Western Big-Game Application Deadlines: 2027 Planning Calendar
Western big game application deadlines for 2027: This tracker separates confirmed 2027-cycle dates from historical planning references. Idaho has announced nonresident general deer and elk draw dates, including the DAV route. Idaho dates checked September 11, 2026; other reference dates and status labels retain the August 25, 2026 review. Check each program with the responsible agency before applying.
Western big-game applications do not follow one national calendar. Some applications for a hunting season open during the previous calendar year. Record the species, program, application window and separate payment or tag-claim deadline together; a date from another route may not apply.
Research disclosure: Big Game Ledger has not applied in every state listed below. This resource is compiled from current wildlife-agency application pages, regulations and dated announcements. Official agency rules control whenever they differ from this tracker.
Budget the application portfolio—not just the final fees.
Compare licenses, application fees, point costs, upfront tag deposits and expected refunds, then estimate the peak cash your state plan may require.
Open the Western Big-Game Application Costs & Strategy Guide →
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2027 western big-game application calendar at a glance
Idaho general nonresident/DAV dates are published for the 2027 cycle and listed separately below. Other rows retain their August 25, 2026 publication-status review and dated 2026 references. Do not roll a reference date forward without a current official announcement.
| State | Verified 2026 reference dates | 2027 status | Official starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Elk and pronghorn: Feb. 3. Deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison and sandhill crane: June 2. | Not yet published | AZGFD Big Game Draw |
| California | Premium deer, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep drawing: June 2. | Not yet published | CDFW Big Game Tags |
| Colorado | Primary draw: April 7 at 8 p.m. MT. Secondary draw: June 30 at 8 p.m. MT. | Not yet published | CPW Primary Draw |
| Idaho | Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat: April 1–30. Deer, elk, pronghorn and fall bear controlled hunts: May 1–June 5. Nonresident general deer and elk use a separate allocation process. | 2027 general nonresident/DAV dates published; see separate table below. Controlled-hunt dates remain 2026 references. | IDFG Controlled Hunts |
| Montana | Nonresident combinations and deer/elk permits: April 1. Moose, sheep, goat and bison: May 1. Antelope, Deer B and Elk B: June 1. | Not yet published | Montana Drawing Dates |
| Nevada | Guided nonresident mule deer: March 9. Main big-game draw: May 13. Second draw: June 15. | Not yet published | NDOW Apply & Buy |
| New Mexico | Bear and turkey draw permits: Feb. 11. Deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep and other principal big-game draw licenses: March 18 before 5 p.m. MDT. | Not yet published | NMDOW Big-Game Draws |
| Oregon | Spring bear: Feb. 10. Other controlled big-game hunts: May 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. | Not yet published | ODFW Controlled Hunts |
| Utah | Big-game permit and point applications: March 19–April 23 at 11 p.m. MDT. | Not yet published | Utah Big Game |
| Washington | Special-hunt submissions opened April 20 and were extended through May 27 in 2026. | Not yet published | WDFW Special Hunts |
| Wyoming | Nonresident elk: Feb. 2. Moose, sheep and mountain goat: April 30. Deer, pronghorn and resident elk: June 1. | Not yet published | WGFD Licenses & Applications |
Idaho 2027 general nonresident and DAV draw dates
| Action | Published date |
|---|---|
| Initial nonresident and DAV applications | December 5-15, 2026 |
| First-draw tag claim (excluding DAV) | January 20, 2027 |
| Second application round (nonresident only) | February 5-15, 2027 |
| Second-draw and all DAV tag claims | March 20, 2027 |
Official IDFG 2027 nonresident/DAV FAQ. Dates checked September 11, 2026. These are general-tag draws, separate from controlled hunts. The source also contains older 2026 guidance; no 2027 closing hour, fee schedule or controlled-hunt deadline is established by this date check.
2026 application cash-flow index for 2027 planning
This comparison explains the verified 2026 payment structure; it is not a 2027 price quote. Wildlife agencies can change fees, prerequisite licenses, refund rules and card-processing timing. Use the official cost source in the final column before submitting an application.
