt Strategy for Nonresidents

The strategy is relatively straightforward because there are no points. Choose species you would actually hunt; don't enter blindly. Ask yourself whether you could realistically travel to Idaho and hunt the species if you won. Look at historical entry totals and compare multiple years, because entry pressure can change substantially. Compare both drawings; don't assume the second drawing always provides better odds, since the number of tags and entries changes by species.

Set an entry budget. Unlimited entries can make it tempting to keep buying, so decide what you're comfortable spending before you enter. Treat Super Hunt as an additional opportunity; historical odds can be extremely low, so don't build your entire Western hunting season around winning. Have a plan if you win; a Super Hunt tag creates enormous flexibility, so know where you'd start researching if your name gets drawn.

Using TAGZ If You Draw

Winning a Super Hunt tag changes the question. Before drawing, you're asking "Can I get the tag?" After drawing, you're asking "Where should I hunt?" Use TAGZ to research Western hunting opportunities and explore Idaho game units to compare Idaho hunting areas. Depending on the species, research units, hunt opportunities, season dates, terrain, public-land access, historical harvest, historical draw information, and weapon restrictions. Continue researching through TAGZ Insights for Idaho draw and hunting guides.

For a nonresident, Idaho Super Hunt is a relatively inexpensive way to add another Idaho opportunity without purchasing a hunting license simply to enter. But understand what you're buying: you're not buying preference points, you're not buying a guaranteed tag, you're buying entries in a highly competitive drawing. The current system gives nonresidents access to the same Super Hunt program as residents, no license requirement simply to enter, unlimited entries, four individual species drawings plus the Super Hunt Combo, and if you win, one of the most flexible hunting tags Idaho offers.

Always verify final 2027 Super Hunt deadlines, entry fees, tag allocations, licensing requirements, and regulations directly with Idaho Fish and Game before purchasing entries.

FAQ — Idaho Super Hunt for Nonresidents

Can nonresidents enter the Idaho Super Hunt? Yes. Idaho Super Hunt is open to residents and nonresidents.

Do nonresidents need an Idaho hunting license to enter? No. Under Idaho's current rules, no hunting license is required simply to purchase a Super Hunt entry.

How many Super Hunt entries can I buy? Idaho currently places no limit on the number of entries an individual can purchase.

Does Idaho Super Hunt use preference points or bonus points? No. There are no preference points or bonus points in the Super Hunt system.

Can I apply for a regular Idaho controlled hunt too? Yes. Super Hunt is separate from Idaho's regular controlled-hunt system, and under Idaho's current rules, Super Hunt tags are additional to general or controlled-hunt tags a hunter may already hold.

Can I hunt private property with a Super Hunt tag? Only if you otherwise have legal access or landowner permission where required; winning Super Hunt doesn't automatically provide private-property access.