Do You Need an Idaho Hunting License to Apply for the Super Hunt?

No, you do not need an Idaho hunting license to enter the Idaho Super Hunt drawing. Both residents and nonresidents can purchase Super Hunt entries without first buying an Idaho hunting license. However, if you win, you must be eligible to obtain and purchase a valid Idaho hunting license before hunting. The Super Hunt tag itself is provided at no charge to the winner.

Idaho's Super Hunt is separate from the state's normal controlled hunt system and gives hunters a chance to win highly flexible tags for deer, elk, pronghorn, or moose. Winners can hunt their species in any open general or controlled hunt in Idaho, provided they follow the dates, weapon restrictions, and other rules of the hunt they choose.

What Is Idaho's Super Hunt?

The Idaho Super Hunt is a special drawing operated by Idaho Fish and Game. Each year, 34 hunters receive Super Hunt opportunities through two drawings.

Super Hunt tags are available for deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. Idaho also offers a Super Hunt Combo, which gives the winner one tag for each of the four species.

Unlike a normal controlled hunt tag tied to a particular hunt number, a Super Hunt winner can hunt any open hunt in Idaho for the species they drew, including both general and controlled hunts. For example, an elk Super Hunt winner could choose among open Idaho elk hunts and hunt according to each hunt's season dates, boundaries, and weapon restrictions.

Do You Need an Idaho Hunting License to Enter?

Idaho Fish and Game specifically states that no hunting license is required to enter a Super Hunt or Super Hunt Combo drawing, whether you are an Idaho resident or nonresident. A hunting license becomes necessary if you actually win and intend to hunt.

This makes the Super Hunt particularly attractive to nonresidents who want a chance at an Idaho tag without first purchasing a nonresident hunting license simply to enter the drawing. Hunters interested in Idaho can also use TAGZ to research Idaho hunting opportunities and compare draw information as part of a broader Western hunting strategy.

How Much Does the Idaho Super Hunt Cost?

For 2026, individual deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose entries cost $6 each. The Super Hunt Combo costs $20 per entry. There is no limit on the number of entries an individual can purchase.

That means a hunter can buy multiple elk entries, multiple deer entries, multiple Combo entries, or any combination they choose. Online and telephone transactions may include additional processing fees.

Idaho Super Hunt Deadlines

Idaho conducts two separate Super Hunt drawings each year. The entry deadline for the first drawing is May 31. The first drawing awards eight deer tags, eight elk tags, eight pronghorn tags, one moose tag, and one Super Hunt Combo. Winners are selected in June.

The entry deadline for the second drawing is August 10. The second drawing awards two deer tags, two elk tags, two pronghorn tags, one moose tag, and one Super Hunt Combo. Winners are selected in August.

An important detail is that entries from the first drawing do not carry over into the second drawing. Hunters who want another chance must purchase new entries for the August drawing. Always verify current deadlines and regulations through the official Idaho Fish and Game Super Hunt page before entering.

How Does the Idaho Super Hunt Drawing Work?

The Super Hunt is a random drawing. Idaho does not use preference points or bonus points for its Super Hunt, and Idaho's regular controlled hunt system also does not operate on a preference-point or bonus-point accumulation system.

For the Super Hunt, purchasing more entries gives you more chances in the drawing. There is no advantage based on how many years you have entered. A hunter entering for the first time can win just like someone who has entered for many years.

Where Can You Hunt If You Win?

This is what makes an Idaho Super Hunt tag so valuable. A winner can hunt any open hunt in Idaho for the species they drew, including general and controlled hunts. You do not select a particular unit or hunt when purchasing your Super Hunt entry.

Instead, after winning, you can decide where you want to hunt based on Idaho's open seasons. You still have to follow the regulations of whichever hunt you participate in. For example, if a particular hunt is muzzleloader-only, a Super Hunt winner participating in that hunt must follow the muzzleloader restrictions. This flexibility allows winners to research Idaho's units and potentially target some of the state's most desirable hunting opportunities.

Do You Have to Buy the Tag After Winning?

The Super Hunt tag itself is provided at no charge. However, Idaho Fish and Game requires a successful applicant to purchase the appropriate Idaho hunting license before hunting. This is an important distinction: you don't need a hunting license to enter the Super Hunt, but you do need the required hunting license if you win and hunt.

Can Nonresidents Enter the Idaho Super Hunt?

Yes, nonresidents can enter the Idaho Super Hunt, and they do not need to purchase a nonresident Idaho hunting license before entering. Idaho Fish and Game states that anyone can enter the drawings, although a successful applicant must be eligible to obtain a valid Idaho hunting license. This makes the Super Hunt one of the more accessible ways for an out-of-state hunter to take a chance on an exceptional Idaho hunting opportunity.

Does a Super Hunt Tag Replace Your Regular Idaho Tag?

