States That Use Hunting Draw Systems (And How They Actually Work)

The short answer — every state runs a draw, but not the same way

If you’re hunting out West, you’re dealing with a draw system. The process is similar everywhere, but how each state actually works is completely different. Some reward points, some are random, and some are shifting right now. That’s where people get caught off guard.

Most hunters jump into western draws thinking it’s all one system. Build points, apply, wait your turn.

That’s not how it works.

Every state runs things differently, and if you treat them the same, you’re going to make bad decisions. Some systems reward time. Some reward luck. Some mix both. And a few have changed enough recently that what used to work doesn’t anymore.

If you don’t adjust to that, you fall behind.

Colorado is one of the more straightforward ones. It’s mostly preference point based. You apply, don’t draw your first choice, and you build a point. Over time, you move up in line.

Simple—but not easy.

Point creep hits hard there, and if you’re not paying attention, you can think you’re close when you’re not. The upside is you can plan around it. There’s structure. Plus, Colorado gives you extra angles—secondary draws and leftover tags—which keep opportunity alive if you miss.

But it’s a state you have to keep up with. Things change.

Wyoming runs a similar system, but with a twist. Most tags go to the highest point holders, but a smaller portion are random. That gives you two paths—either you’ve got the points, or you get lucky.

But Wyoming also hits your wallet differently.

Non-residents have to front more money to apply, which changes how many states you can realistically play in. It’s not just about odds—it’s about how much you can commit each year.

Arizona is a different animal. Bonus points. No line. You’re building better odds over time, but nothing is guaranteed. Some tags go to max point holders, but most are still random.

And with nonresident caps, it tightens things even more.

You can be in that system for a long time and still not draw. That’s just part of it.

Utah splits things down the middle. Half the tags go to high point holders, half are random. So you’ve got structure and chance working together.

It gives everyone a shot—but points still matter if you’re thinking long term.

Nevada leans fully into bonus points, but with a twist. Your chances square as you build points, so your odds improve faster over time.

Still no guarantees though.

More chances doesn’t mean certainty—it just means better probability.

Then there’s Idaho, which changed things in a big way. It used to be one of the last places you could just log in and grab a tag as a nonresident.

That’s gone.

Now it’s a draw. Access is controlled. You’ve got to apply like everywhere else. But Idaho still doesn’t use points. It’s a straight random system.

That one change shifted how a lot of guys plan their hunts.

You can’t rely on it the way you used to—but you’re still always in the game.

New Mexico is similar in that sense. No points, no buildup. Every year is a clean slate. You apply, you either draw or you don’t.

That unpredictability is what makes it valuable.

You’re never stuck waiting.

Montana sits somewhere in the middle. It uses both preference and bonus points depending on what you’re applying for. Non-residents usually go through combination licenses, which raises cost but opens access.

It’s layered, but once you understand it, it’s manageable.

Other states follow familiar patterns. California and Oregon lean on preference points—slow build, long timelines. Washington uses bonus points, more chances over time but no guarantees.

Then you’ve got the Midwest and eastern states. Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas—mostly draw systems for non-residents. Limited, but still realistic in the right situations.

Eastern elk states like Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania—that’s a different game entirely. Very limited tags, fully random.

Those are lottery hunts, not something you build a plan around.

The biggest shift happening right now is access tightening. Idaho moving to a draw is the clearest example, but it’s not the only one. More states are controlling entry, limiting pressure, and changing how tags are issued.

At the same time, costs are shaping decisions more than they used to. Wyoming’s pay-to-apply structure is a good example. It forces you to be selective instead of applying everywhere.

That’s changing how people build their plans.

At the end of the day, every system falls into three categories. Preference points—where you’re in line. Bonus points—where your odds improve but nothing is guaranteed. Random—where everyone has a shot every year.

Idaho now sits in that random group, just without the old open access.

The smartest way to play this is spreading yourself across those systems. Use random states like Idaho and New Mexico to stay active every year. Build points in places like Wyoming and Colorado for future hunts.

That way one draw doesn’t decide your season.

Where most guys mess this up is not adjusting. They treat Idaho like it’s still OTC. They dump everything into point states and wait. Or they don’t understand how each system works and end up making the same move everywhere.

That’s how you lose years.

The system isn’t complicated—but it is different everywhere. And it’s always changing.

If you stay on top of it and build a plan around it, you’ll keep hunting.

If you don’t, you’ll spend more time applying than actually being in the field.