Western Big Game Tag Opportunities: After the Primary Draw

Secondary Draw:
Colorado holds one of the best secondary draws in the West. This draw occurs after the primary results are released and includes tags that were leftover and returned within time to place them on the secondary draw list. The secondary draw has no preference points, so it's a great equalizer for new hunters. Some quality tags for elk and deer can show up here. Youth get 100% priority in this draw, so most rifle tags will go to youth in this draw. 

Returned Tags:
Colorado has a reissue program where tags returned by other hunters are redistributed through the reissue tag list. This list will be populated every Tuesday at 11 a.m. MT following the reissue tag release date on CPW’s website. Those tags on the reissue list will then go up for sale first-come, first-served the following day (Wednesday) at 11 a.m. on CPW’s website. There are some great tags that can go on this list for sale, but there is stiff competition for them, so fast internet can be a plus.

Leftover Tags:
Remaining tags not taken in the secondary draw, as well as tags not taken from the weekly reissue list, go to the leftover list, released in early August. These tags are available first-come, first-served online. Popular zones go quickly, but persistence can pay off.

OTC Tags:
Colorado offers OTC elk tags for both residents and non-residents in select units for the second and third rifle seasons, as well as archery for residents. These are the most accessible elk hunting opportunities in the state, though they come with high pressure and hunter density.

Landowner Tags:
20% of most draw tags for deer, elk, and antelope are reserved for landowners meeting certain criteria that are transferrable. These vouchers are awarded to landowners the same time as all other big game tags, so a lot of them will be available after the draw in June. While these vouchers can range from a $1,500 deer or antelope voucher all the way up to a $15,000 elk or deer voucher, there should be a price point for most people to take advantage of. These vouchers don’t last long, so make sure you are searching for them as soon as the main big game draw comes out. Acquiring a landowner voucher does not affect your points.

Secondary Draw: Idaho has a secondary draw for deer, elk, and antelope. Every hunter who draws an elk, deer, or antelope tag has until early August to purchase that tag. If they do not purchase the tag, it will be placed into the second draw in early August. These tags, along with any remaining tags that were not drawn in the primary draw, will be up for grabs. There can be some very coveted tags in the second draw, but odds are usually very steep for them.

Leftover & Returned Tags: Tags that are returned are reissued on a first-come, first-served basis. These sales are published in random intervals starting in March, and some surprisingly good deer and elk tags become available. IDFG will list the exact dates of the sale on their website.

Note: If you already have a tag for deer, elk, or antelope, you can still participate in the second draw, but you would have to surrender your current tag for that species before you could purchase your new tag for that species. If you wanted to buy a leftover permit, you would have to first surrender any permit that you already had for that species before purchasing a new tag.

Secondary Draw:
Nevada offers a second draw, typically in early July. It includes returned and leftover tags from the main draw. Bonus points will be purged for any successful draw in the second draw, making this a great chance for new or point-poor hunters. Typically, only a few archery deer tags that went undersubscribed for residents will be available.

Returned Tags:
Nevada’s return policy allows hunters to turn in tags prior to the season start. These tags are made available online on a first-come, first-served basis. Returned tags are only available according to the residency status of the tag returned.

OTC Tags:
Nevada does not offer any true OTC big game tags. All tags must be drawn or picked up in a post-draw opportunity.

Landowner Tags:
Nevada has a landowner voucher system set up for deer, elk, and antelope. These vouchers go for a premium, with most elk and deer vouchers bringing $10,000-$30,000+. Some antelope vouchers can be picked up for as low as $4,000, but they increase in price from there. These vouchers do not affect your bonus points and are not subject to waiting periods. Landowner vouchers are very difficult to come by in most units and quite often are bought in advance by the same people every year.

Secondary Draw:
Arizona's first-come, first-served process is held in July and includes leftover permits, mainly for muzzleloader Coues deer. Tags must be applied for on a paper submission form, which has certain dates the form must be received to be valid.

Returned Tags:
Returned tags are offered to the next alternate according to the draw order and are not available on a first-come, first-served basis.

OTC Tags:
Arizona offers one of the best OTC archery deer opportunities in the West. These tags are valid in many units with generous seasons, including a January season, an August season, and a December season. Tags are unlimited for residents but are limited for non-residents and have a specific sale date. The sale is online only, and typically, tags sell out in less than an hour. Specific unit quotas are set, and once quotas are met, that unit is closed to both residents and non-residents.

Leftover & Reissued Tags: 
Montana has surplus licenses available after the draw, mainly for deer B and elk B tags (antlerless). These go on sale in August and are distributed online on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Returned Non-Resident General Tags: 
Montana also has a reissue program, called their alternate list, where non-resident returned general deer and elk tags are sold. Hunters must sign up for the list from May 15th until June 30th. Once the list is randomized, licenses become available. Hunters on the top of the list will be contacted to purchase tags as they become available.   

OTC Tags: 
Montana residents have access to OTC general deer and elk licenses. Non-residents must draw general deer and elk tags. Residents and non-residents can purchase OTC licenses in certain areas for deer B and elk B tags (antlerless).

Leftover & Returned Tags:
New Mexico does not have a formal secondary draw or returned tag sale system. However, state raffles and landowner tags sometimes provide a pathway into hunts after the draw. These can be expensive, but they are great options for hunters who missed the main draw.

OTC Tags:
New Mexico offers OTC private land antelope and deer tags, but these are restricted to hunters who have private land access and, most of the time, will require an outfitter. There's also an OTC bear and cougar tag available with harvest quota limits.

Landowner Tags:
New Mexico is one of the leading states for volume of landowner elk vouchers issued. They have a couple different types of vouchers, of which unit wide vouchers are the most common. These can range from $5,000 up to $30,000 for the most sought-after tags. They also have landowner vouchers for mule deer and antelope, but these are for private land only and require a landowner’s permission to obtain. These vouchers are not as easily obtained after the draw as they once were, but they could be a good back up plan.

Second Chance Draw: 
Oregon offers a leftover tag sale, not a formal secondary draw, but a one-day event in early July. These are unclaimed controlled tags offered first-come, first-served and are popular due to limited draw odds. 

Returned Tags: 
Oregon does not reissue any draw tags that are turned back in or unclaimed.  

OTC Tags: 
Oregon offers plentiful general season elk and deer tags, especially for western deer and Cascade elk. While not trophy units, they offer good access and extended seasons.

OTC Tags:
General-season elk permits are sold OTC to both residents and non-residents. Some rifle tags are limited, but don’t sell out for a couple of weeks. Tags usually go on sale in July.

Landowner Tags:
Utah has landowner vouchers for limited-entry elk, deer, and antelope, as well as private land only general season deer. For all intents and purposes, the limited-entry vouchers are not a good post-draw opportunity. These vouchers are mostly bought up prior to the draw. Most of the deer and elk vouchers will sell for $30,000-$50,000. The general season deer vouchers are new, and cost is aligned with how well the private land is managed. These could be a viable option for hunters after the draw.

There are no leftover tags for non-residents that are good hunts.  99% of the time, tags are poor quality and in areas that have no access for non-residents, either because of wilderness laws or private land.