No, Super Hunt tags are in addition to general or controlled hunt tags a hunter may already hold. If you draw a normal Idaho controlled hunt and later win a Super Hunt tag, you do not have to surrender your controlled hunt tag simply because you won the Super Hunt. Idaho Fish and Game describes the Super Hunt as an additional opportunity to harvest an animal. This also applies to moose.

Does a Super Hunt Moose Tag Count Against Idaho's Lifetime Moose Limit?

No, Idaho Fish and Game specifically states that a Super Hunt or Super Hunt Combo moose tag is over and above other limits and does not count against Idaho's lifetime moose limit. That makes the moose Super Hunt particularly valuable for hunters interested in Idaho's limited moose opportunities.

What Species Are Available in the Idaho Super Hunt?

The Idaho Super Hunt includes four species. An elk Super Hunt winner can participate in any open Idaho elk hunt, including eligible controlled hunts and general seasons. The deer Super Hunt provides the same flexibility across Idaho's open deer hunts. Pronghorn winners can hunt any open pronghorn hunt while following the applicable season and weapon restrictions.

The moose Super Hunt is particularly difficult to win because only one moose winner is selected in each of the two annual drawings. The ultimate prize is the Super Hunt Combo, which gives a winner opportunities for all four species: deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose. Idaho awards one Combo in the first drawing and another in the second drawing.

What Are the Odds of Winning an Idaho Super Hunt?

The odds depend on the species, drawing, and total number of entries purchased. Because hunters can purchase unlimited entries, the totals represent entries rather than individual hunters. Hunters can review Idaho Super Hunt drawing statistics and historical odds through Idaho Fish and Game. Historical Super Hunt statistics can be useful when deciding which species or drawing you want to target, but previous results do not guarantee future odds.

Idaho Super Hunt Strategy

There is no point system or guaranteed strategy for winning the Idaho Super Hunt because the drawing is random. The primary way to increase your chances is simply to purchase additional entries. Hunters should also compare historical entry totals between species and between the first and second drawings.

For example, a hunter primarily interested in getting an opportunity to hunt Idaho rather than pursuing one specific species might compare the number of entries per available tag for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, and the Combo. Remember that past entry numbers do not guarantee future odds because the number of entries changes every year. For broader Idaho hunt planning, TAGZ can help hunters research units and compare Idaho hunting opportunities alongside other Western states.

Super Hunt vs. Idaho Controlled Hunts

The Super Hunt and Idaho's regular controlled hunt system are very different. No hunting license is required to enter the Super Hunt, whereas a valid hunting license is generally required to apply for controlled hunts. Single-species Super Hunt entries cost $6, and the four-species Combo costs $20, while controlled hunt application fees apply under the regular system. The Super Hunt allows unlimited entries, whereas controlled-hunt application rules apply. Both use random drawings, and neither uses preference points or bonus points.

A Super Hunt winner can hunt any open hunt for that species, whereas a controlled hunt tag is generally tied to the hunt drawn. The Super Hunt tag is provided at no charge, while normal tag and license requirements apply to controlled hunts. One of the most important things for hunters to understand is that Idaho does not have a traditional preference-point or bonus-point system for its controlled big-game draws, so you aren't building points in Idaho from year to year like you would in states such as Colorado or Wyoming.

Can You Apply for a Controlled Hunt and the Super Hunt?

Yes, Super Hunt opportunities are separate from Idaho's normal controlled hunt drawings. A hunter can participate in the Super Hunt while also pursuing other Idaho hunting opportunities for which they are eligible. Winning a Super Hunt tag does not automatically force you to surrender a controlled hunt tag you already drew.

Hunters can continue researching Idaho opportunities and other Western states by exploring the Idaho Super Hunt FAQ, the Idaho elk Super Hunt guide, the Idaho mule deer Super Hunt overview, and the Idaho moose Super Hunt breakdown. TAGZ also helps hunters build a multi-state Western hunting strategy by comparing draw data, researching units, and simplifying hunt planning.

FAQ — Idaho Super Hunt

Do I need an Idaho hunting license to enter the Super Hunt? No. Idaho Fish and Game does not require residents or nonresidents to purchase a hunting license before entering a Super Hunt drawing.

Do I need an Idaho hunting license if I win? Yes. A successful applicant must be eligible to obtain and purchase a valid Idaho hunting license before hunting.

Do I have to pay for the Super Hunt tag if I win? No. Idaho Fish and Game states that the Super Hunt tag is provided at no charge, although you still need the appropriate hunting license.

Can nonresidents enter the Idaho Super Hunt? Yes. Nonresidents can enter without first purchasing an Idaho hunting license.

How much is an Idaho Super Hunt entry? For 2026, individual deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose entries cost $6 each, while Super Hunt Combo entries cost $20 each.

How many Idaho Super Hunt entries can I buy? There is no limit. Hunters can purchase as many entries as they want.