| State | Required before or with the application | What is generally collected at submission | If unsuccessful or drawn | Official cost source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | A valid Arizona hunting or hunt-and-fish combination license number is required before applying. | The prerequisite license and species application fee. Applicants should keep the payment card on file current for the draw process. | The license and application fee are not refunded merely because the applicant is unsuccessful. Permit-tag payment and card rules are controlled by the current draw instructions. | AZGFD Big Game Draw |
| California | An annual California hunting license is required. Deer applicants use a tag drawing application; elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep use species drawing applications. | The annual license plus the applicable tag or drawing-application charge. | Successful elk, pronghorn and sheep applicants pay the applicable tag fee separately. Deer uses a different tag-application structure, so hunters should not apply one species rule to another. | CDFW Hunting License and Tag Fees |
| Colorado | A qualifying license is required before applying; habitat-stamp requirements also apply under Colorado rules. | The qualifying license and a processing fee for each species application. | The big-game license price is charged only when a license is awarded. An unsuccessful preference-point fee can apply to certain moose, sheep and goat choices. | CPW Primary Draw |
| Idaho – controlled hunts (2026) | A valid Idaho hunting license is required for these 2026 controlled-hunt applications. The general nonresident/DAV dates above do not confirm 2027 fees for that separate route. | For deer, elk, pronghorn and other common controlled hunts, the application fee is collected. Moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat applicants pay the full tag fee plus the application fee up front. | A successful common-species applicant buys the tag after the draw. An unsuccessful trophy-species applicant receives the tag-fee refund, but not the hunting-license or application cost. | IDFG Controlled Hunt Application Information |
| Montana | Conservation license, base hunting license and Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass requirements apply; point purchases are separate choices. | Nonresident combinations and many drawing applications generally require the full license amount at application plus a nonrefundable application fee. Moose, sheep, goat and bison use a higher species application fee. | Refund and license-return rules vary by product and timing. Bonus or preference points can increase the amount committed. | Montana FWP Nonresident Fees |
| Nevada | An applicant can purchase a hunting license during the application or elect to buy it only if successful, subject to current draw rules. | Nonrefundable species-application, game-application and processing fees, plus an optional hunting license. | The tag fee—and the hunting license if deferred—is charged when successful. An unsuccessful application does not earn a bonus point unless the applicant has an active qualifying license when the draw is conducted. | NDOW Apply & Buy Hunting |
| New Mexico | A nonrefundable game-hunting or game-hunting-and-fishing license and the Habitat Management & Access Validation are required. | The application fee and full species-license fee are charged when the application is submitted. | An unsuccessful applicant receives the species-license fee back. The application fee, base license and validation are not refunded. | NMDOW Applications and Draw Information |
| Oregon | A valid annual hunting license is required and may be purchased at the same time as the application. | The annual license plus the controlled-hunt application. For the 2026 and 2027 license years, Oregon lists an $8 application fee plus a $2 agent fee per controlled-hunt application. | The successful applicant purchases the tag after the draw. The annual license and application cost are not refunded simply because the applicant is unsuccessful. | ODFW Controlled Hunt Navigation |
| Utah | A valid Utah hunting or combination license is required. | The license, species application fee and applicable transaction fee are collected through the application process. | The permit fee is charged only when the applicant draws. Utah has announced fee changes effective September 1, 2026, so applicants must use the live fee schedule. | Utah Big Game Application Information |
| Washington | Many special-permit categories require the corresponding species license and transport tag before the application is submitted. | The prerequisite license or tag and the special-hunt application fee. | Deer and elk special permits generally operate with the hunter’s existing tag; moose, sheep and goat have category-specific license or tag requirements when selected. | WDFW Special Hunts |
| Wyoming | Eligibility, residency and hunter-education requirements must be satisfied in the licensing system. | The full license fee, application fee, processing charges and any selected donations are charged at application. | Under the published policy, an unsuccessful applicant receives the license-fee refund, while application and processing charges remain nonrefundable. | WGFD Application Process |
Confirmed 2027 Wyoming point-price change: Wyoming Game and Fish has announced that, effective January 1, 2027, nonresident preference points for elk, deer and pronghorn will cost $75 each. This is the price of a point-only purchase—not a license-application fee, a tag, or a guarantee of drawing a license. Read the official WGFD announcement.
Build the application budget before choosing hunts
The visible application fee is often only one part of the cash required. For every state and species, record:
- the prerequisite annual hunting or combination license;
- the application fee for each species and each person;
- any full tag deposit or license amount charged up front;
- bonus-point or preference-point charges;
- habitat, conservation, access and invasive-species validations;
- online, credit-card or agent processing fees;
- the expected refund amount and refund timing if unsuccessful; and
- the card-charge, payment or tag-claim deadline after a successful draw.
A family or party application multiplies several of these costs. The safest working budget is the maximum amount that can be charged before refunds arrive—not just the amount ultimately retained by the agency.
The safest way to use this application tracker
- Choose the species and state first. “Big game” is not one application. The state may run separate draws for elk, deer, pronghorn, moose, sheep, goat, bison or bear.
- Open the official agency page. Confirm the current year, deadline, time zone and whether the deadline controls an application, modification, payment, point purchase or tag claim.
- Record the exact hunt identifier. Save the hunt number, unit or district, license type, legal animal, weapon and season.
- Confirm prerequisites. Some systems require a qualifying license, hunter-education record, customer ID, habitat stamp, species preference or bonus point selection, or the full tag fee at application.
- Submit early. Do not build a western application strategy around the final hour. Account problems, card failures and mistaken hunt codes are easier to correct before the deadline.
- Save proof. Keep the confirmation number, emailed receipt, submitted choices and card expiration date.
- Calendar the next action. A successful draw can still be lost through a missed payment, tag-claim or reporting deadline.
Deadline sequence: when western applications usually demand attention
Before December: prepare for the first application window
If Idaho is on your shortlist, prepare your account, eligibility records and budget before the December application period begins. Record both the application window and the later tag-claim deadline. Other programs follow separate calendars.
January and February: other early-season reference dates
The western application year starts before many hunters have finished evaluating the previous season. The verified 2026 references included Wyoming nonresident elk on February 2, Arizona elk and pronghorn on February 3, Oregon spring bear on February 10 and New Mexico bear and turkey on February 11.
Prepare agency accounts, eligibility records and the application budget before the first relevant window opens. For Idaho, waiting until the new year would miss the initial December 2026 window for the 2027 general nonresident/DAV cycle.
March and April: the main planning rush
New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana and Idaho place major deadlines in this part of the calendar. These systems do not all use the same kind of points or the same payment structure. A date alone is not enough; the applicant must understand what is being purchased and whether a hunting license is required before the draw application can be submitted.
May and June: controlled hunts, deer draws and secondary opportunity
Nevada, Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming and several species-specific Montana and Idaho draws become important later in spring. Colorado’s secondary draw and Nevada’s second draw can add opportunity, but leftover or secondary availability should never be assumed. Read the live list and its eligibility rules.
State-by-state planning notes
Arizona
Arizona separates the pronghorn-and-elk draw from the fall draw that includes deer and several other species. Use the four-digit hunt number from the current regulations. A bonus-point report is historical evidence, not a promise that an applicant will draw. Start with our Arizona elk hunting guide when building an elk application.
California
California’s big-game drawing includes premium deer, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. The agency states that the transaction must be completed before midnight on the deadline. Confirm that hunter-education proof and the correct customer profile are already on file.
Colorado
Colorado runs a primary limited-license draw followed by a secondary draw. A qualifying license and habitat-stamp requirements can affect checkout. A second-choice or secondary-draw strategy should be based on the current hunt code and remaining quota, not an old list.
Idaho
Idaho controlled hunts and the general nonresident deer/elk and DAV draws are separate routes. Use the confirmed-date table above for the 2027 nonresident/DAV cycle; keep controlled-hunt references labeled by year. See the Idaho elk guide for zones, A and B tags and route distinctions.
Montana
Montana has several dates because a nonresident combination license, deer or elk permit, moose/sheep/goat application and Deer B or Elk B license are different products. Match the deadline to the exact license and hunting district. Our Montana mule deer guide explains the general-license, permit and access layers.
Nevada
Nevada uses a main big-game draw, a separate guided nonresident mule-deer draw and a second draw. Bonus points, application choices and the qualifying license must be evaluated together. Never assume a second-draw tag provides practical public access.
New Mexico
New Mexico does not use a preference-point system for its principal big-game draw. The agency randomly assigns applications a sequence and evaluates choices under the current license pools. Mandatory harvest reporting can affect draw eligibility, making the report deadline as important as the application itself.
Oregon
Oregon uses preference points for many controlled hunts and separates spring bear from other big-game applications. Eastern Oregon deer planning changed in 2026 to Deer Hunt Areas rather than relying only on the former unit structure. Confirm the current hunt number and map before applying.
Utah
Utah uses preference points for general-season buck deer and bonus points for limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. A point-only application still has a deadline and license requirement. Use the Utah mule deer guide to understand hunt numbers, units and access checks.
Washington
Washington’s special-hunt submission deadline was extended in 2026, demonstrating why a previously printed date should not be treated as final. Confirm the live agency announcement and the license or transport tag required for the category.
Wyoming
Wyoming separates nonresident elk from resident elk and from deer, pronghorn, moose, sheep and goat deadlines. Regular and special draws use different prices, not different elk. Read the exact area, license type and draw before paying. The Wyoming elk guide explains general, regional-general and limited-quota routes.
Application mistakes that cost hunters time or money
- Entering a unit number when the agency requires a hunt number.
- Using a previous year’s deadline, quota or season table.
- Confusing a preference-point system with a bonus-point or random draw.
- Missing a qualifying-license or hunter-education requirement.
- Assuming a drawn tag guarantees legal public access.
- Allowing the payment card to expire before the agency processes results.
- Missing a modification, payment, tag-claim or harvest-report deadline.
- Building a trip around an outfitter or private-access claim before independently verifying the license and property.
Build the rest of the hunt before applying
A successful application is only the first gate. Before selecting a hunt, estimate travel, lodging or camp, mapping, access, physical demands, meat cooling, pack-out distance and emergency margin. Work through the Big Game Hunt Planning Checklist, compare destinations through the Elk Hunting, Mule Deer Hunting, Pronghorn Hunting and Moose Hunting hubs, and save offline copies of the controlling regulations.
Update policy
Big Game Ledger will review this calendar as agencies publish their next application materials. A future date will be labeled “confirmed” only after it appears on an official wildlife-agency page, regulation, dated announcement or application booklet. We will not estimate a deadline from past practice.
Featured image: outdoor route planning with a map and compass, photographed by Anastasia Shuraeva via Pexels. Licensed under the Pexels license and not reused on another Big Game Ledger page.
